CHAPTERVIII
　　TheShropshireandtheCrusader“For，amongtherichandgay，Fine，andgrand，anddeckedinlaces，Noneappearmoregladthenthey，Withhappierhearts，orhappierfaces。“
　　Everyonetoldmotherforaweekbeforetheweddingthatshewouldbesickwhenitwasover，andsureenoughshewas。Shehadbeenonherfeettoomuch，andhadsomanythingstothinkabout，andtherehadbeensuchadreadfulamountofworkforherandCandace，evenafteralltheneighbourshelped，thatshewassickinbedandwecouldn’tfindathingshecouldeat，untilshewasalmostwildwithhungerandfatherseemedasifhecouldn’tpossiblybearitadaylonger。
　　AfterCandacehadtriedeverythingshecouldthinkof，IwentupandtalkeditoverwithSarahHood，andshecamedown，pretendingshehappenedin，andshetriedthickenedmilk，toastandmulledbuttermilk；shekepttryingfortwodaysbeforeshegaveup。
　　Candacethoughtofnewthings，andMrs。Freshettcameandmadeallthesickdishessheknew，butmothercouldn’teventastethem；sowewereprettyblue，andwenearlystarvedourselves，forhowcouldwesitandeateverythingyoucouldmention，andmotherlyingthere，almostcryingwithhunger？
　　SaturdaymorningIwashangingaroundherroomhopingmaybeshecouldthinkofsomeleastlittlethingIcoulddoforher，evenifnomorethantobringaglassofwater，oralaterosetolayonherpillow；itwouldbebetterthannotbeingabletodoanythingatall。Afterawhilesheopenedhereyesandlookedatme，andIscarcelyknewher。Shesmiledthebravestshecouldandsaid：“Sorryformother，dear？“
　　Inodded。Icouldn’tsaymuch，andshetriedharderthanevertobecheerfulandasked：“Whatareyouplanningtodoto-day？“
　　“Ifyoucan’tthinkofonethingIcandoforyou，guessI’llgofishing，“Isaid。
　　Hereyesgrewbrighterandsheseemedhalfinterested。
　　“Why，LittleSister，“shesaid，“ifyoucancatchsomeofthosefishlikeyoudosometimes，IbelieveIcouldeatoneofthem。“
　　Ineverhadsuchabe-hangedtimegettingstarted。Islippedfromtheroom，andnevertoldasoulevenwhereIwasgoing。I
　　fellovertheshovelandcouldn’tfindanythingquickenoughbutmypockettoputthewormsin，andIforgotmystringer。Atlast，whenIraceddownthehilltothecreekandclimbedoverthewaterofthedeepplace，ontherootsofthePeteBillingsyowlingtree，Ihadonlysixworms，myapplesuckerpole，mycottoncordline，andbentpinhook。Iputthefirstwormoncarefully，andifeverIprayed！Sometimesitwashardtounderstandaboutthisprayingbusiness。Mymotherwasthebestandmostbeautifulwomanwhoeverlived。Shewasclean，andgood，andalwayshelped“thepoorandneedywhoclusterroundyourdoor，“likeitsaysinthepoetrypiece，andtherenevercouldhavebeenareasonwhyGodwouldwantawomantosufferherself，whenshewentflyingonhorsebackevendarknightsthroughrainorsnow，todoctorotherpeople’spain，andwhenshegaveawaythingslikeshedid——why，I’veseenhertakeabigpieceofmeatfromthebarrel，andasackofmeal，andheapsofapplesandpotatoestocarrytoMandyThomas——whenshegaveawayfoodbythewagonloadatatime，Godcouldn’thaveWANTEDhertobehungry，andyetsheWASthatveryminutealmostcryingforfood；andIprayed，ohhowIdidpray！andasneakingoldback-
　　endedcrayfishtookmyveryfirstworm。Ijustlookedattheskyandsaid：“Well，whenit’sforasickwoman，can’tYoudoanybetterthanthat？“
　　IsupposeIshouldn’thavesaidit，butifithadbeenyourmother，howwouldyouhavefelt？Ipinchedthenextwormintwo，soifacrayfishtookthat，itwouldn’tgetbuthalf。Ilaydownacrosstherootsandpulledmybonnetfarovermyfaceandtriedtoseetothebottom。Ireadinschooltheotherday：
　　“AndbythoselittleringsonthewaterIknowThefishesaremerrilyswimmingbelow。“
　　Therewerenoringsonthewater，butafterawhileIsawsomefishdartingaround，onlytheydidn’tseemtobehungry；fortheywouldcomerightupandnibbleatinybitatmyworm，buttheywouldn’tswallowit。Thenonedid，soIjerkedwithallmymight，jerkedsohardthefishandwormbothflewoff，andIhadonlythehookleft。Iputontheotherhalfandtriedagain。I
　　prayedstraightalong，butthetearswouldcomethattime，andtheprayerwasnopowerfuleffortlikeBrotherHastingswouldhavemade；itwaslittletornuppiecesmostly：“OLord，pleasedomakeonlyonefishbite！“Atlastonedidbitegood，soI
　　swungcarefullythattime，andlandeditonthegrass，butitwassolittleandithitastoneandwaskilled。Ihadnostringertoputitbackinthewatertokeepcool，andthesunwashotthatday，liketimesinthefall。Stretchedontheroots，withitshiningonmyback，andstrikingthewaterandcomingupfrombelow，Idrippedwithheatandexcitement。
　　Ithrewthatoneaway，putonanotherworm，andabigturtletookit，thehook，andbrokemyline，andalmostpulledmein。I
　　wouldn’thaveletgoifithad，forIjusthadtohaveafish。
　　TherewasnohelpfromtheLordinthat，soIquitpraying，onlywhatIsaidwhenIdidn’tknowit。Fathersaidmanwasbornaprayinganimal，andnomatterhowwickedhewas，ifhehadanaccident，orsawhehadjustgottodie，hecriedaloudtotheLordforhelpandmercybeforeheknewwhathewasdoing。
　　Icouldheartheroostersinthebarnyard，theturkeygobbler，andtheoldgandersscreamedonceinawhile，andsometimesabirdsangaskimpylittlefallsong；nothinglikespring，exceptthekilldeersandlarks；theywerealwaysgoodtohear——andthenthedinnerbellrang。IwishedIhadbeenwhereIcouldn’thaveheardthat，becauseIdidn’tintendgoinghomeuntilIhadafishthatwoulddoformotherifIstayeduntilnight。Ifthebestoneinthefamilyhadtostarve，wemightaswellallgotogether；butIwouldn’thaveknownhowhungryIwas，ifthebellhadn’trungandtoldmetheotherswereeating。SoIbentanotherpinandtriedagain。Ilostthenextwormwithoutknowinghow，andthenIturnedbabyandcriedrightoutloud。I
　　wassothirsty，thesaltytearsrunningdownmycheekstastedgood，anddoingsomethingbesidesfishingsortofrestedme；soI
　　lookedaroundandupatthesky，wipedmyfaceontheskirtofmysunbonnet，andputonanotherworm。Ihadonlyonemoreleft，andIbegantowonderifIcouldwadeinandcatchafishbyhand；Ididteenyonessometimes，butIknewthewatertherewasfarabovemyhead，forIhadmeasureditoftenwiththepole；itwouldn’tdototrythat；insteadofhelpingmotherany，afuneralwouldkillher，too，soIfellbackontheCrusaders，andtriedagain。
　　Strangehowthinkingaboutthemhelped。IpretendedIwasfightingmywaytotheHolyCity，andthiswastheJordanjustwhereitmetthesea，andIhadtocatchenoughfishtolastmeduringthepilgrimagewestorI’dneverreachJerusalemtobringhomeashellfortheStantoncrest。Ipretendedsohard，thatI
　　gotbraverandstronger，andaskedtheLordmoreliketherewassomechanceofbeingheard。Allatoncetherewasajerkthatalmostpulledmein，soIjerkedtoo，andabigfishflewovermyheadandhitthebankbehindmewithathump。OfcoursebyabigfishIdon’tmeanaredhorsesolongasmyarm，liketheboysbringfromtheriver；ImeanthebiggestfishIevercaughtwithapininourcreek。ItlookedlikethewhalethatswallowedJonah，asitwentovermyhead。Ilaidthepoleacrosstheroots，jumpedupandturned，andIhadtograbthestumptokeepfromfallinginthewateranddying。Therelaythefish，thebiggestoneIeverhadseen，butitwasfloppingwildly，anditwasn’tafootfromaholeinthegrasswhereamuskrathadburrowedthrough。Ifitgaveoneflopthatway，itwouldslidedowntheholestraightbackintothewater；andbetweenmeandthefishstoodourcrossoldShropshireram。IalwayslookedtoseeifthesheepwereinthemeadowbeforeIwenttothecreek，butthatmorningIhadbeensocrazytogetsomethingformothertoeat，Ineveroncethoughtofthem——andthereitstood！
　　Thatramhadn’tbeencrossatfirst，andfathersaiditneverwouldbeiftreatedright，andnotteased，andifitwere，therewouldbetroubleforallofus。Iwashavingmorethanmysharethatminute，anditbotheredmealotalmosteveryday。Ineverdaredenterafieldanymoreifitwerethere，andnowitwasstampingupanddownthebank，shakingitshead，andtryingtogetme；withoneflopthefishwentALMOSTinthehole，andthenextalittleawayfromit。Everythingputtogether，IthoughtI
　　couldn’tstandit。IneverwantedanythingasIwantedthatfish，andIneverhatedanythingasIhatedthatsheep。Itwasn’tthesheep’sfaulteither；Leonteaseditonpurpose，justtoseeitchasePollyMartin；butthatwasmoreherdoingsthanhis。
　　Shewasawidowandshecrossedourfrontmeadowgoingtohersister’s。ShehadtwoboysbigasLaddie，andthreegirls，andfathersaidtheylivedlike“theliliesofthefield；theytoilednot，neitherdidtheyspin。“Theyneverlookedreallyhungryorfreezing，buttheyneverplowed，orplanted，theyhadnocattleorpigsorchickens，onlyalittlecornformeal，andsomecabbage，andwildthingstheyshotformeat，andcoonstotradetheskinsformorepowderandlead——bettheyatethecoons——neveranynewclothes，neverclean，theyortheirhouse。Oncewhenfatherandmotherweredrivingpast，theysawPollyatthewellandtheystoppedforpolitenesssaketoaskhowshewas，liketheyalwaysdidwitheveryone。Pollyhadatincupofwaterandwassoppingatherneckwithacarpetrag，andwhenmotherasked，“Howareyou，Mrs。Martin？“sheanswered：“OhIain’tverywellthisspring；IgestIgotthego-backs！“
　　MothersaidPollylookedasifshe’dbeenbornwiththe“go-
　　backs，“andhadgiventhemtoallherchildren，herhome，garden，fields，andeventheFENCES。Wehadn’taparticleofpatiencewithsuchpeople。Whenyouarelazylikethatitisveryprobablethatyou’lllivetoseethedaywhenyourchildrenwillpeepthroughthefencecracksandcryforbread。IhaveseenthoseMartinchildrencomemightyneardoingitwhentherestofusopenedourdinnerbasketsatschool；andifmotherhadn’talwaysputinenoughsothatwecoulddivide，Ibettheywould。
　　IfPollyMartinhadwalkedupasifshewerealive，andhadbeenwashedandneat，andgoingsomewheretodosomeonegood，LeonneverwouldhavedreamedofsuchathingastrainingtheShropshiretobunther。Shewassolongandskinny，alwaysworearaggedshawloverherhead，afloppyolddressthatthewindwhippedoutbehind，andwhenshecametothecreek，shesatastridethefootlog，andhunchedalongwithherhands；thattickledtheboysso，Leonbeganteasingthesheeponpurposetomakeitgether。Butinasmuchasshesawfittogoabroadlookingsofunny，thatanyonecouldseeshe’dbeaperfectcircusifshewerechased，Ididn’tfeelthatitwasLeon’sfault。If，likethelittlebusybee，shehad“improvedeachshininghour，“heneverwouldhavedoneit。Seemstome，shebroughtthetroubleonherownhead。
　　First，LeonranattheShropshireandthenjumpedaside；butsoonitgrewsostrongandquickhecouldn’tmanagethat，soheputhishatonastickandpokeditbackandforththroughafencecrack，andthatmadetheramravingmad。Atlastitwouldbuttthefenceuntilitwouldknockitselfdown，andifhedangledthehatagain，getrightupanddoitover。FathernevercaughtLeon，sohecouldn’tunderstandwhatmadethesheepsodreadfullycross，becausehehadthoughtitwasquitepeaceablewhenheboughtit。ThefirsttimeitgotafterPolly，shethrewhershawloveritshead，pulledupherskirts，andLeonsaidshehitjustelevenhighplacescrossinganeighty-acrefield；shecametothehousecrying，andfatherhadtogoafterhershawl，andmothergaveherarollofbutterandacherrypietocomforther。
　　TheShropshireneverreallygotPolly，butanyonecouldeasilyseewhatitwoulddotomeifIdaredsteparoundthatstump，anditwasdancingandpantingtobegin。Ifwhoeverwrotethat“GentleSheep，praytellmewhy，“pieceeverhadseenasheepactinglikethat，itwouldn’thavebeeninthebooks；atleastI
　　thinkitwouldn’t，butonecan’tbesure。Heprovedthathedidn’tknowmuchaboutanythingoutdoorsorhewouldn’thavesaidthatsheepwere“eatinggrassanddaisieswhite，fromthemorningtillthenight，“whendaisiesarebitterasgall。
　　Flop！wentthefish，anditstailtouchedtheedgeofthehole。
　　ThenIturnedaroundandpickedupthepole。Iputmysunbonnetoverthebigendofit，andpokeditattheram，anddrewitbackasLeondidhishat。Onemorejumpandmother’sfishwouldbegone。Istoodontherootsandwavedmybonnet。Thesheeplowereditsheadandcameatitwitharush。Idrewbackthepole，andthesheep’sforefeetslidovertheedge，anditbracedandbegantoworktokeepfromgoingin。Thefishgaveabigflopandwentdownthehole。ThenIturnedCrusaderandbegantofight，andIdidn’tcareifIwerewhippedblackandblue，I
　　meanttofinishthatoldblack-facedShropshire。Isetthepoleonthebackofitsneckandpushedwithallmymight，andIgotitin，too。My，butitmadeasplash！Itwasn’tmuchgoodatswimmingeither，andithadnochance，forIstoodontherootsandpusheditdown，andhititoverthenosewithallmymight，andIdidn’tcarehowfaritcameonthecars，orhowmuchmoneyitcost，itneverwouldchaseme，andmakemelosemyfishagain。
　　Ididn’thearhimuntilhesplashedundertherootsandthenI
　　wassomadIdidn’tseethatitwasLaddie；Ionlyknewthatitwassomeonewhowasgoingtohelpoutthatmiserableram，soI
　　struckwithallmymight，thesheepwhenIcouldhitit，ifnot，theman。
　　“Youlittledemon，stop！“criedLaddie。
　　Igotinagoodonerightontheram’snose。ThenLaddiedroppedthesheepandtwistedthefishpolefrommyfingers，andIpushedhimashardasIcould，buthewastoostrong。Heliftedthesheep，pulledittothebank，androlledit，workeditsjaws，andsqueezedwaterfromit，andworkedandworked。
　　“Iguessyou’vekilledit！“hesaidatlast。
　　“Goody！“Ishouted。“Goody！OhbutIamgladit’sdead！“
　　“Whatonearthhasturnedyoutoafiend？“askedLaddie，beginningworkonthesheepagain。
　　“Thatram！“Isaid。“EversinceLeonmadeitcrosssoitwouldchasePollyMartin，it’sgotmeoftenerthanher。Ican’tgoanywhereforit，andto-dayitmademeloseabigfish，andmotheriswaiting。Shethoughtmaybeshecouldeatsome。“