“`Madfrenzyfireshimnow，’“quotedLeon。
　　ItwasSundayafterdinner。WehadbeentochurchandSunday-
　　schoolintheforenoon，andwehadahousefulofcompanyfordinner。Allofthemremainedtospendtheafternoon，becauseinourhomeitwasperfectlylovely。Wehadabigdinnerwitheverythinggoodtostarton，andthenwetalkedandvisitedandtoldallthenews。Thewomenexchangednewrecipesforcooking，advisedeachotherabouthowtogetmoreworkdonewithlessworry，todoctortheirsickfolks，andtomaketheirdresses。Atlast，wheneverythingwastalkedover，andtherebegantobeaquiettime，fatherwouldreachacrossthetable，pickupapaperandreadalltheinterestingthingsthathadhappenedinthecountryduringthepastweek；thejokestoo，andtheymadepeoplethinkoffunnystoriestotell，andwejustlaughed。IntheAgriculturisttherewerenewwaystofarmeasier，tomakelandbearmorecrops；sohedividedthatwiththeneighbours，alsohowtomakegardens，andprunetrees。Beforehefinished，healwaysmanagedtoworkinalotaboutbeinghonest，kind，andlovingGod。
　　HeandmotherfeltsogoodoverLeon，andbythistimetheywerebeginningtoseethattheyweremightygladaboutthemoneytoo。
　　Itwouldn’thavebeensoeasytowork，andearn，andpaybackallthatforourschool，roads，andthechurch；andeverydayyoucouldseeplainerhowhappytheyfeltthattheydidn’thavetodoit。Becausetheyweresogladaboutthesethings，theyinvitedeveryonetheymetthatday；butweknewSaturdaymotherfeltthatprobablyshewouldaskacrowd，fromthechickens，pie，andcakeshegotready。Whenthereadingpartwasover，andthewomenwerebeginningtolookattheclock，andyouknewtheyfelttheyshouldgohome，anddidn’twantto，Laddiearoseandsaidthat，andLeonpipeduplikehealwaysdoesandmadeeveryonelaugh。OfcoursetheylookedatLaddie，andnooneknewwhathemeant，soallthewomenandafewofthemenaskedhim。
　　“Watchme，Isaid，“laughedLaddieashelefttheroom。
　　SoonMrs。Dover，sittingbesidethefrontwindow，cried：“Hereheisatthegate！“
　　Hewasonhishorse，buthehitcheditandwentaroundthehouseandupthebackway。Beforelongthestairdoorofthesitting-
　　roomopened，andtherehestood。Westaredathim。Ofcoursehewasbathed，andincleanclothingtostartwith，buthehadwashedandbrushedsomemore，untilheshone。Hischeekswereassmoothandasclearpinkasanygirl’s，hiseyesblue-grayandbig，withlonglashesandheavybrows。Hishairwasbrightbrownandwavy，andhewassobigandbroad。Heneverhadbeensickadayinhislife，andhedidn’tlookasifheeverwouldbe。
　　AndclothesDOmakeadifference。Hewouldhavehadexactlythesamehair，face，andbody，wearingahickoryshirtanddenimtrousers；buthewouldn’thavelookedashedidintheclothesheworeatcollege，whenitwasSundaythere，orhewasinvitedtoapartyatthePresident’s。Idon’tseehowanymancouldpossiblybehandsomerorlookfiner。Hisshirt，collar，andcuffsweresnow-white，likeeverythinghadtobebeforemothergotthroughwithit；hisbigloosetiealmostreachedhisshoulders；andourmencoulddoathingnoothermanintheneighbourhooddid：theycouldappeareasierinthefinestsuittheycouldputonthanintheirworkingclothes。
　　MotherusedtosayonethingshedreadedaboutSundaywastheevidenttorturesofthepoormensquirminginbootssheknewpinchedthem，coatstootight，andcollarstoohigh。Shesaidtheyactedlikehalf-brokencoltsfrettingoverrestriction。
　　Alwaysshesaidtofatherandtheboyswhentheywenttobuytheirnewclothes：“Now，DON’Tjointheharnessfighters！Getyourclothingbigenoughtosetyourbodieswithcomfortandease。“
　　Isupposethoseothermenwouldhavelookedlikeoursiftheirmothershadtoldthem。Youcanalwaysseethatamanneedsawomantohelphimoutawfulbad。
　　OfcourseLaddieknewhewashandsome；hehadtoknowallofthemwerelookingathimcuriously，buthestoodtherebuttoninghisgloveandlaughingtohimselfuntilSarahHoodasked：“Nowwhatareyouupto？“
　　Hetookasteptowardher，ranonehandunderherlanternjawedchin，pulledherheadagainsthissideandturnedupherface。
　　“Sarah，“hesaid，“’memberthedaywespoiledthewashing？“
　　Everyonelaughed。Theyhadmadejokesaboutituntilourfriendsknewwhattheymeant。
　　“Whatareyougoingtospoilnow？“askedSarah。
　　“TheEgyptians！The`furriners。’I’mgoingrightafterthem！“
　　“Well，youcouldbeinbetterbusiness，“saidSarahHoodsharply。
　　Laddielaughedandsqueezedherchin，andhuggedherheadagainsthim。
　　“Listentothat，now！“hecried。“Mybestfriendgoingbackonme。Sarah，Ithoughtyou，ofallpeople，wouldwishmeluck。“
　　“Ido！“shesaidinstantly。“Andthat’stheveryreasonIdon’twantyoumixedupwiththatmysterious，offish，stuck-upmess。“
　　“Blessyourdearheart！“saidLaddie，givingherahardersqueezethanever。“Yougotthatallwrong，Sarah。You’lllivetoseetheday，veryshortly，whenyou’llchangeeverywordofit。“
　　“Ihaven’tdoneanythingbutgetsureraboutiteverydayfortwoyears，anyway，“saidSarahHood。
　　“Exactly！“saidLaddie，“butwaituntilIhavetakentheplunge！
　　LetmetellyouhowthePryorfamilystrikesme。Ithinkheisahigh-tempered，domineeringman，proudasLucifer！Forsomecause，justornot，heisruininghislifeandthatofhisfamilybecausehesofirmlybelievesitjust；heishidingherefromhishomecountry，hisrelatives，andfriends。Ithinksheis，barringyouandmother，thehandsomestwomanofherageIeversaw——“
　　Allofthemlaughed，becauseSarahHoodwasnearlyashomelyasawomancouldgrow，andmaybeotherpeopledidn’tfindourmothersolovelyaswethoughther。Ionceheardoneofherbestfriendssayshewas“distinctlyplain。“Ididn’tseehowshecould；butshesaidthat。
　　“——andthemostpitiful，“Laddiewenton。“Sarah，whatdoyousupposesendsafraillittlewomanpacingtheyard，andupanddowntheroad，sometimesinstormandrain，grippingbothhandsoverherheart？“
　　“Isupposeit’ssomeshamefulthingIdon’twantyoumixedupwith！“saidSarahHoodpromptly，andpeoplejustshouted。
　　“Sarah，“saidLaddie，“I’veseenherclosely，watchedhermove，andstudiedherexpression。There’snotonegrainofpossibilitythatyou，ormother，orMrs。Fall，oranywomanhere，couldbeanycloserconnectedwithSHAME。Shamethereis，“saidLaddie，“andwhataword！Howitstings，burns，withers，andcauseshearttroubleandhiding；butshameinconnectionwiththatwoman，morethanshamethrustuponher，whichmightcometoanyofus，atanytime，shamethatishererror，inthelifeofawomanhavingafacelikehers，Sarah，Iamashamedofyou！Youronlyexcuseisthatyouhaven’tpersistedasIhaveuntilyougottoseeforyourself。“
　　“Iamnotmuchonpersistenceinthefaceofalockeddoor，acast-ironmanwithabigcane，andtworavingbulldogs，“saidMrs。Hood。“Wait，youngman！Justwaituntilhesetsthemonyou。“
　　Laddie’sheadwentbackandhowhelaughed。
　　“Hist！Awordwithyou，Sarah！“hesaid。“’MemberIhaveasortofknackwithanimals。IneveryethavefailedwithoneI
　　undertooktowin。NowthosebulldogsofPryors’areasmildaskittenswithamanwhoknowstherightword。ReasonIknow，Sarah，I’vesaidthewordtothem，separatelyandcollectively，anditworked。Thereisacontrast，Sarah，betweenwhatIsayanddotothosedogs，andthekicksandcursestheygetfromtheirowner。I’llwageryoutwotoonethatifyoucangetMr。
　　Pryortogointoa`sic-ing’contestwithme，Icanhavehisowndogsathisthroat，whenhecan’tmakethemdomorethantolickmyhands。“
　　Theylaughedasifthatwerefunny。
　　“Well，Ididn’tknowaboutthis，“saidSarah。“HowlonghaveyoulivedatPryors’？“
　　Youcouldn’thaveheardwhatLaddiesaidifhe’dspoken；sohewaiteduntilhecouldbeheard，anditneverworriedhimaspeck。
　　Heonlystoodandlaughedtoo；then，“Longenough，“hesaid，“toknowthatallofusaremakingabigandcruelmistakeintakingthemattheirword，andleavingthempenneduptherewelteringinmisery。Whatweshoulddo，istogooverthere，oneatatime，orinabody，andbatteratthedooroftheirhearts，untilwebreakdownthewallofpridetheyhavebuiltaroundthem，easetheirpain，andbringthemwithussocially，iftheyaregoingtoliveamongus。YoupeoplewhotalkloudlyandoftenaboutlovingGod，and`doinguntoothers，’shouldhavegonelongago，forJesus’sake；I’mgoingforthesakeofagirl，withafaceassweet，andaheartaspure，asanyacceptedangelatthefootofthethrone。Mother，Iwantacupofpeachjelly，andsomeofthatexceptionallyfinecakeyouservedatdinner，totaketooursickneighbour。“
　　Motherlefttheroom。
　　“Father，Iwantpermissiontocutandcarryagenerouschestnutbranch，burred，andfullfruited，totheyoungwoman。Thereisnonesaveoursinthispartofthecountry，andshemayneverhaveseenany，andbeinterested。AndIwantthatarticleaboutfootdiseaseinhorses，forMr。Pryor。I’llbringitbackwhenhefinishes。“
　　FatherfoldedthepaperandhandedittoLaddie，whoslippeditinhispocket。
　　“Takethefinestbranchyoucanselect，“fathersaid，andI
　　almostfellover。
　　HehadcarriedthosetreesfromOhio，beforeIhadbeenborn，andmothersaidforyearshewrappedtheminhershawlinwinterandheldanumbrellaovertheminsummer，andfatheralwayswentredandgrinnedwhenshetoldit。Hewaswildabouttrees，andbushes，sohemadeuphismindhe’dhavechestnuts。Heplantedthemoneplace，andiftheydidn’tlikeit，hedugthemupandsetthemanotherwherehethoughttheycouldhavewhattheyneededandhadn’tgotthelastplace。Finally，heputthem，onthefourthmove，onalittlesandyridgeacrosstheroadfromthewoodyard，andthatwasthespot。Theyshotup，branched，spread，andonewasamaleandtwowerefemales，sothepollenflew，theburrsfilledright，andwehadabagofchestnutstosendeachchildawayfromhome，everyChristmas。Thebrownleavesandburrsweresolovely，mothercutoneofthefinestbranchesshecouldselectandhungitabovethesteelengravingof“LincolnFreeingtheSlaves，“intheboys’room，andnothinginthehousewaslookedatoftener，orthoughtprettier。ThatmusthavebeenwhatwasinthebackofLaddie’sheadwhenhewantedabranchforthePrincess。
　　Mothercameinwiththecakeandjellyinalittlefancybasket，andLaddiesaid：“Thankyou！Noweveryonewishmeluck！I’mgoingtoridetoPryors’，knockatthedoor，andpresenttheseofferingswithmycompliments。IfI’minvitedin，I’mgoingtomaketheeffortofmylifeatdrivingtheenteringwedgetowardsocialintercoursebetweenPryorsandtheirneighbours。IfI’mnot，I’llbebackinthirtyminutesandtellyouwhathappenedtome。Iftheyrefusemygifts，youshallhavethejelly，Sarah；
　　I’llgiveMrs。Falltheolivebranch，bringbackthepaper，andeatthecaketoconsolemywoundedspirits。“
　　Ofcourseeveryonelaughed；theycouldn’thelpit。Iwatchedfatherandhelaughedhardestofthemen，butmotherwasmorestiff-lippedaboutit；shecouldn’thelpalittle，though。AndI
　　noticedsomeofthosewomenactedasiftheyhadlostsomething。
　　MaybeitwasachancetogossipaboutLaddie，forhehadn’tleftthemathingtoguessat，andmothersaysthereasongossipissodreadfulisbecauseitisalwaysGUESSWORK。Well，thatwasallfairandplain。Hehadtoldthosepeople，ourverybestfriends，whathethoughtabouteverything，thewaytheyactedincluded。
　　HewascarryingsomethingtoeachmemberofthePryorfamily，andhe’dleftawaytoreturnjokingandunashamed，iftheywouldn’tlethimin。Hehadfixedthingssonoonehadanythingtoguessat，anditwouldlookmuchworseforthePryorsthanitwouldforhim，ifhedidcomeback。
　　Iwonderedifhehadbeenbornthatsmart，orifhelearneditincollege。Ifhedid，nowonderLeonwasboundtogo。Cometothinkofit，though，mothersaidLaddiewasalwayslikethat。
　　Shesaidheneverbitherwhenhenursed；henevermauledherasifshecouldn’tbehurtwhenhewaslittle，henevertorehisclothesandmadeextraworkashegrew，andneverinhislifegaveheranhour’suneasiness。ButIguessshecouldn’thavesaidthataboutuneasinesslately，forshecouldn’tkeepfromlookingtroubledasallofusfollowedtothegatetoseehimstart。
　　Howtheyjoked，andtriedtoteasehim！Buttheycouldn’tgetabreathahead。Heshotbackanswersasfastastheycouldaskquestions，whilehecutthebranchanduntiedthehorse。Hegavethelimbandbaskettomothertohold，kissedhergood-bye，andmetoo，beforehemounted。Withmyarmsaroundhisneck——InevermissedachancetotrytosqueezeintohimhowIlovedhim——I
　　whispered：“Laddie，isitasecretanymore？“
　　Hethrewbackhisheadandlaughedthehappiest。
　　“Nottheghostofasecret！“hesaid。“Butyouletmedothetalking，untilItellyou。“Thenhewentonrightoutloud：
　　“I’mridinguptheroadwavingthebannerofpeace。IfIsufferrepulse，thesamethinghashappenedtobettermenbefore，soI’llgetadifferentbannerandtryagain。“
　　Laddiemounted，sweptacircleintheroad，droppedFlosonherkneesinabow，andwavedthebranch。Leonbegantosingatthetopofhisvoice，“Nothingbutleaves，nothingbutleaves，“whileLaddiewentflashinguptheroad。
　　Thewomenwentbacktothehouse；themenstoodaroundthegate，watchedhimfromsight，talkedabouthishorse，howherode，andmadewagersthathe’dgetshutout，likeeveryonedid，buttheysaidifthathappenedhewouldn’tcomeback。Fatherwasannoyed。
　　“YouheardLaddiesayhe’dreturnimmediatelyiftheywouldn’tlethimin，“hesaid。“He’samanofhisword。Hewilleitherenterorcomehomeatonce。“
　　Itwaspitchdarkandwehadsupperbeforesomeofthemleft；
　　theyneverstayedsolate。Afterwecamefromchurch，fatherreadthechapterandwewerereadyforbed；stillLaddiehadn’tcomeback。Andfatherlikedit！Hejustplainlikedit！HechuckledbehindtheAdvocateuntilyoucouldseeitshake；butmotherhadverylittletosay，andherlipsclosedtight。
　　Atbedtimehesaidtomother：“Well，theydon’tseeminahurryaboutsendingtheboyback。“
　　“DidyoureallythinkheWOULDbesentback？“askedmother。
　　“Notordinarily，“saidfather，“no！Ifhehadnobrain，nowit，noculture，onananimalbasis，awomanwouldlooktwicebeforeshe’dsendhimaway；butwithsuchfanaticsasPryors，onecan’talwaystellwhatwillhappen。“
　　“Inacaselikethis，onecanbereasonablycertain，“saidmother。
　　“Youdon’tknowwhatsocialpositiontheyoccupiedathome。