“Andtheyhadhimtosupper？“
　　“Itwasadinnerservedatnight。Yes。HetookMrs。Pryorinonhisarm，anditwaslikeagrandparty，justastheyfixedforthemselves，alone。Waiters，andsilvertrays，andthingscarriedinandoutincourses。“
　　“Myland！Well，Is’posehehadenoughschoolin’togethimthroughitallright！“
　　Mymother’sfacegrewred。Sheneverleftanyoneindoubtastowhatshemeant。Fathersaidthat“wastheDutchofit。“AndmotheralwaysansweredthatifanyonelivingcouldputthingsplainerthantheEnglish，shewouldliketohearthemdoit。
　　“Hecertainlyhad，“saidmother，“ortheywouldn’thaveinvitedhimtocomeagain。Andallmine，Mrs。Freshett，knewhowtositproperlyatthetable，andmanageaknife，forkandnapkin，beforetheyevertookamealawayfromhome。“
　　“No’fence，“laughedMrs。Freshett。“Imeantthatmaybehisyearsofcollegeschoolin’hadgivehimwaysmoreliketheirsthanmostofushave。Forallthemoneyittakestosendaboytocollege，heoughttogetsomethin’outofitmorethanjestfillin’hisheadwithfiggers，an’stars，an’oratin’；an’mostalwaysyoucanseethathedoes。“
　　“Itiscontactwithcultivatedpeople，“saidmother。“Youarealwaysinfluencedbyit，withoutknowingitoften。“
　　“Maybeyouare，bein’sofineyourself，“saidMrs。Freshett。
　　“An’metoo，InevergetamongmybettersthatIdon’tcarryhomealotIputrightintodailyuse，an’nobodyknowsitplainer。I
　　comehereexpectin’tolearnthingsthathelpme，an’whenIgohomeIknowIhave。“
　　“Why，thankyou，“saidmother。“I’msurethatisaverynicecompliment，andIwishIreallycouldfeelthatitiswelldeserved。“
　　“OhIguessyoudo！“saidMrs。Freshettlaughing。“Ioftennoticedyoumakin’aspecialefforttoteachpuddin’headslikemesomethin’，an’Ialwaysthankyouforit。There’saworldinrightteachin’。Ineverhadany。SoallIcanpickupan’
　　hammerintomineisagainformean’them。IfmyHenryhadlived，an’comeoutanythinglikethatboyo’yournan’theshowhemadelastSunday，I’ddowellifIdidn’tswellupan’bustwithpride。An’thelittletow-hairedstrip，takin’thegunan’
　　startin’outaloneafterarobber，evenifhewa’n’tmuchofaman，thatwasdownrightspunky。Ifmyboyswillcomeoutanywherenearlikeyourn，I’llbeglad。“
　　“Idon’tknowhowmyboyswillcomeout，“saidmother。“ButI
　　work，pray，hope，andhangtothem；that’sallIknowtodo。“
　　“Well，iftheydon’tcomeoutright，theyoughttobebumped！“
　　saidMrs。Freshett。“Afterallthechancesthey’vehad！Idon’
　　knowjesthowFreshettwasbrungup，butI’dnochanceatall。
　　Myfolks——well，Iguessthelesssaid——littlepitchers，youknow！
　　Ican’tseeasIwastoblame。Iwastheyoungest，an’Iknewthingswaswrong。Ifoughttogotoschool，an’papletmeenoughthatIsawhowotherpeoplelived。ComenightI’dgotothegarret，an’barthetrapdoor；buttherewouldbetimeswhenI
　　couldn’thelpseein’whatwasgoin’on。How’dyoulikechancessuchasthatforagirlofyourn？“
　　“Dreadful！“saidmother。“Mrs。Freshett，pleasedobecareful！“
　　“Sure！“laughedMrs。Freshett。“Iwasjestgoin’totellyouaboutmean’Josiah。Hecometoourhouseonenight，astrangerofftheroad。Hesaidhewassick，an’tired，an’couldhehaveabed。Mothersaid，`No，forhimtomoveon。’Hetriedan’hecouldn’t。Theywassomethin’abouthim——well，youknowhowthemthingsgo！Iwa’n’tonlysixteen，butIfeltsosorryforhim，allfeverburnedandmumblin’，Ihelpedpapputhimtobed，an’
　　doctoredhimallIcould。Comemornin’hewasasickman。Papwentforthecountydoctor，an’hetookjestonelookan’says：
　　`Smallpox！Allofyegit！’
　　“IwasboundIwouldn’tgo，butpapmademe，an’thedoctorsaidhe’dsendamanwho’dhadit；soIstarted，butIfeltsobad，comeachanctwhentheygottoGroveville，Islippedoutan’wentback。Themanhadn’tcome，soIsettoworkthebestIknowed。
　　’ForelongJosiahwasalittlebetteran’heaskedwhoIwas，an’
　　wheremyfolkswent，an’Itoldhim，an’heaskedWHYIcamebackan’Ididn’tknowwhattosay，soIjesthungmyheadan’
　　couldn’tfacehim。Afterawhilehesays，`Allright！IguessI
　　gotthissizedup。Ifyou’llstayan’nussmethrough，I’llbewellenoughtopullyouout，bythetimeyougetit，an’soonasyou’reablewe’llsplice，ifyousayso。’
　　“`Marryme，youmean？’saysI。Theywa’n’teveranytalkaboutmarryin’atourhouse。`Sure！’sayshe。`You’reamightylikelylookin’girl！I’lldofairbyye。’An’healwayshas，too！ButIdidn’tfeelrighttolethimgoitblind，soIjestupandsays。`Youwouldn’tifyouknowedmyfolks！’`YoulookasdecentasIdo，’sayshe；`I’llchanceit！’ThenItolehimI
　　wasasgoodasIwasborn，an’hebelievedme，an’healwayshas，an’Iwastoo！SoInussedhim，butIdidn’tmakethejobofithedid。You’memberheispittedconsiderable。HewassostrongIjestcouldn’tkeephimfromdisfigerin’himself，buthetiedme。Ibeggedtobeloose，an’hewouldn’tlisten，soIgotacleanface，onlythreelittlescars，an’theyain’tdeeptospeakof。Hesayshelookslikeapieceofsidemeat，butsay！theyain’tnothin’thematterwithhislookstome！
　　“Thenussmanneverdidcome，butthecountydoctorpassedthingsinthewinder，tillIwasovertheworst，an’Josiahsentforapreacheran’hemarriedusthroughthewinder——Igotthewritin’stoshow，allframedan’proper。Josiahsaidhe’dseeIgotalltheywasinitlongthatline，anyway。WhenIwaswell，hangedifhedidn’tperdooceawadfromhisclothesbeforetheyburnt’em，an’hegotusnewthingstowear，an’ahorse，an’wagon，an’wedrivawayherewherewethoughtwecouldstartright，an’
　　afterwehadtheland，an’builtthecabin，an’jestashappyasheartcouldwish，longcomeamanI’dmademadonce，an’hetoleeverythin’upanddown。Josiahwasgoodaboutit。Heofferedtoselltheland，an’pullupan’gofurder。`What’stheuse？’saysI。`Hundredsknowit。Wecan’tgosofaritwon’tbeliketofollowus；le’sstayherean’fightit。’`Allright，’saysJosiah，buttimean’ag’inhehasofferedtogo，ifIcouldn’tmakeit。`Hangonalittlelonger，’saysI，everytimeheknewI
　　wassnubbedan’slighted。Inevertolewhathedidn’tnotice。I
　　triedchurch，whenmychildrenbegantogitasizeIwanted’emtohaverightteachin’，an’youcomean’welcomedmean’youbeenmyfriend，an’nowtheothersiscomin’overatlast，an’
　　visitin’me，an’theyain’tathingmoreIwantinlife。“
　　“Iamsoglad！“saidmother。“Ohmydear，Iamsoglad！“
　　“Goin’righthomean’tellthattoJosiah，“saidMrs。Freshett，jumpinguplaughingandcryinglike，“an’mebbyI’lljestspreadwingsandfly！IneverwassohappyinallmylifeasIwasSunday，whenyouastmebeforeallofthem，socordiallike，an’
　　saysItoJosiah，`We’llgoan’tryitonce，’an’wecomean’
　　nobodyturnedacoldshoulderonus，an’Iwa’n’twearin’speckstoseeiftheydid，forIneverknowedhimsohappyinallhisdays。Orterheardhimwhistlegoin’home，an’he’stryin’allthemthingshelearned，onourplace，an’youcanseeitlooksaheapbettera’ready，an’nowhe’stalkin’aboutbuildin’inthespring。Iknowedhehadmoney，buthenevermentionedbuildin’
　　before，an’Ialwaysthoughtitwasbekasehe’sposedlikelywe’dhavetomoveon，sometime。’Pearsnowasifwecansettle，an’
　　livelikeotherfolks，afteralltheseyears。Iknowedyedidn’twantmetotalk，butIhadtotellyou！Whenyouastustotheweddin’，andothersbegancomin’round，saysItoJosiah，`Won’tshebegladtoknowthatmyskirtsisclear，an’IdidaswellasIcould？’An’hesays，`Thatshewill！An’moreamI，’sayshe。
　　`Imightyproudofyou，’sayshe。Proud！Thinkofthat！MissStanton，I’djestwadefireandbloodforyou！“
　　“Ohmydear！“saidmother。“Whatadreadfulthingtosay！“
　　“Gimmethechanct，an’watchifIdon’t，“saidMrs。Freshett。
　　“Now，JosiahisproudIstuckitout！Now，Icanhaveahouse！
　　Now，mychildrencanhavealltheshowwecanraisetogive’em！
　　I’mdonecringin’an’dodgin’！I’vealwaysdonemybest；
　　henceforthImeantoholdupmyheadan’sayso。Isurecan’tbeheldforwhatwasdone’foreIwasonearth，orsinceneither。
　　You’vegivenmemyshow，I’mgoin’totakeit，butifyouwanttoknowwhat’sinmyheartaboutyou，gimmeanykindofachancttoprove，an’seeifIdon’tponyrightuptoit！“
　　Motherlaugheduntilthetearsrolled，shecouldn’thelpit。ShetookMrs。Freshettinherarmsandhuggedhertight，andkissedhermightynearlikeshedoesSarahHood。Mrs。Freshettthrewherarmsaroundmother，andlookedoverhershoulder，andsaidtome，“Sis，whenyougrowup，alwaystakeachanctonwelcomin’thestranger，likeyourmawdoes，an’heaven’sboundtobeyourhome！
　　My，butyourmawisawomantobeproudof！“shesaid，huggingmotherandpattingherontheback。
　　“Allofusareproudofher！“Iboasted。
　　“Idoubtifyouareproudenough！“criedMrs。Freshett。“Ihavemydoubts！Idon’tseehowpeoplelivin’withher，an’seein’
　　hereveryday，areinashapetoknowjestwhatshecandoforapersonintheplaceIwasin。Ihavemydoubts！“
　　ThatnightwhenIwenthomefromschoolmotherwasworryingoverthebluegoose。Whenwewenttofeed，shetoldLeonthatshewasafraiditwasweak，andnotgettingenoughtoeatwhenitfedwiththeothers。Shesaidaftertheworkwasfinished，totakeitoutalone，andgiveitallitwouldeat；sowhenthehorsesweretended，thecowsmilked，everythingwatered，andthebarnreadytocloseforthenight，Laddietookthemilktothehouse，whileLeonandIcaughtthebluegoose，carriedhertothewell，andbegantoshellcorn。Shewasstarvedtodeath，almost。Sheateawholeearinnotimeandlookedformore，soLeonsentmeafteranother。Bythetimethatwasmostgoneshebegantoeatslower，andstickherbillintheairtohelpthegrainsslipdown，soItoldLeonIthoughtshehadenough。
　　“Nosuchthing！“saidLeon。“Youdistinctlyheardmothertellmetogiveher`allshewouldeat。’She’seating，isn’tshe？Gobringanotherear！“
　　Soshewas，butIwasdoubtfulaboutmore。
　　LeonsaidIbettermindorhewouldtellmother，soIgotit。
　　Shedidn’tbeginonitwithanyenthusiasm。Shestuckherbillhigher，stretchedhernecklonger，andshelookedsofunnywhenshedidit，thatwejustshrieked。ThenLeonreachedover，tookherbythebill，andstrippedhernecktohelpherswallow，andassoonasheletgo，shebegantoeatagain。
　　“Yousee！“saidLeon，“she’sbeenstarved。Shecan’tgetenough。
　　Imusthelpher！“
　　Sohedidhelphereverylittlebit。Bythattimewewereinterestedinseeinghowmuchshecouldhold；andshelookedsofunnythatLeonsentmeformorecorn；butItoldhimIthoughtwhatsheneedednowwaswater，soweheldhertothetrough，andshetriedtodrink，butshecouldn’tswallowmuch。Wesetherdownbesidethecorn，andshewenttoeatingagain。
　　“Goit，oldmill-hopper！“criedLeon。
　　Rightthentherewasanawfulcommotioninthebarn，andfromthesquealingweknewoneofthehorseswasloose，andfightingtheothers。Werantofixthem，andhadatimetogetJobackintohisstall，andtied。Beforewehadeverythingsafe，thesupperbellrang，andIbetLeonapennyIcouldreachthehousewhileheshutthedoorandgotthere。Weforgoteverysinglethingaboutthegoose。
　　AtsuppermotheraskedLeonifhefedthegooseallshewouldeat，andIlookedathimguilty-like，forIrememberedwehadn’tputherback。Hefrownedatmecrossasabear，andIknewthatmeanthehadremembered，andwouldslipbackandputherinsidewhenhefinishedhissupper，soIdidn’tsayanything。
　　“Ididn’tfeedherALLshewouldeat！“saidLeon。“IfIhad，she’dbeatityet。Shewasstarvedsureenough！Youneversawanythinglikethecornshedowned。“
　　“WellIdeclare！“saidmother。“Nowafterthis，takeheroutalone，forafewdays，andgiveherasmuchasshewants。“
　　“Allright！“chuckledLeon，becauseitwasalotoffuntoseeherrunherbillaround，andgobbleupthecorn，andstickupherhead。
　　ThenextdaywasSaturday，soafterbreakfastIwentwithLeontodrivethesheepandgeesetothecreektowater；thetroughwassohighitwasonlyforthehorsesandcattle；whenweletoutthegeese，theblueonewasn’tthere。
　　“OhLeon，didyouforgettocomebackandputherin？“
　　“YesIdid！“hesaid。“ImeanttowhenIlookedatyoutokeepstill，andIstartedtodoit，butSammyDeamwhistled，soIwentdownintheorchardtoseewhathewanted，andwegottoplanninghowtogetupafoxchase，andIstayeduntilfathercalledfornight，andthenIranandforgotallabouttheblameoldgoose。“
　　“OhLeon！Whereisshe？Whatwillmothersay？’Sposeafoxgother！“
　　“Itwouldn’thelpmeanyifithad，afterIwastoblameforleavingheroutside。Blastagirl！Ifyoueveramountedtoanything，youcouldhaveputherinwhileIfixedthehorses。Atleastyoucouldhavetoldmeto。“
　　Istoodtheredumblikeandstaredathim。Hehasgottheawfulestwayoftellingthetruthwhenheisscaredorprovoked。
　　OfcourseIshouldhavethoughtofthegoosewhenhewashavingsuchahardfightwiththehorses。IfI’dbeenlikehewas，I’dhavetoldhimthathewasolder，mothertoldHIMtodoit，anditwasn’tmyfault；butinmyheartIknewhedidhavehishandsfull，andifyou’reyourbrother’skeeper，yououghttoHELPyourbrotherremember。SoIstoodgawking，whileLeonslowlyturnedwhiterandwhiter。
　　“Wemightaswellseeifwecanfindher，“hesaidatlast，soslowandhopelesslikeitmademyheartache。Sohestartedaroundthestrawstackoneway，andItheother，lookingintoalltheholes，andbeforeIhadgonefarIhadaglimpseofher，anditscaredmesoIscreamed，forherheadwasdown，andshedidn’tlookright。Leoncamerunningandpulledherout。Theswelledcornrolledinalittletrailafterher，andthepigsranupandbegantoeatit。PigsarenamedrighterthananythingelseI
　　know。
　　“Busted！“criedLeonintonesofawe；abouttheworstaweyoueverheard，andtheworstbustyoueversaw。
　　Frombilltobreastshewaswideopen，andthehominyspilling。
　　Wejuststoodstaringather，andthenLeonbegantokickthepigs；becauseitwouldbenousetokickthegoose；shewouldneverknow。Thenhetookherup，carriedherintothebarn，andputheronthefloorwheretheothergeesehadstayedallnight。
　　Westoodandlookedathersomemore，asiflookingandhopingwouldmakehergetupandbealiveagain。Butthere’snothinginallthisworldsouselessaswishingdeadthingswouldcomealive；wehadtodosomething。
　　“Whatareyougoingtotellmother？“
　　“Shutup！“saidLeon。“I’mtryingtothink。“
　　“I’llsayitwasasmuchmyfaultasyours。I’llgowithyou。
　　I’lltakehalfwhatevertheydotoyou。“
　　“Littlefool！“saidLeon。“Whatgoodwouldthatdome？“
　　“Doyouknowwhattheycost？Couldyougetanotherwithsomeofyourhorsemoney？“