diff options
| author | pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> | 2026-06-28 04:56:52 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> | 2026-06-28 04:56:52 -0700 |
| commit | d438fc07fdd2acd806bf1e3f6081d21ea9d86bb7 (patch) | |
| tree | 2be1834ca21fda4c8540c961153906ef315d8061 /1375-h/1375-h.htm | |
| parent | 6dc6dbc7f38578637b9993f909f40e3d4d99e24a (diff) | |
Diffstat (limited to '1375-h/1375-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 1375-h/1375-h.htm | 969 |
1 files changed, 527 insertions, 442 deletions
diff --git a/1375-h/1375-h.htm b/1375-h/1375-h.htm index e49878b..2ea371a 100644 --- a/1375-h/1375-h.htm +++ b/1375-h/1375-h.htm @@ -140,6 +140,18 @@ <br> <br> </p> <hr> + +<pre> + + If thou couldst know thine own sweetness, + O little one, perfect and sweet, + Thou wouldst be a child forever; + Completer, whilst incomplete. + + —Francis Turner Palgrave<br> +</pre> + + <p> <br> <br> <a id="link2H_4_0001"> <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> @@ -192,7 +204,7 @@ </pre> <p> It's a pity the hollyhock isn't really little, instead of steepling up to - the window top, but I can't say, 'Gay TALL hollyhock.'... I might have it + the window top, but I can't say, 'Gay <i>tall</i> hollyhock.'... I might have it 'Lines to a Hollyhock in May,' for then it would be small; but oh, no! I forgot; in May it wouldn't be blooming, and it's so pretty to say that its head is 'sweetly rosetted'... I wish the teacher wasn't away; she would @@ -229,7 +241,7 @@ </p> <p> “Pretty good, Aunt Miranda; only I wish flowers would ever come up as - thick as this pigweed and plantain and sorrel. What MAKES weeds be thick + thick as this pigweed and plantain and sorrel. What <i>makes</i> weeds be thick and flowers be thin?—I just happened to be stopping to think a minute when you looked out.” </p> @@ -249,19 +261,23 @@ scream to me when I'm rollin' out these doughnuts, and it wouldn't to you if your mind was on your duty.” </p> -<pre> -Rebecca's little brown hands flew in and out among the weeds as she -thought rebelliously: “Creation WOULDN'T scream to Aunt Miranda; it -would know she wouldn't come.” + <p> + Rebecca's little brown hands flew in and out among the weeds as she + thought rebelliously: “Creation <i>wouldn't</i> scream to Aunt Miranda; it + would know she wouldn't come.” + </p> +<pre> Scream on, thou bright and gay creation, scream! 'Tis not Miranda that will hear thy cry! </pre> -<pre> -Oh, such funny, nice things come into my head out here by myself, I do -wish I could run up and put them down in my thought book before I forget -them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— + <p> + Oh, such funny, nice things come into my head out here by myself, I do + wish I could run up and put them down in my thought book before I forget + them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— + </p> +<pre> Rebecca was weeding the hollyhock bed When wonderful thoughts came into her head. Her aunt was occupied with the rolling pin @@ -269,22 +285,23 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— </pre> <p> That wouldn't do because it's mean to Aunt Miranda, and anyway it isn't - good. I MUST crawl under the syringa shade a minute, it's so hot, and + good. I <i>must</i> crawl under the syringa shade a minute, it's so hot, and anybody has to stop working once in a while, just to get their breath, even if they weren't making poetry. </p> - <p> - Rebecca was weeding the hollyhock bed When marvelous thoughts came into - her head. Miranda was wielding the rolling pin And thoughts at such times - seemed to her as a sin. - </p> +<pre> + Rebecca was weeding the hollyhock bed + When marvelous thoughts came into her head. + Miranda was wielding the rolling pin + And thoughts at such times seemed to her as a sin. +</pre> <p> How pretty the hollyhock rosettes look from down here on the sweet, smelly ground! </p> <p> - “Let me see what would go with rosetting. AIDING AND ABETTING, PETTING, - HEN-SETTING, FRETTING,—there's nothing very nice, but I can make + “Let me see what would go with rosetting. <i>Aiding and abetting, petting, + hen-setting, fretting</i>,—there's nothing very nice, but I can make fretting' do. </p> <pre> @@ -292,17 +309,17 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— The flowers are rosetting, But Aunt Miranda's fretting Doth somewhat cloud the day.” - </pre> +</pre> <p> Suddenly the sound of wagon wheels broke the silence and then a voice called out—a voice that could not wait until the feet that belonged - to it reached the spot: “Miss Saw-YER! Father's got to drive over to North + to it reached the spot: “Miss Saw-<i>yer!</i> Father's got to drive over to North Riverboro on an errand, and please can Rebecca go, too, as it's Saturday morning and vacation besides?” </p> <p> Rebecca sprang out from under the syringa bush, eyes flashing with delight - as only Rebecca's eyes COULD flash, her face one luminous circle of joyous + as only Rebecca's eyes <i>could</i> flash, her face one luminous circle of joyous anticipation. She clapped her grubby hands, and dancing up and down, cried: “May I, Aunt Miranda—can I, Aunt Jane—can I, Aunt Miranda-Jane? I'm more than half through the bed.” @@ -380,7 +397,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— </p> <p> “If she'd kep' on goin' to meetin' an' hadn't looked at the men folks she - might a' be'n earnin' an honest livin' this minute,” said Miranda. “Men + might 'a' be'n earnin' an honest livin' this minute,” said Miranda. “Men folks are at the bottom of everything wrong in this world,” she continued, unconsciously reversing the verdict of history. </p> @@ -407,9 +424,9 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— <p> “Plenty o' trouble in the world, Rebecky, shiny mornin's an' all,” that good man replied. “If you want a bed to lay on, a roof over your head, an' - food to eat, you've got to work for em. If I hadn't a' labored early an' - late, learned my trade, an' denied myself when I was young, I might a' - be'n a pauper layin' sick in a loggin' cabin, stead o' bein' an overseer + food to eat, you've got to work for 'em. If I hadn't 'a' labored early an' + late, learned my trade, an' denied myself when I was young, I might 'a' + be'n a pauper layin' sick in a loggin' cabin, 'stead o' bein' an overseer o' the poor an' selectman drivin' along to take the pauper to the poor farm.” </p> @@ -421,7 +438,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— </p> <p> “Bless your soul, no; not unless they fail to pay up; but Sal Perry an' - her husband hadn't got fur enough along in life to BE mortgaged. You have + her husband hadn't got fur enough along in life to <i>be</i> mortgaged. You have to own something before you can mortgage it.” </p> <p> @@ -472,9 +489,10 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— “I was all alone with her. She passed away suddenly jest about break o' day,” said Lizy Ann Dennett. </p> - <p> - “Her soul passed upward to its God Just at the break of day.” - </p> +<pre> + “Her soul passed upward to its God + Just at the break of day.” +</pre> <p> These words came suddenly into Rebecca's mind from a tiny chamber where such things were wont to lie quietly until something brought them to the @@ -526,7 +544,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— then, or the note of a bird, or the click of a far-distant mowing machine. </p> <p> - “We're WATCHING!” whispered Emma Jane. “They watched with Gran'pa Perkins, + “We're <i>watching!</i>” whispered Emma Jane. “They watched with Gran'pa Perkins, and there was a great funeral and two ministers. He left two thousand dollars in the bank and a store full of goods, and a paper thing you could cut tickets off of twice a year, and they were just like money.” @@ -549,7 +567,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— “Would you dare put them on to her?” asked Emma Jane, in a hushed voice. </p> <p> - “I don't know; I can't tell; it makes me shiver, but, of course, we COULD + “I don't know; I can't tell; it makes me shiver, but, of course, we <i>could</i> do it if we were the only friends she had. Let's look into the cabin first and be perfectly sure that there aren't any. Are you afraid?” </p> @@ -578,8 +596,8 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— and there's a weeny, weeny baby side of her. Oh, I wish I hadn't gone in!” </p> <p> - Emma Jane blenched for an instant. “Mrs. Dennett never said THERE WAS TWO - DEAD ONES! ISN'T THAT DREADFUL? But,” she continued, her practical common + Emma Jane blenched for an instant. “Mrs. Dennett never said <i>there was two + two dead ones! Isn't that dreadful?</i> But,” she continued, her practical common sense coming to the rescue, “you've been in once and it's all over; it won't be so bad when you take in the flowers because you'll be used to it. The goldenrod hasn't begun to bud, so there's nothing to pick but daisies. @@ -593,13 +611,13 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— only asleep now, and when she wakes up she'll be in heaven.” </p> <p> - “THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE,” said Emma Jane, in an orthodox and sepulchral + “<i>There's another place</i>,” said Emma Jane, in an orthodox and sepulchral whisper, as she took her ever-present ball of crochet cotton from her pocket and began to twine the whiteweed blossoms into a rope. </p> <p> “Oh, well!” Rebecca replied with the easy theology that belonged to her - temperament. “They simply couldn't send her DOWN THERE with that little + temperament. “They simply couldn't send her <i>down there</i> with that little weeny baby. Who'd take care of it? You know page six of the catechism says the only companions of the wicked after death are their father the devil and all the other evil angels; it wouldn't be any place to bring up a @@ -616,7 +634,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— <p> “No, but I suppose she's tired sitting up and nursing a stranger. Mother wasn't sorry when Gran'pa Perkins died; she couldn't be, for he was cross - all the time and had to be fed like a child. Why ARE you crying again, + all the time and had to be fed like a child. Why <i>are</i> you crying again, Rebecca?” </p> <p> @@ -657,24 +675,24 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— father'd come back before I finished, and the first verse sounds exactly like the funeral hymns in the church book. I couldn't call her Sally Winslow; it didn't seem nice when I didn't know her and she is dead, so I - thought if I said friend' it would show she had somebody to be sorry. + thought if I said 'friend' it would show she had somebody to be sorry. </p> <pre> “This friend of ours has died and gone - From us to heaven to live. - If she has sinned against Thee, Lord, - We pray Thee, Lord, forgive. + From us to heaven to live. + If she has sinned against Thee, Lord, + We pray Thee, Lord, forgive. “Her husband runneth far away - And knoweth not she's dead. - Oh, bring him back—ere tis too late— - To mourn beside her bed. + And knoweth not she's dead. + Oh, bring him back—ere tis too late— + To mourn beside her bed. “And if perchance it can't be so, - Be to the children kind; - The weeny one that goes with her, - The other left behind.” - </pre> + Be to the children kind; + The weeny one that goes with her, + The other left behind.” +</pre> <p> “I think that's perfectly elegant!” exclaimed Emma Jane, kissing Rebecca fervently. “You are the smartest girl in the whole State of Maine, and it @@ -706,7 +724,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— </p> <p> “We've done all we can now without a minister,” whispered Rebecca. “We - could sing, God is ever good' out of the Sunday school song book, but I'm + could sing, 'God is ever good' out of the Sunday school song book, but I'm afraid somebody would hear us and think we were gay and happy. What's that?” </p> @@ -778,7 +796,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— </p> <p> “Perhaps not,” agreed Rebecca despondently, “but I think if we haven't got - any—any—PRIVATE babies in Riverboro we ought to have one for + any—any—<i>private</i> babies in Riverboro we ought to have one for the town, and all have a share in it. We've got a town hall and a town lamp post and a town watering trough. Things are so uneven! One house like mine at Sunnybrook, brimful of children, and the very next one empty! The @@ -787,8 +805,8 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— up, you know, if they'd go round. Oh, I have a thought! Don't you believe Aunt Sarah Cobb would keep him? She carries flowers to the graveyard every little while, and once she took me with her. There's a marble cross, and - it says: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SARAH ELLEN, BELOVED CHILD OF SARAH AND - JEREMIAH COBB, AGED 17 MONTHS. Why, that's another reason; Mrs. Dennett + it says: <i>Sacred to the memory of Sarah Ellen, beloved child of Sarah and + Jeremiah Cobb, aged 17 months</i>. Why, that's another reason; Mrs. Dennett says this one is seventeen months. There's five of us left at the farm without me, but if we were only nearer to Riverboro, how quick mother would let in one more!” @@ -1021,7 +1039,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— and slaves, and one fear alone stirred in all their hearts; not, as a sensible and practical person might imagine, the fear that the recreant father might never return to claim his child, but, on the contrary, that - he MIGHT do so! + he <i>might</i> do so! </p> <p> October came at length with its cheery days and frosty nights, its glory @@ -1059,7 +1077,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— <p> Mrs. Cobb opened the door hastily, calling after her, “Rebecca, Rebecca, come back here! You mustn't follow where you haven't any right to go. If - there'd been anything to say or do, I'd a' done it.” + there'd been anything to say or do, I'd 'a' done it.” </p> <p> “He's mine! He's mine!” stormed Rebecca. “At least he's yours and mine!” @@ -1136,25 +1154,27 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— sentiments set to the tune of “Antioch.” The words, to a lad brought up in the orthodox faith, were quite distinguishable: </p> - <p> - “Daughter of Zion, from the dust, Exalt thy fallen head!” - </p> +<pre> + “Daughter of Zion, from the dust, + Exalt thy fallen head!” +</pre> <p> Even the most religious youth is stronger on first lines than others, but Abijah pulled up his horse and waited till he caught another familiar verse, beginning: </p> - <p> - “Rebuild thy walls, thy bounds enlarge, And send thy heralds forth.” - </p> +<pre> + “Rebuild thy walls, thy bounds enlarge, + And send thy heralds forth.” +</pre> <p> “That's Rebecca carrying the air, and I can hear Emma Jane's alto.” </p> <pre> “Say to the North, - Give up thy charge, - And hold not back, O South, - And hold not back, O South,” etc. + Give up thy charge, + And hold not back, O South, + And hold not back, O South,” etc. </pre> <p> “Land! ain't they smart, seesawin' up and down in that part they learnt in @@ -1172,10 +1192,10 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— </p> <pre> “Shall we whose souls are lighted - With Wisdom from on high, - Shall we to men benighted - The lamp of life deny?” - </pre> + With Wisdom from on high, + Shall we to men benighted + The lamp of life deny?” +</pre> <p> “Land!” exclaimed Abijah under his breath. “They're at it up here, too! That explains it all. There's a missionary meeting at the church, and the @@ -1234,8 +1254,8 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— granddaughter of a missionary to China, would be much more eligible. </p> <p> - “No,” said Alice, with entire good nature, “whoever is ELECTED president, - you WILL be, Rebecca—you're that kind—so you might as well + “No,” said Alice, with entire good nature, “whoever is <i>elected</i> president, + you <i>will</i> be, Rebecca—you're that kind—so you might as well have the honor; I'd just as lieves be secretary, anyway.” </p> <p> @@ -1273,7 +1293,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— ought to have her.” </p> <p> - “Is 'guile' the same as 'guilt?” inquired Emma Jane Perkins. + “Is 'guile' the same as guilt?” inquired Emma Jane Perkins. </p> <p> “Yes,” the president answered; “exactly the same, except one is written @@ -1284,7 +1304,7 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— for fear of getting it spotted.” </p> <p> - “I'd just as 'lieves get 'guile' spotted as not,” affirmed the + “I'd just as lieves get 'guile' spotted as not,” affirmed the unimaginative Emma Jane. “I think it's an awful foolish word; but now we're all named and our officers elected, what do we do first? It's easy enough for Mary and Martha Burch; they just play at missionarying because @@ -1414,15 +1434,16 @@ them, but Aunt Miranda wouldn't like me to leave off weeding:— After a very brief period of silence the words “Jacob Moody” fell from all lips with entire accord. </p> + <p> + “You are right,” said the president tersely; “and after singing hymn + number two hundred seventy four, to be found on the sixty-sixth page, + we will take up the question of persuading Mr. Moody to attend divine + service or the minister's Bible class, he not having been in the + meeting-house for lo! these many years. + </p> <pre> -“You are right,” said the president tersely; “and after singing hymn -number two hundred seventy four, to be found on the sixty-sixth page, -we will take up the question of persuading Mr. Moody to attend divine -service or the minister's Bible class, he not having been in the -meeting-house for lo! these many years. - 'Daughter of Zion, the power that hath saved thee - Extolled with the harp and the timbrel should be.' + Extolled with the harp and the timbrel should be.' </pre> <p> “Sing without reading, if you please, omitting the second stanza. Hymn two @@ -1470,7 +1491,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. “Who will volunteer to visit Mr. Moody?” blandly asked the president. </p> <p> - VISIT MR. MOODY! It was a wonder the roof of the barn chamber did not + <i>Visit Mr. Moody!</i> It was a wonder the roof of the barn chamber did not fall; it did, indeed echo the words and in some way make them sound more grim and satirical. </p> @@ -1563,7 +1584,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. sign, almost like God speaking to Moses in the burning bush.” </p> <p> - “Oh, I WISH there was a burning bush right here!” cried the distracted and + “Oh, I <i>wish</i> there was a burning bush right here!” cried the distracted and recalcitrant missionary. “How quick I'd step into it without even stopping to take off my garnet ring!” </p> @@ -1582,7 +1603,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> At the entrance to the pasture Rebecca gave her an impassioned embrace, - and whispering, “WHATEVER YOU DO, BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LEAD UP,” lifted off + and whispering, “<i>Whatever you do, be careful how you lead up</i>,” lifted off the top rail and pushed her through the bars. Then the girls turned their backs reluctantly on the pathetic figure, and each sought a tree under whose friendly shade she could watch, and perhaps pray, until the @@ -1624,7 +1645,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> “It's a pleasant afternoon, Mr. Moody,” she said in a polite but hoarse - whisper, Rebecca's words, “LEAD UP! LEAD UP!” ringing in clarion tones + whisper, Rebecca's words, “<i>Lead up! Lead up!</i>” ringing in clarion tones through her brain. </p> <p> @@ -1656,7 +1677,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> Finally, the host became tired of his dumb visitor, and leaning on his axe he said, “Look here, Sis, what have you come for? What's your errant? Do - you want apples? Or cider? Or what? Speak out, or GIT out, one or + you want apples? Or cider? Or what? Speak out, or <i>git</i> out, one or t'other.” </p> <p> @@ -1673,7 +1694,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. sanct'omus young one! You just let me ketch Bill Perkins' child trying to teach me where I shall go, at my age! Scuttle, I tell ye! And if I see your pious cantin' little mug inside my fence ag'in on sech a business - I'll chase ye down the hill or set the dog on ye! SCOOT, I TELL YE!” + I'll chase ye down the hill or set the dog on ye! <i>Scoot, I tell ye!</i>” </p> <p> Emma Jane obeyed orders summarily, taking herself off the log, out the @@ -1721,7 +1742,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. roared at me like Squire Winship's bull.... And he called my face a mug.... You shut up that secretary book, Alice Robinson! If you write down a single word I'll never speak to you again.... And I don't want to be a - member' another minute for fear of drawing another short lot. I've got + 'member' another minute for fear of drawing another short lot. I've got enough of the Daughters or Zion to last me the rest o' my life! I don't care who goes to meetin' and who don't.” </p> @@ -1799,9 +1820,10 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. Then, oh, ever lovely green and growing world! For Rebecca had that something in her soul that </p> - <p> - “Gives to seas and sunset skies The unspent beauty of surprise.” - </p> +<pre> + “Gives to seas and sunset skies + The unspent beauty of surprise.” +</pre> <p> At the top of Guide Board hill she could see Alice Robinson's barn with its shining weather vane, a huge burnished fish that swam with the wind @@ -1887,7 +1909,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. The open doors swinging out to the peaceful landscape, the solace of the pipe, not allowed in the “settin'-room”—how beautifully these simple agents have ministered to the family peace in days agone! “If I hadn't had - my barn and my store BOTH, I couldn't never have lived in holy matrimony + my barn and my store <i>both</i>, I couldn't never have lived in holy matrimony with Maryliza!” once said Mr. Watson feelingly. </p> <p> @@ -1929,40 +1951,52 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. executor and bidden to deliver certain “Valuable Poetry and Thoughts,” the property of posterity “unless carelessly destroyed.” </p> - <p> - THOUGHT BOOK of Rebecca Rowena Randall Really of Sunnybrook Farm But - temporily of The Brick House Riverboro. Own niece of Miss Miranda and Jane - Sawyer Second of seven children of her father, Mr. L. D. M. Randall (Now - at rest in Temperance cemmetary and there will be a monument as soon as we - pay off the mortgage on the farm) Also of her mother Mrs. Aurelia Randall - </p> -<pre> - In case of Death the best of these Thoughts - May be printed in my Remerniscences - For the Sunday School Library at Temperance, Maine - Which needs more books fearfully - And I hereby - Will and Testament them to Mr. Adam Ladd - Who bought 300 cakes of soap from me - And thus secured a premium - A Greatly Needed Banquet Lamp - For my friends the Simpsons. - He is the only one that incourages - My writing Remerniscences and - My teacher Miss Dearborn will - Have much valuable Poetry and Thoughts + <p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> + THOUGHT BOOK <br> + of<br> + Rebecca Rowena Randall <br> + Really of <br> + Sunnybrook Farm <br> + But temporily of <br> + The Brick House Riverboro. <br> + Own niece of Miss Miranda and Jane Sawyer <br> + Second of seven children of her father, Mr. L. D. M. Randall <br> + (Now at rest in Temperance cemmetary and there will be a <br> + monument as soon as we pay off the mortgage on the farm) <br> + Also of her mother Mrs. Aurelia Randall <br> + ☙ + </p> + <p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> + In case of Death the best of these Thoughts <br> + May be printed in my Remerniscences <br> + For the Sunday School Library at Temperance, Maine <br> + Which needs more books fearfully <br> + And I hereby <br> + Will and Testament them to Mr. Adam Ladd <br> + Who bought 300 cakes of soap from me <br> + And thus secured a premium <br> + A Greatly Needed Banquet Lamp <br> + For my friends the Simpsons. <br> + He is the only one that incourages <br> + My writing Remerniscences and <br> + My teacher Miss Dearborn will <br> + Have much valuable Poetry and Thoughts <br> To give him unless carelessly destroyed. - - The pictures are by the same hand that + </p> + <p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> + The pictures are by the same hand that <br> Wrote the Thoughts. -</pre> + </p> <p> - IT IS NOT NOW DECIDED WHETHER REBECCA ROWENA RANDALL WILL BE A PAINTER OR - AN AUTHOR, BUT AFTER HER DEATH IT WILL BE KNOWN WHICH SHE HAS BEEN, IF - ANY. + <p style="text-align: center;"> + <i>It is not now decided whether Rebecca Rowena Randall will be a<br> + painter or an author, but after her death it will be known which<br> + she has been, if any.</i> </p> - <p> - FINIS + <p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> + *********<br> + FINIS.<br> + ********* </p> <p> From the title page, with its wealth of detail, and its unnecessary and @@ -1971,7 +2005,10 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. quality. </p> <p> - OUR DIARIES May, 187— + OUR DIARIES + </p> + <p> + May, 187— </p> <p> All the girls are keeping a diary because Miss Dearborn was very much @@ -1984,7 +2021,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. who had to read them. </p> <p> - To make my diary a little different I am going to call it a THOUGHT Book + To make my diary a little different I am going to call it a Thought Book (written just like that, with capitals). I have thoughts that I never can use unless I write them down, for Aunt Miranda always says, Keep your thoughts to yourself. Aunt Jane lets me tell her some, but does not like @@ -2005,7 +2042,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. We should make our lives sublime, And departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.” - </pre> +</pre> <p> I know what this means because when Emma Jane and I went to the beach with Uncle Jerry Cobb we ran along the wet sand and looked at the shapes our @@ -2034,7 +2071,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. written down, and to go up attic and find her piece-bag; but I said it would, as there was only one of everybody in the world, and nobody else could do their remerniscensing for them. If I should die tonight I know - now who would describe me right. Miss Dearborn would say one thing and + not who would describe me right. Miss Dearborn would say one thing and brother John another. Emma Jane would try to do me justice, but has no words; and I am glad Aunt Miranda never takes the pen in hand. </p> @@ -2098,14 +2135,15 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. said it was the first thing for children to learn,—not to be impatient,—so when I went to the barn chamber I made a poem. </p> - <p> - IMPATIENCE - </p> - <p> - We dug our rose cakes up oh! all too soon. Twas in the orchard just at - noon. Twas in a bright July forenoon. Twas in the sunny afternoon. Twas - underneath the harvest moon. - </p> +<pre> + IMPATIENCE + + We dug our rose cakes up oh! all too soon. + 'Twas in the orchard just at noon. + 'Twas in a bright July forenoon. + 'Twas in the sunny afternoon. + 'Twas underneath the harvest moon. +</pre> <p> It was not that way at all; it was a foggy morning before school, and I should think poets could never possibly get to heaven, for it is so hard @@ -2123,7 +2161,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. We ne'er suspicioned they would not be done After three days of autumn wind and sun. Why did we from the earth our treasures draw? - Twas not for fear that rat or mole might naw, + 'Twas not for fear that rat or mole might naw, An aged aunt doth say impatience was the reason, She says that youth is ever out of season. </pre> @@ -2139,8 +2177,8 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. September, 187— </p> <p> - WHICH HAS BEEN THE MOST BENEFERCENT INFLUENCE ON CHARACTER—PUNISHMENT - OR REWARD? + <i>Which has been the most Benefercent Influence on Character—Punishment + or Reward?</i> </p> <p> This truly dreadful question was given us by Dr. Moses when he visited @@ -2160,17 +2198,17 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> Miss Dearborn stared out the window, and her mouth and chin shook like - Alice Robinson's, for she knew, ah! all to well, what the coming week + Alice Robinson's, for she knew, ah! all too well, what the coming week would bring forth. </p> <p> Then I raised my hand for permission to speak, and stood up and said: - “Miss Dearborn, don't you mind! Just explain to us what benefercent' means - and we'll write something real interesting; for all of us know what + “Miss Dearborn, don't you mind! Just explain to us what 'benefercent' + means and we'll write something real interesting; for all of us know what punishment is, and have seen others get rewards, and it is not so bad a - subject as some.” And Dick Carter whispered, “GOOD ON YOUR HEAD, REBECCA!” - which mean he was sorry for her too, and would try his best, but has no - words. + subject as some.” And Dick Carter whispered, “<i>Good on your head, + Rebecca!</i>” which meant he was sorry for her too, and would try his best, + but has no words. </p> <p> Then teacher smiled and said benefercent meant good or healthy for @@ -2195,8 +2233,9 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. not genteel, as there is much to relate about punishment not pleasant or nice and hardly polite. </p> + <hr> <p> - * * * * * * * * * * * * * PUNISHMENT + PUNISHMENT </p> <p> Punishment is a very puzzly thing, but I believe in it when really @@ -2213,7 +2252,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. as the mothers in the missionary books throw their infants to the crocodiles in the Ganges river. But it got stuck in the chain that holds the bucket, and Aunt Miranda had to get Abijah Flagg to take out all the - broken bits before we could ring up water. + broken bits before we could bring up water. </p> <p> I punished myself this way because Aunt Miranda said that unless I @@ -2224,8 +2263,8 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. chairs to bottom, and mother used to say—“Poor man! His back is too weak for such a burden!” and I used to take him out a doughnut, and this is the part I want to go into the Remerniscences. Once I told him we were - sorry the chairs were so heavy, and he said THEY DIDN'T SEEM SO HEAVY WHEN - HE HAD ET THE DOUGHNUT. This does not mean that the doughnut was heavier + sorry the chairs were so heavy, and he said <i>They didn't seem so heavy when + he had et the doughnut</i>. This does not mean that the doughnut was heavier than the chairs which is what brother John said, but it is a beautiful thought and shows how the human race should have sympathy, and help bear burdens. @@ -2240,10 +2279,10 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. in three papers and put it away marked not to be opened till after my death unless needed for a party. </p> - <p> - I must not be Burden, I must not be Blight, The angels in heaven would - weep at the sight. - </p> +<pre> + I must not be Burden, I must not be Blight, + The angels in heaven would weep at the sight. +</pre> <hr> <p> REWARDS @@ -2284,12 +2323,12 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> I went up again after supper with Dick Carter to see how it turned out. Alice came to the window and Dick threw up a note tied to a stick. I had - written: “DEMAND YOUR PUNISHMENT TO THE FULL. BE BRAVE LIKE DOLORES' - MOTHER IN THE Martyrs of Spain.” + written: “<i>Demand your punishment to the full. be brave like Dolores' + mother in the</i> Martyrs of Spain.” </p> <p> - She threw down an answer, and it was: “YOU JUST BE LIKE DOLORES' MOTHER - YOURSELF IF YOU'RE SO SMART!” Then she stamped away from the window and my + She threw down an answer, and it was: “<i>You just be like Dolores' mother + yourself if you're so smart!</i>” Then she stamped away from the window and my feelings were hurt, but Dick said perhaps she was hungry, and that made her cross. And as Dick and I turned to go out of the yard we looked back and I saw something I can never forget. (The Great Shock) Mrs. Robinson @@ -2378,16 +2417,18 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. how I hate drab and green and how I never wear my hat with the black and yellow porkupine quills without wishing it would blow into the river. </p> - <p> - Whene'er I take my walks abroad How many quills I see. But as they are not - porkupines They never come to me. - </p> +<pre> + Whene'er I take my walks abroad + How many quills I see. + But as they are not porkupines + They never come to me. +</pre> <p> COMPOSITION </p> <p> - WHICH HAS THE MOST BENEFERCENT EFFECT ON THE CHARACTER, PUNISHMENT OR - REWARD? + <i>Which has the most Benefercent Effect on the Character, Punishment or + Reward?</i> </p> <p> By Rebecca Rowena Randall @@ -2578,7 +2619,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. that doesn't kill. </p> <p> - “They HAVE come indeed; ESPECIALLY ONE YOU KNOW,” said a voice, and out + “They <i>have</i> come indeed; <i>especially one you know</i>,” said a voice, and out from the alder bushes sprung Lancelot Littlefield, for that was the lover's name and it was none other than he. His hair was curly and like living gold. His shirt, white of flannel, was new and dry, and of a @@ -2674,7 +2715,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. up to his inspection. </p> <p> - “You see Riverboro people WILL make a story!” asserted Rebecca + “You see Riverboro people <i>will</i> make a story!” asserted Rebecca triumphantly as she finished her reading and folded the paper. “And it all came from my noticing the river drivers' tracks by the roadside, and wondering about them; and wondering always makes stories; the minister @@ -2690,7 +2731,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> “It's a Riverboro story, sure enough, because you've got the river and the bridge and the hill and the drivers all right there in it; but there's - something awful queer bout it; the folks don't act Riverboro, and don't + something awful queer 'bout it; the folks don't act Riverboro, and don't talk Riverboro, cordin' to my notions. I call it a reg'lar book story.” </p> <p> @@ -2704,19 +2745,19 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. and the sisters was most too thunderin' bad to live on the face o' the earth, and that fayry old lady that kep' the punkin' coach up her sleeve—well, anyhow, you jest believe that punkin' coach, rats, mice, and all, when - you're hearin' bout it, fore ever you stop to think it ain't so. + you're hearin' 'bout it, 'fore ever you stop to think it ain't so. </p> <p> “I don' know how tis, but the folks in that Cinderella story seem to match together somehow; they're all pow'ful onlikely—the prince feller with the glass slipper, and the hull bunch; but jest the same you kind o' - gulp em all down in a lump. But land, Rebecky, nobody'd swaller that there + gulp 'em all down in a lump. But land, Rebecky, nobody'd swaller that there village maiden o' your'n, and as for what's-his-name Littlefield, that - come out o' them bushes, such a feller never 'd a' be'n IN bushes! No, + come out o' them bushes, such a feller never 'd 'a' be'n <i>in</i> bushes! No, Rebecky, you're the smartest little critter there is in this township, and you beat your Uncle Jerry all holler when it comes to usin' a lead pencil, but I say that ain't no true Riverboro story! Look at the way they talk! - What was that' bout being BETROTHED'?” + What was that 'bout being <i>'betrothed'?</i>” </p> <p> “Betrothed is a genteel word for engaged to be married,” explained the @@ -2737,10 +2778,10 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> “Well, it ain't!” asserted Mr. Cobb decisively. “I've druv Boston men up - in the stage from Milltown many's the time, and none of em ever said + in the stage from Milltown many's the time, and none of 'em ever said Naysweet to me, nor nothin'like it. They talked like folks, every mother's - son of em! If I'd a' had that what's-his-name on the harricane deck' o' - the stage and he tried any naysweetin' on me, I'd a' pitched him into the + son of 'em! If I'd 'a' had that what's-his-name on the 'harricane deck' o' + the stage and he tried any naysweetin' on me, I'd 'a' pitched him into the cornfield, side o' the road. I guess you ain't growed up enough for that kind of a story, Rebecky, for your poetry can't be beat in York County, that's sure, and your compositions are good enough to read out loud in @@ -2976,7 +3017,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. perfectly elegant magenta; two colors much in vogue at that time. If the old brown hat was to be her portion yet another winter, would Aunt Miranda conceal its deficiencies from a carping world beneath the shaded solferino - breast? WOULD she, that was the question? + breast? <i>Would</i> she, that was the question? </p> <p> Filled with these perplexing thoughts, Rebecca entered the brick house, @@ -3002,18 +3043,18 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. anything better or more economical than these quills! Your mother had them when she was married, and you wore them the day you come to the brick house from the farm; and I said to myself then that they looked kind of - outlandish, but I've grown to like em now I've got used to em. You've been + outlandish, but I've grown to like 'em now I've got used to 'em. You've been here for goin' on two years and they've hardly be'n out o'wear, summer or winter, more'n a month to a time! I declare they do beat all for service! - It don't seem as if your mother could a' chose em,—Aurelia was - always such a poor buyer! The black spills are bout as good as new, but + It don't seem as if your mother could 'a' chose 'em,—Aurelia was + always such a poor buyer! The black spills are 'bout as good as new, but the orange ones are gittin' a little mite faded and shabby. I wonder if I - couldn't dip all of em in shoe blackin'? It seems real queer to put a + couldn't dip all of 'em in shoe blackin'? It seems real queer to put a porcupine into hat trimmin', though I declare I don't know jest what the - animiles are like, it's be'n so long sence I looked at the pictures of em + animiles are like, it's be'n so long sence I looked at the pictures of 'em in a geography. I always thought their quills stood out straight and - angry, but these kind o' curls round some at the ends, and that makes em - stand the wind better. How do you like em on the brown felt?” she asked, + angry, but these kind o' curls round some at the ends, and that makes 'em + stand the wind better. How do you like 'em on the brown felt?” she asked, inclining her head in a discriminating attitude and poising them awkwardly on the hat with her work-stained hand. </p> @@ -3030,19 +3071,19 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. suddenly, quite without warning, she burst into a torrent of protest. </p> <p> - “I will NOT wear those hateful porcupine quills again this winter! I will - not! It's wicked, WICKED to expect me to! Oh! How I wish there never had + “I will <i>not</i> wear those hateful porcupine quills again this winter! I will + not! It's wicked, <i>wicked</i> to expect me to! Oh! How I wish there never had been any porcupines in the world, or that all of them had died before silly, hateful people ever thought of trimming hat with them! They curl round and tickle my ear! They blow against my cheek and sting it like needles! They do look outlandish, you said so yourself a minute ago. Nobody ever had any but only just me! The only porcupine was made into the - only quills for me and nobody else! I wish instead of sticking OUT of the - nasty beasts, that they stuck INTO them, same as they do into my cheek! I + only quills for me and nobody else! I wish instead of sticking <i>out</i> of the + nasty beasts, that they stuck <i>into</i> them, same as they do into my cheek! I suffer, suffer, suffer, wearing them and hating them, and they will last forever and forever, and when I'm dead and can't help myself, somebody'll rip them out of my last year's hat and stick them on my head, and I'll be - buried in them! Well, when I am buried THEY will be, that's one good + buried in them! Well, when <i>I</i> am buried <i>they</i> will be, that's one good thing! Oh, if I ever have a child I'll let her choose her own feathers and not make her wear ugly things like pigs' bristles and porcupine quills!” </p> @@ -3090,7 +3131,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> Rebecca wiped her eyes and laughed aloud. “No, no, Aunt Miranda, it won't, - really! That wasn't temper; I don't get angry with PEOPLE; but only, once + really! That wasn't temper; I don't get angry with <i>people</i>; but only, once in a long while, with things; like those,—cover them up quick before I begin again! I'm all right! Shower's over, sun's out!” </p> @@ -3186,12 +3227,12 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> “I'm glad I wore my Paisley shawl over my cloak,” said Miranda. “Be you warm enough, Rebecca? Tie that white rigolette tighter round your neck. - The wind fairly blows through my bones. I most wish t we'd waited till a + The wind fairly blows through my bones. I most wish 't we'd waited till a pleasanter day, for this Union road is all up hill or down, and we shan't get over the ground fast, it's so rough. Don't forget, when you go into Scott's, to say I want all the trimmin's when they send me the pork, for mebbe I can try out a little mite o' lard. The last load o' pine's gone - turrible quick; I must see if “Bijah Flagg can't get us some cut-rounds at + turrible quick; I must see if 'Bijah Flagg can't get us some cut-rounds at the mills, when he hauls for Squire Bean next time. Keep your mind on your drivin', Rebecca, and don't look at the trees and the sky so much. It's the same sky and same trees that have been here right along. Go awful slow @@ -3284,7 +3325,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> “If you had put your elastic under your chin, same as you used to, and not worn it behind because you think it's more grown-up an' fash'onable, the - wind never'd a' took the hat off your head, and you wouldn't a' lost it; + wind never'd 'a' took the hat off your head, and you wouldn't 'a' lost it; but the mischief's done and you can go right over to Mis' Perkins now, so you won't miss her nor keep her waitin'. The two dollars and a half is in an envelope side o' the clock.” @@ -3301,10 +3342,12 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. should the adored object prove, under rigorous examination, to be practically indestructible. </p> - <p> - “Whene'er I take my walks abroad, How many hats I'll see; But if they're - trimmed with hedgehog quills They'll not belong to me!” - </p> +<pre> + “Whene'er I take my walks abroad, + How many hats I'll see; + But if they're trimmed with hedgehog quills + They'll not belong to me!” +</pre> <p> So she improvised, secretly and ecstatically, as she went towards the side entry. @@ -3315,7 +3358,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. guess. It's a paper bag and it may be a punkin, though he wouldn't wrop up a punkin, come to think of it! Shet the dinin' room door, Jane; it's turrible drafty. Make haste, for the Squire's hoss never stan's still a - minute cept when he's goin'!” + minute 'cept when he's goin'!” </p> <p> Abijah Flagg alighted and approached the side door with a grin. @@ -3349,7 +3392,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. from it the remains of a water-soaked hat! </p> <p> - They WERE remains, but there was no doubt of their nature and substance. + They <i>were</i> remains, but there was no doubt of their nature and substance. They had clearly been a hat in the past, and one could even suppose that, when resuscitated, they might again assume their original form in some near and happy future. @@ -3367,18 +3410,18 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. a pleased glance at each of the trio in turn, “an' I seen this little bunnit skippin' over the water jest as Becky does over the road. It's shaped kind o' like a boat, an' gorry, ef it wa'nt sailin' jest like a - boat! Where hev I seen that kind of a bristlin' plume?' thinks I.” + boat! 'Where hev I seen that kind of a bristlin' plume?' thinks I.” </p> <p> (“Where indeed!” thought Rebecca stormily.) </p> <p> “Then it come to me that I'd drove that plume to school and drove it to - meetin' and drove it to the Fair an'drove it most everywheres on Becky. So - I reached out a pole an' ketched it fore it got in amongst the logs an' + meetin' an' drove it to the Fair an' drove it most everywheres on Becky. So + I reached out a pole an' ketched it 'fore it got in amongst the logs an' come to any damage, an' here it is! The hat's passed in its checks, I guess; looks kind as if a wet elephant had stepped on it; but the plume's - bout's good as new! I reely fetched the hat beck for the sake o' the + 'bout's good as new! I reely fetched the hat beck for the sake o' the plume.” </p> <p> @@ -3398,11 +3441,11 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> “And I declare,” Miranda continued, “when you think o' the fuss they make - about ostriches, killin' em off by hundreds for the sake o' their feathers + about ostriches, killin' 'em off by hundreds for the sake o' their feathers that'll string out and spoil in one hard rainstorm,—an' all the time lettin' useful porcupines run round with their quills on, why I can't hardly understand it, without milliners have found out jest how good they - do last, an' so they won't use em for trimmin'. 'Bijah's right; the hat + do last, an' so they won't use 'em for trimmin'. 'Bijah's right; the hat ain't no more use, Rebecca, but you can buy you another this mornin'—any color or shape you fancy—an' have Miss Morton sew these brown quills on to it with some kind of a buckle or a bow, jest to hide the roots. Then @@ -3423,17 +3466,28 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. effect by Miss Dearborn, and with her approval were copied in the Thought Book for the benefit of posterity: </p> +<pre> + “It was the bristling porcupine, + As he stood on his native heath, + He said, 'I'll pluck me some immortelles + And make me up a wreath. + For tho' I may not live myself + To more than a hundred and ten, + My quills will last till crack of doom, + And maybe after then. + They can be colored blue or green + Or orange, brown, or red, + But often as they may be dyed + They never will be dead.' + And so the bristling porcupine + As he stood on his native heath, + Said, 'I think I'll pluck me some immmortelles + And make me up a wreath.' + + R.R.R.” +</pre> <p> - “It was the bristling porcupine, As he stood on his native heath, He said, - 'I'll pluck me some immortelles And make me up a wreath. For tho' I may - not live myself To more than a hundred and ten, My quills will last till - crack of doom, And maybe after then. They can be colored blue or green Or - orange, brown, or red, But often as they may be dyed They never will be - dead.' And so the bristling porcupine As he stood on his native heath, - Said, I think I'll pluck me some immmortelles And make me up a wreath.' - </p> - <p> - “R.R.R.” <a id="link2H_4_0005"> + <a id="link2H_4_0005"> <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> </p> <div style="height: 4em;"> @@ -3559,9 +3613,9 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. nervous! Seems as though they might lay up a little before they come here, and not live from hand to mouth so! The Baxters seem quite different, and I only hope they won't get wasteful and run into debt. They say she keeps - the parlor blinds open bout half the time, and the room is lit up so often + the parlor blinds open 'bout half the time, and the room is lit up so often evenin's that the neighbors think her and Mr. Baxter must set in there. It - don't seem hardly as if it could be so, but Mrs. Buzzell says tis, and she + don't seem hardly as if it could be so, but Mrs. Buzzell says 'tis, and she says we might as well say good-by to the parlor carpet, which is church property, for the Baxters are living all over it!” </p> @@ -3619,13 +3673,13 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> Living Perkins tried to be happy in the ranks, for he was offered no official position, principally, Mrs. Smellie observed, because “his - father's war record wa'nt clean.” “Oh, yes! Jim Perkins went to the war,” + father's war record wa'n't clean.” “Oh, yes! Jim Perkins went to the war,” she continued. “He hid out behind the hencoop when they was draftin', but they found him and took him along. He got into one battle, too, somehow or - nother, but he run away from it. He was allers cautious, Jim was; if he - ever see trouble of any kind comin' towards him, he was out o' sight fore + 'nother, but he run away from it. He was allers cautious, Jim was; if he + ever see trouble of any kind comin' towards him, he was out o' sight 'fore it got a chance to light. He said eight dollars a month, without bounty, - wouldn't pay HIM to stop bullets for. He wouldn't fight a skeeter, Jim + wouldn't pay <i>him</i> to stop bullets for. He wouldn't fight a skeeter, Jim wouldn't, but land! we ain't to war all the time, and he's a good neighbor and a good blacksmith.” </p> @@ -3676,7 +3730,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. against the sky!” </p> <p> - Rebecca's eyes fairly blazed. “Shall I fell on' my star, or buttonhole + Rebecca's eyes fairly blazed. “Shall I 'fell on' my star, or buttonhole it?” she asked. </p> <p> @@ -3706,7 +3760,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. some day; I only wish she were ours! If you could have seen her clasp the flag tight in her arms and put her cheek against it, and watched the tears of feeling start in her eyes when I told her that her star was her state! - I kept whispering to myself, Covet not thy neighbor's child!'” + I kept whispering to myself, 'Covet not thy neighbor's child!'” </p> <p> Daily at four o'clock Rebecca scrubbed her hands almost to the bone, @@ -3715,10 +3769,11 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. needle cautiously, conscientiously formed the tiny stitches she was making rhymes “in her head,” her favorite achievement being this: </p> - <p> - “Your star, my star, all our stars together, They make the dear old banner - proud To float in the bright fall weather.” - </p> +<pre> + “Your star, my star, all our stars together, + They make the dear old banner proud + To float in the bright fall weather.” +</pre> <p> There was much discussion as to which of the girls should impersonate the State of Maine, for that was felt to be the highest honor in the gift of @@ -3765,17 +3820,18 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. the school readers, but she would have agreed heartily with the poet who said: </p> - <p> - “Not by appointment do we meet delight And joy; they heed not our - expectancy; But round some corner in the streets of life They on a sudden - clasp us with a smile.” - </p> +<pre> + “Not by appointment do we meet delight + And joy; they heed not our expectancy; + But round some corner in the streets of life + They on a sudden clasp us with a smile.” +</pre> <p> For many nights before the raising, when she went to her bed she said to herself, after she had finished her prayers: “It can't be true that I'm - chosen for the State of Maine! It just CAN'T be true! Nobody could be good - ENOUGH, but oh, I'll try to be as good as I can! To be going to Wareham - Seminary next week and to be the State of Maine too! Oh! I must pray HARD + chosen for the State of Maine! It just <i>can't</i> be true! Nobody could be good + <i>enough</i>, but oh, I'll try to be as good as I can! To be going to Wareham + Seminary next week and to be the State of Maine too! Oh! I must pray <i>hard</i> to God to keep me meek and humble!” </p> <p> @@ -3888,7 +3944,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <p> “She'll be useful” said Mrs. Fogg, “and she'll be out of her father's way, - and so keep honest; though she's no awful hombly I've no fears for her. A + and so keep honest; though she's so awful hombly I've no fears for her. A girl with her red hair, freckles, and cross-eyes can't fall into no kind of sin, I don't believe.” </p> @@ -3922,12 +3978,12 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. you like the last verse?” she asked, taking out her paper. “I've only read it to Alice Robinson, and I think perhaps she can never be a poet, though she's a splendid writer. Last year when she was twelve she wrote a - birthday poem to herself, and she made natal' rhyme with Milton,.' which, + birthday poem to herself, and she made 'natal' rhyme with 'Milton,' which, of course, it wouldn't. I remember every verse ended: </p> <pre> 'This is my day so natal - And I will follow Milton.' + And I will follow Milton.' </pre> <p> Another one of hers was written just because she couldn't help it, she @@ -3935,9 +3991,9 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. </p> <pre> 'Let me to the hills away, - Give me pen and paper; - I'll write until the earth will sway - The story of my Maker.'” + Give me pen and paper; + I'll write until the earth will sway + The story of my Maker.'” </pre> <p> The minister could scarcely refrain from smiling, but he controlled @@ -3946,7 +4002,7 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. companion. </p> <p> - “The name of the poem is going to be My Star,'” she continued, “and Mrs. + “The name of the poem is going to be 'My Star,'” she continued, “and Mrs. Baxter gave me all the ideas, but somehow there's a kind of magicness when they get into poetry, don't you think so?” (Rebecca always talked to grown people as if she were their age, or, a more subtle and truer distinction, @@ -3955,33 +4011,34 @@ meeting-house for lo! these many years. <p> “It has often been so remarked, in different words,” agreed the minister. </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Baxter said that each star was a state, and if each state did its + best we should have a splendid country. Then once she said that we ought + to be glad the war is over and the States are all at peace together; and + I thought Columbia must be glad, too, for Miss Dearborn says she's + the mother of all the States. So I'm going to have it end like this: I + didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: + </p> <pre> -“Mrs. Baxter said that each star was a state, and if each state did its -best we should have a splendid country. Then once she said that we ought -to be glad the war is over and the States are all at peace together; and -I thought Columbia must be glad, too, for Miss Dearborn says she's -the mother of all the States. So I'm going to have it end like this: I -didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: - For it's your star, my star, all the stars together, - That make our country's flag so proud + That make our country's flag so proud To float in the bright fall weather. Northern stars, Southern stars, stars of the East and West, - Side by side they lie at peace + Side by side they lie at peace On the dear flag's mother-breast.” - </pre> +</pre> <p> - “'Oh! many are the poets that are sown by nature,'” thought the minister, + “'Oh! many are the poets that are sown by Nature,'” thought the minister, quoting Wordsworth to himself. “And I wonder what becomes of them! That's a pretty idea, little Rebecca, and I don't know whether you or my wife ought to have the more praise. What made you think of the stars lying on - the flag's mother-breast'? Where did you get that word?” + the flag's 'mother-breast'? Where did you get that word?” </p> <p> “Why” (and the young poet looked rather puzzled), “that's the way it is; the flag is the whole country—the mother—and the stars are the - states. The stars had to lie somewhere: 'LAP' nor 'ARMS' wouldn't sound - well with West,' so, of course, I said 'BREAST,'” Rebecca answered, with + states. The stars had to lie somewhere: '<i>lap</i>' nor '<i>arms</i>' wouldn't sound + well with 'West,' so, of course, I said '<i>breast</i>,'” Rebecca answered, with some surprise at the question; and the minister put his hand under her chin and kissed her softly on the forehead when he said good-by at the door. @@ -4000,7 +4057,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: leading down to the falls. There was no mistaking him; there never was another Abner Simpson, with his lean height, his bushy reddish hair, the gay cock of his hat, and the long piratical, upturned mustaches, which the - boys used to say were used as hat-racks by the Simpson children at night.. + boys used to say were used as hat-racks by the Simpson children at night. The old Milltown road ran past Mrs. Fogg's house, so he must have left Clara Belle there, and Rebecca's heart glowed to think that her poor little friend need not miss the raising. @@ -4032,7 +4089,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: Mr. Simpson turned round in his seat and cried heartily, “Certain sure I will!” for he liked the fair sex, young and old, and Rebecca had always been a prime favorite with him. “Climb right in! How's everybody? Glad to - see ye! The folks talk bout ye from sun-up to sun-down, and Clara Belle + see ye! The folks talk 'bout ye from sun-up to sun-down, and Clara Belle can't hardly wait for a sight of ye!” </p> <p> @@ -4093,7 +4150,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: present itself. She well remembered how Emma Jane Perkins had failed to convert Jacob Moody, simply because she failed to “lead up” to the delicate question of his manner of life. Clearing her throat nervously, - she began: “Is it likely to be fair tomorrow?” + she began: + </p> + <p> + “Is it likely to be fair tomorrow?” </p> <p> “Guess so; clear as a bell. What's on foot; a picnic?” @@ -4125,7 +4185,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> Mr. Simpson flourished the whipstock and gave a loud, hearty laugh. Then - he turned in his seat and regarded Rebecca curiously. “You're kind of + he turned in his seat and regarded Rebecca curiously. “You're kind o' small, hain't ye, for so big a state as this one?” he asked. </p> <p> @@ -4141,7 +4201,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> “Oh, Mr. Simpson, dear Mr. Simpson, it's such a mortifying subject I can't bear to say anything about it, but please give us back our flag! Don't, - DON'T take it over to Acreville, Mr. Simpson! We've worked so long to make + <i>don't</i> take it over to Acreville, Mr. Simpson! We've worked so long to make it, and it was so hard getting the money for the bunting! Wait a minute, please; don't be angry, and don't say no just yet, till I explain more. It'll be so dreadful for everybody to get there tomorrow morning and find @@ -4151,7 +4211,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> The apparently astonished Abner pulled his mustaches and exclaimed: “But I - don't know what you're drivin' at! Who's got yer flag? I hain't!” + don't know what you're drivin' at! Who's got yer flag? <i>I</i> hain't!” </p> <p> Could duplicity, deceit, and infamy go any further, Rebecca wondered, and @@ -4165,12 +4225,12 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: to take it, and I cannot bear it!” (Her voice broke now, for a doubt of Mr. Simpson's yielding suddenly darkened her mind.) “If you keep it, you'll have to keep me, for I won't be parted from it! I can't fight like - the boys, but I can pinch and scratch, and I WILL scratch, just like a + the boys, but I can pinch and scratch, and I <i>will</i> scratch, just like a panther—I'll lie right down on my star and not move, if I starve to death!” </p> <p> - “Look here, hold your hosses n' don't cry till you git something to cry + “Look here, hold your hosses 'n' don't cry till you git something to cry for!” grumbled the outraged Abner, to whom a clue had just come; and leaning over the wagon-back he caught hold of a corner of white sheet and dragged up the bundle, scooping off Rebecca's hat in the process, and @@ -4179,9 +4239,9 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> She caught the treasure passionately to her heart and stifled her sobs in it, while Abner exclaimed: “I swan to man, if that hain't a flag! Well, in - that case you're good n' welcome to it! Land! I seen that bundle lyin' in + that case you're good 'n' welcome to it! Land! I seen that bundle lyin' in the middle o' the road and I says to myself, that's somebody's washin' and - I'd better pick it up and leave it at the post-office to be claimed; n' + I'd better pick it up and leave it at the post-office to be claimed; 'n' all the time it was a flag!” </p> <p> @@ -4209,11 +4269,11 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: write you a letter of thanks; they always do.” </p> <p> - “Tell em not to bother bout any thanks,” said Simpson, beaming virtuously. - “But land! I'm glad twas me that happened to see that bundle in the road + “Tell 'em not to bother 'bout any thanks,” said Simpson, beaming virtuously. + “But land! I'm glad 'twas me that happened to see that bundle in the road and take the trouble to pick it up.” (“Jest to think of it's bein' a flag!” he thought; “if ever there was a pesky, wuthless thing to trade - off, twould be a great, gormin' flag like that!”) + off, 'twould be a great, gormin' flag like that!”) </p> <p> “Can I get out now, please?” asked Rebecca. “I want to go back, for Mrs. @@ -4224,12 +4284,12 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “No, you don't,” objected Mr. Simpson gallantly, turning the horse. “Do you think I'd let a little creeter like you lug that great heavy bundle? I hain't got time to go back to Meserve's, but I'll take you to the corner - and dump you there, flag n' all, and you can get some o' the men-folks to + and dump you there, flag 'n' all, and you can get some o' the men-folks to carry it the rest o' the way. You'll wear it out, huggin' it so!” </p> <p> “I helped make it and I adore it!” said Rebecca, who was in a high-pitched - and grandiloquent mood. “Why don't YOU like it? It's your country's flag.” + and grandiloquent mood. “Why don't <i>you</i> like it? It's your country's flag.” </p> <p> Simpson smiled an indulgent smile and looked a trifle bored at these @@ -4268,7 +4328,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “You careless, meddlesome young one, to take it off my steps where I left it just long enough to go round to the back and hunt up my door-key! You've given me a fit of sickness with my weak heart, and what business - was it of yours? I believe you think you OWN the flag! Hand it over to me + was it of yours? I believe you think you <i>own</i> the flag! Hand it over to me this minute!” </p> <p> @@ -4294,11 +4354,11 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: doorsteps in my garden!” </p> <p> - “Mebbe twas your garden, but it was so chock full o' weeks I THOUGHT twas - the road,” retorted Abner. “I vow I wouldn't a' given the old rag back to - one o' YOU, not if you begged me on your bended knees! But Rebecca's a + “Mebbe 'twas your garden, but it was so chock full o' weeds I <i>thought</i> 'twas + the road,” retorted Abner. “I vow I wouldn't 'a' given the old rag back to + one o' <i>you</i>, not if you begged me on your bended knees! But Rebecca's a friend o' my folks and can do with her flag's she's a mind to, and the - rest o' ye can go to thunder—n' stay there, for all I care!” + rest o' ye can go to thunder—'n' stay there, for all I care!” </p> <p> So saying, he made a sharp turn, gave the gaunt white horse a lash and @@ -4325,10 +4385,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “Rebecca's perfectly right, Mrs. Meserve!” said Miss Dearborn proudly. - “And it's lucky there was somebody quick-witted enough to ride and + “And it's lucky there was somebody quick-witted enough to 'ride and consort' with Mr. Simpson! I don't know what the village will think, but - seems to me the town clerk might write down in his book, THIS DAY THE - STATE OF MAINE SAVED THE FLAG!'” + seems to me the town clerk might write down in his book, '<i>This day the + State of Maine saved the flag!</i>'” </p> <p> <a id="link2H_4_0006"> @@ -4487,13 +4547,13 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: Rebecca, set down in that low chair beside the board, and Jane, you spread out her hair on it and cover it up with brown paper. Don't cringe, Rebecca; the worst's over, and you've borne up real good! I'll be careful - not to pull your hair nor scorch you, and oh, HOW I'd like to have Alice + not to pull your hair nor scorch you, and oh, <i>how</i> I'd like to have Alice Robinson acrost my knee and a good strip o' shingle in my right hand! There, you're all ironed out and your Aunt Jane can put on your white dress and braid your hair up again good and tight. Perhaps you won't be the hombliest of the states, after all; but when I see you comin' in to breakfast I said to myself: I guess if Maine looked like that, it wouldn't - never a' been admitted into the Union!'” + never 'a' been admitted into the Union!'” </p> <p> When Uncle Sam and the stagecoach drew up to the brick house with a grand @@ -4679,24 +4739,25 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: burst with cheers. Then the breeze served, and he heard Rebecca's clear voice saying: </p> +<pre> + “For it's your star, my star, all the stars together, + That make our country's flag so proud + To float in the bright fall weather!” +</pre> <p> - “For it's your star, my star, all the stars together, That make our - country's flag so proud To float in the bright fall weather!” - </p> - <p> - “Talk about stars! She's got a couple of em right in her head,” thought + “Talk about stars! She's got a couple of 'em right in her head,” thought Simpson.... “If I ever seen a young one like that lyin; on anybody's doorstep I'd hook her quicker'n a wink, though I've got plenty to home, the Lord knows! And I wouldn't swap her off neither.... Spunky little - creeter, too; settin; up in the wagon lookin' bout's big as a pint o' - cider, but keepin' right after the goods!... I vow I'm bout sick o' my - job! Never WITH the crowd, allers JEST on the outside, s if I wa'n't as + creeter, too; settin' up in the wagon lookin' 'bout's big as a pint o' + cider, but keepin' right after the goods!... I vow I'm 'bout sick o' my + job! Never <i>with</i> the crowd, allers <i>jest</i> on the outside, 's if I wa'n't as good's they be! If it paid well, mebbe I wouldn't mind, but they're so thunderin' stingy round here, they don't leave anything decent out for you - to take from em, yet you're reskin' your liberty n' reputation jest the - same!... Countin' the poor pickin's n' the time I lose in jail I might - most's well be done with it n' work out by the day, as the folks want me - to; I'd make bout's much n' I don't know's it would be any harder!” + to take from 'em, yet you're reskin' your liberty 'n' reputation jest the + same!... Countin' the poor pickin's 'n' the time I lose in jail I might + most's well be done with it 'n' work out by the day, as the folks want me + to; I'd make 'bout's much 'n' I don't know's it would be any harder!” </p> <p> He could see Rebecca stepping down from the platform, while his own @@ -4711,20 +4772,20 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “Three cheers for the women who made the flag!” </p> <p> - “HIP, HIP, HURRAH!” + “<i>Hip, hip, hurrah!</i>” </p> <p> “Three cheers for the State of Maine!” </p> <p> - “HIP, HIP, HURRAH!” + “<i>Hip, hip, hurrah!</i>” </p> <p> “Three cheers for the girl that saved the flag from the hands of the enemy!” </p> <p> - “HIP, HIP, HURRAH! HIP, HIP, HURRAH!” + “<i>Hip, hip, hurrah! Hip, hip, hurrah!</i>” </p> <p> It was the Edgewood minister, whose full, vibrant voice was of the sort to @@ -4737,7 +4798,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: reins. </p> <p> - “They're gettin' a little mite personal, and I guess it's bout time for + “They're gettin' a little mite personal, and I guess it's 'bout time for you to be goin', Simpson!” </p> <p> @@ -4747,7 +4808,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “Durn his skin!” he burst out in a vindictive undertone, as the mare swung - into her long gait. “It's a lie! I thought twas somebody's wash! I hain't + into her long gait. “It's a lie! I thought 'twas somebody's wash! I hain't an enemy!” </p> <p> @@ -4772,7 +4833,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: to look under the wagon seat, there hain't nothin' there, not even my supper, so I hope you're suited for once! No, I guess I hain't goin' to be an angel right away, neither. There wa'n't nothin' but flags layin' roun' - loose down Riverboro way, n' whatever they say, I hain't sech a hound as + loose down Riverboro way, 'n' whatever they say, I hain't sech a hound as to steal a flag!” </p> <p> @@ -4782,9 +4843,9 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: with the flutter of bunting before his eyes, and a whirl of unaccustomed words in his mind. </p> - <p> +<pre> “For it's your star, my star, all our stars together.” - </p> +</pre> <p> “I'm sick of goin' it alone,” he thought; “I guess I'll try the other road for a spell;” and with that he fell asleep. @@ -4805,10 +4866,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> “I guess York County will never get red of that Simpson crew!” exclaimed Miranda Sawyer to Jane. “I thought when the family moved to Acreville we'd - seen the last of em, but we ain't! The big, cross-eyed, stutterin' boy has + seen the last of 'em, but we ain't! The big, cross-eyed, stutterin' boy has got a place at the mills in Maplewood; that's near enough to come over to Riverboro once in a while of a Sunday mornin' and set in the meetin' house - starin' at Rebecca same as he used to do, only it's reskier now both of em + starin' at Rebecca same as he used to do, only it's reskier now both of 'em are older. Then Mrs. Fogg must go and bring back the biggest girl to help her take care of her baby,—as if there wa'n't plenty of help nearer home! Now I hear say that the youngest twin has come to stop the summer @@ -4825,8 +4886,8 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: see how they come to be twins; they ain't a mite alike.” </p> <p> - “Elijah was always called the fighting twin' at school,” said Rebecca, - “and Elisha's other name was Nimbi-Pamby; but I think he's a nice little + “Elijah was always called the 'fighting twin' at school,” said Rebecca, + “and Elisha's other name was Nambi-Pamby; but I think he's a nice little boy, and I'm glad he has come back. He won't like living with Mr. Came, but he'll be almost next door to the minister's, and Mrs. Baxter is sure to let him play in her garden.” @@ -4851,7 +4912,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: or out on the bench at the door, an' they'll make up stories as fast as their tongues can wag. The man don't live that's smart enough to cheat Abner Simpson in a trade, and who ever heard of anybody's owin' him money? - Tain't supposable that a woman like Mrs. Came would allow her husband to + 'Tain't supposable that a woman like Mrs. Came would allow her husband to be in debt to a man like Abner Simpson. It's a sight likelier that she heard that Mrs. Simpson was ailin' and sent for the boy so as to help the family along. She always had Mrs. Simpson to wash for her once a month, if @@ -4867,8 +4928,8 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> Cassius Came was a close man, close of mouth and close of purse; and all that Riverboro ever knew as to the three months' visit of the Simpson twin - was that it actually occurred. Elisha, otherwise Nimbi-Pamby, came; - Nimbi-Pamby stayed; and Nimbi-Pamby, when he finally rejoined his own + was that it actually occurred. Elisha, otherwise Nambi-Pamby, came; + Nambi-Pamby stayed; and Nambi-Pamby, when he finally rejoined his own domestic circle, did not go empty-handed (so to speak), for he was accompanied on his homeward travels by a large, red, bony, somewhat truculent cow, who was tied on behind the wagon, and who made the journey @@ -4878,11 +4939,11 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: Simpson was held to be sadly lacking in the manly quality of courage. </p> <p> - It was the new minister's wife who called Nimbi-Pamby the Little Prophet. + It was the new minister's wife who called Nambi-Pamby the Little Prophet. His full name was Elisha Jeremiah Simpson, but one seldom heard it at full - length, since, if he escaped the ignominy of Nimbi-Pamby, Lishe was quite + length, since, if he escaped the ignominy of Nambi-Pamby, 'Lishe was quite enough for an urchin just in his first trousers and those assumed somewhat - prematurely. He was “Lishe,” therefore, to the village, but the Little + prematurely. He was “'Lishe,” therefore, to the village, but the Little Prophet to the young minister's wife. </p> <p> @@ -4938,7 +4999,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: the eyebrow. </p> <p> - The boy had a thin sensitive face and curtly brown hair, short trousers + The boy had a thin sensitive face and curly brown hair, short trousers patched on both knees, and a ragged straw hat on the back of his head. He pattered along behind the cow, sometimes holding the rope with both hands, and getting over the ground in a jerky way, as the animal left him no time @@ -4964,8 +5025,8 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “Why, Mr. Came says when I drive her twenty-nine more times to pasture - thout her gettin' her foot over the rope or thout my bein' afraid, she's - goin' to be my truly cow. Are you fraid of cows?” + 'thout her gettin' her foot over the rope or 'thout my bein' afraid, she's + goin' to be my truly cow. Are you 'fraid of cows?” </p> <p> “Ye-e-es,” Mrs. Baxter confessed, “I am, just a little. You see, I am @@ -4993,7 +5054,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: free-will boy, and they are nothing but cows.” </p> <p> - “I know; but p'raps there is free-will cows, and if they just WOULD do it + “I know; but p'raps there is free-will cows, and if they just <i>would</i> do it you couldn't help being scrunched, for you mustn't let go of the rope nor run, Mr. Came says. </p> @@ -5002,7 +5063,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “Where you used to live did all the cows go down into the boggy places - when you drove em to pasture, or did some walk in the road?” + when you drove 'em to pasture, or did some walk in the road?” </p> <p> “There weren't any cows or any pastures where I used to live; that's what @@ -5020,10 +5081,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “N-no, not erzackly; but you see, it'll be my cow if I drive her - twenty-nine more times thout her gettin' her foot over the rope and thout + twenty-nine more times 'thout her gettin' her foot over the rope and 'thout my bein' afraid,” and a beaming smile gave a transient brightness to his harassed little face. “Will she feed in the ditch much longer?” he asked. - “Shall I say Hurrap'? That's what Mr. Came says—HURRAP!' like that, + “Shall I say 'Hurrap'? That's what Mr. Came says—'<i>Hurrap!</i>' like that, and it means to hurry up.” </p> <p> @@ -5036,9 +5097,9 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “What shall we do next?” he asked. </p> <p> - Mrs. Baxter delighted in that warm, cosy little 'WE;' it took her into the + Mrs. Baxter delighted in that warm, cosy little “<i>we</i>;” it took her into the firm so pleasantly. She was a weak prop indeed when it came to cows, but - all the courage in her soul rose to arms when Elisha said, “What shall WE + all the courage in her soul rose to arms when Elisha said, “What shall <i>we</i> do next?” She became alert, ingenious, strong, on the instant. </p> <p> @@ -5051,7 +5112,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “Never mind; you must shout 'Buttercup!' at the top of your voice, and - twitch the rope HARD; then I'll call, 'Hurrap!' with all my might at the + twitch the rope <i>hard</i>; then I'll call, 'Hurrap!' with all my might at the same moment. And if she starts quickly we mustn't run nor seem frightened!” </p> @@ -5097,7 +5158,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: he'll be home tonight, and father's going to send my new hat by him. When Buttercup's my own cow I wish I could change her name and call her Red Rover, but p'r'aps her mother wouldn't like it. When she b'longs to me, - mebbe I won't be so fraid of gettin' hooked and scrunched, because she'll + mebbe I won't be so 'fraid of gettin' hooked and scrunched, because she'll know she's mine, and she'll go better. I haven't let her get snarled up in the rope one single time, and I don't show I'm afraid, do I?” </p> @@ -5109,7 +5170,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: Elisha appeared distinctly pleased. “I haven't cried, either, when she's dragged me over the pasture bars and peeled my legs. Bill Petes's little brother Charlie says he ain't afraid of anything, not even bears. He says - he would walk right up close and cuff em if they dared to yip; but I ain't + he would walk right up close and cuff 'em if they dared to yip; but I ain't like that! He ain't scared of elephants or tigers or lions either; he says they're all the same as frogs or chickens to him!” </p> @@ -5121,10 +5182,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “Well, I hope it'll turn out that way,” she said. “But I ain't a mite sure that Cassius Came will give up that cow when it comes to the point. It won't be the first time he's tried to crawl out of a bargain with folks a - good deal bigger than Lisha, for he's terrible close, Cassius is. To be + good deal bigger than 'Lisha, for he's terrible close, Cassius is. To be sure he's stiff in his joints and he's glad enough to have a boy to take the cow to the pasture in summer time, but he always has hired help when - it comes harvestin'. So Lisha'll be no use from this on; and I dare say + it comes harvestin'. So 'Lisha'll be no use from this on; and I dare say the cow is Abner Simpson's anyway. If you want a walk tonight, I wish you'd go up there and ask Mis' Came if she'll lend me an' your Aunt Jane half her yeast-cake. Tell her we'll pay it back when we get ours a @@ -5208,7 +5269,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: with which he was assiduously threading the grass. </p> <p> - “So far, so good. Now bout bein' afraid. As you seem so certain of gettin' + “So far, so good. Now 'bout bein' afraid. As you seem so certain of gettin' the cow, I suppose you hain't been a speck scared, hev you? Honor bright, now!” </p> @@ -5216,10 +5277,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “I—I—not but just a little mite. I”— </p> <p> - “Hold up a minute. Of course you didn't SAY you was afraid, and didn't - SHOW you was afraid, and nobody knew you WAS afraid, but that ain't the + “Hold up a minute. Of course you didn't <i>say</i> you was afraid, and didn't + <i>show</i> you was afraid, and nobody knew you <i>was</i> afraid, but that ain't the way we fixed it up. You was to call the cow your'n if you could drive her - to the pasture for a month without BEIN' afraid. Own up square now, hev + to the pasture for a month without <i>bein'</i> afraid. Own up square now, hev you be'n afraid?” </p> <p> @@ -5253,7 +5314,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “Y-es, sir.” More heaving of the gingham shirt. </p> <p> - “Well, you AIR a thunderin' coward! How many times? Speak up now.” + “Well, you <i>air</i> a thunderin' coward! How many times? Speak up now.” </p> <p> More digging of the bare toes in the earth, and one premonitory tear drop @@ -5438,7 +5499,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: for him, saying that the cow coughed more and more, and it must be that something was wrong, but he could not get her to open her mouth wide enough for him to see anything. “She'd up an' die ruther 'n obleege - anybody, that tarnal, ugly cow would!” he said. + anybody, that tarnal ugly cow would!” he said. </p> <p> When Uncle Cash had driven into the yard, he came in for a lantern, and @@ -5492,10 +5553,10 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> “Hitch up, Bill,” he said, “and, Hannah, you drive over to Milliken's Mills for the horse-doctor. I know we can git out that turnip if we can - hit on the right tools and somebody to manage em right; but we've got to + hit on the right tools and somebody to manage 'em right; but we've got to be quick about it or the critter'll choke to death, sure! Your hand's so clumsy, Mose, she thinks her time's come when she feels it in her mouth, - and your fingers are so big you can't ketch holt o' that green stuff thout + and your fingers are so big you can't ketch holt o' that green stuff 'thout its slippin'!” </p> <p> @@ -5568,7 +5629,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: Buttercup's head and took the gag out. </p> <p> - “You're a trump, Lisha, and, by ginger, the cow's your'n; only don't you + “You're a trump, 'Lisha, and, by ginger, the cow's your'n; only don't you let your blessed pa drink none of her cream!” </p> <p> @@ -5706,7 +5767,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> “Now, Mirandy, Abner ain't more'n forty! I don't know what the average age for repentance is in men-folks, but when you think of what an awful sight - of em leaves it to their deathbeds, forty seems real kind of young. Not + of 'em leaves it to their deathbeds, forty seems real kind of young. Not that I've heard Abner has experienced religion, but everybody's surprised at the good way he's conductin' this fall.” </p> @@ -5740,7 +5801,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: <p> “Clara Belle's the female of Simpson; that's what she is,” Miss Miranda asserted; “but she's been brought up to use her wits, and I ain't sayin' - but she used em.” + but she used 'em.” </p> <p> “I should say she did!” exclaimed Miss Jane; “to put that screaming, @@ -5751,7 +5812,7 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: </p> <p> “Simpson will always sound like Simpson to me!” vouchsafed the elder - sister, “but we've talked enough about em an' to spare. You can go along, + sister, “but we've talked enough about 'em an' to spare. You can go along, Rebecca; but remember that a child is known by the company she keeps.” </p> <p> @@ -5791,30 +5852,31 @@ didn't write it, I just sewed it while I was working on my star: “Truly the tart was splendid, but not exactly like new, that's all. And oh! I know what I can take Clara Belle! A few chocolate drops out of the box Mr. Ladd gave me on my birthday.” - </p> -<pre> -“You go down cellar and get that tart, same as I told you,” commanded -Miranda, “and when you fill it don't uncover a new tumbler of jelly; -there's some dried-apple preserves open that'll do. Wear your rubbers -and your thick jacket. After runnin' all the way down there—for your -legs never seem to be rigged for walkin' like other girls'—you'll set -down on some damp stone or other and ketch your death o' cold, an' your -Aunt Jane n' I'll be kep' up nights nursin' you and luggin' your meals -upstairs to you on a waiter.” - - Here Miranda leaned her head against the back of her rocking -chair, dropped her knitting and closed her eyes wearily, for when the -immovable body is opposed by the irresistible force there is a certain -amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. -</pre> + </p> + <p> + “You go down cellar and get that tart, same as I told you,” commanded + Miranda, “and when you fill it don't uncover a new tumbler of jelly; + there's some dried-apple preserves open that'll do. Wear your rubbers + and your thick jacket. After runnin' all the way down there—for your + legs never seem to be rigged for walkin' like other girls'—you'll set + down on some damp stone or other and ketch your death o' cold, an' your + Aunt Jane 'n' I'll be kep' up nights nursin' you and luggin' your meals + upstairs to you on a waiter.” + </p> + <p> + Here Miranda leaned her head against the back of her rocking + chair, dropped her knitting and closed her eyes wearily, for when the + immovable body is opposed by the irresistible force there is a certain + amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. + </p> <p> Rebecca moved toward the side door, shooting a questioning glance at Aunt Jane as she passed. The look was full of mysterious suggestion and was accompanied by an almost imperceptible gesture. Miss Jane knew that certain articles were kept in the entry closet, and by this time she had become sufficiently expert in telegraphy to know that Rebecca's unspoken - query meant: “COULD YOU PERMIT THE HAT WITH THE RED WINGS, IT BEING - SATURDAY, FINE SETTLED WEATHER, AND A PLEASURE EXCURSION?” + query meant: “<i>Could you permit the hat with the red wings, it being + Saturday, fine settled weather, and a pleasure excursion?</i>” </p> <p> These confidential requests, though fraught with embarrassment when @@ -5893,7 +5955,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. “Clara Belle Simpson!” exclaimed Rebecca in a transport. “Who'd have thought you'd be a female hero and an heiress besides? It's just like a book story, and it happened in Riverboro. I'll make Uncle Jerry Cobb allow - there CAN be Riverboro stories, you see if I don't.” + there <i>can</i> be Riverboro stories, you see if I don't.” </p> <p> “Of course I know it's all right,” Clara Belle replied soberly. “I'll have @@ -5919,8 +5981,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. on to the mortgage that mother keeps in the drawer of the bookcase.” </p> <p> - “You'd know it if twas adoption papers; I guess you're just lent,” Clara - Belle said cheeringly. “I don't believe anybody'd ever give YOU away! And, + “You'd know it if 'twas adoption papers; I guess you're just lent,” Clara + Belle said cheeringly. “I don't believe anybody'd ever give <i>you</i> away! And, oh! Rebecca, father's getting on so well! He works on Daly's farm where they raise lots of horses and cattle, too, and he breaks all the young colts and trains them, and swaps off the poor ones, and drives all over @@ -5944,7 +6006,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <p> “Hasn't your mother got a wedding ring?” asked Rebecca, astonished. “Why, - I thought everybody HAD to have them, just as they do sofas and a kitchen + I thought everybody <i>had</i> to have them, just as they do sofas and a kitchen stove!” </p> <p> @@ -5953,7 +6015,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. hasn't got any jewelry, not even a breast-pin.” </p> <p> - Rebecca's tone was somewhat censorious, “your father's been so poor + “Well,” and Rebecca's tone was somewhat censorious, + “your father's been so poor perhaps he couldn't afford breast-pins, but I should have thought he'd have given your mother a wedding ring when they were married; that's the time to do it, right at the very first.” @@ -6041,7 +6104,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. premium banquet lamp doesn't smoke as it grows older?” </p> <p> - “Now, Mr. Aladdin, you WILL not remember nicely. Mr. Simpson swapped off + “Now, Mr. Aladdin, you <i>will</i> not remember nicely. Mr. Simpson swapped off the banquet lamp when he was moving the family to Acreville; it's not the lamp at all, but once, when you were here last time, you said you'd make up your mind what you were going to give me for Christmas.” @@ -6056,7 +6119,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. “No, I never buy Christmas presents before Thanksgiving.” </p> <p> - “Then, DEAR Mr. Aladdin, would you buy me something different, something + “Then, <i>dear</i> Mr. Aladdin, would you buy me something different, something that I want to give away, and buy it a little sooner than Christmas?” </p> <p> @@ -6114,7 +6177,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. Aladdin. </p> <p> - “The ring isn't for ME!” she explained carefully. “You know very well that + “The ring isn't for <i>me!</i>” she explained carefully. + “You know very well that Emma Jane nor I can't be married till we're through Quackenbos's Grammar, Greenleaf's Arithmetic, and big enough to wear long trails and run a sewing machine. The ring is for a friend.” @@ -6137,13 +6201,13 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. the Simpsons that day on your aunt's porch when you bought the soap because I told you how the family were always in trouble and how much they needed a banquet lamp? Mr. Simpson, Clara Belle's father, has always been - very poor, and not always very good,—a little bit THIEVISH, you know—but + very poor, and not always very good,—a little bit <i>thievish</i>, you know—but oh, so pleasant and nice to talk to! And now he's turning over a new leaf. And everybody in Riverboro liked Mrs. Simpson when she came here a stranger, because they were sorry for her and she was so patient, and such a hard worker, and so kind to the children. But where she lives now, though they used to know her when she was a girl, they're not polite to - her and don't give her scrubbing and washing; and Clara belle heard our + her and don't give her scrubbing and washing; and Clara Belle heard our teacher say to Mrs. Fogg that the Acreville people were stiff, and despised her because she didn't wear a wedding ring, like all the rest. And Clara Belle and I thought if they were so mean as that, we'd love to @@ -6237,7 +6301,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. sin. Sin itself he did not especially mind, but the wages thereof were decidedly unpleasant and irksome to him. He also minded very much the isolated position in the community which had lately become his; for he was - a social being and would ALMOST rather not steal from a neighbor than have + a social being and would <i>almost</i> rather not steal from a neighbor than have him find it out and cease intercourse! This feeling was working in him and rendering him unaccountably irritable and depressed when he took his daughter over to Riverboro at the time of the great flag-raising. @@ -6280,14 +6344,15 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. platform “speaking her piece,” and he could just distinguish some of the words she was saying: </p> - <p> - “For it's your star, my star, all the stars together, That makes our - country's flag so proud To float in the bright fall weather.” - </p> +<pre> + “For it's your star, my star, all the stars together, + That makes our country's flag so proud + To float in the bright fall weather.” +</pre> <p> Then suddenly there was a clarion voice cleaving the air, and he saw a - tall man standing in the centre of the stage and heard him crying: “THREE - CHEERS FOR THE GIRL THAT SAVED THE FLAG FROM THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY!” + tall man standing in the centre of the stage and heard him crying: “<i>Three + cheers for the girl that saved the flag from the hands of the enemy!</i>” </p> <p> He was sore and bitter enough already; lonely, isolated enough; with no @@ -6308,7 +6373,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. interesting and agreeable situation where money could be earned by doing the very things his nature craved. There were feats of daring to be performed in sight of admiring and applauding stable boys; the horses he - loved were his companions; he was OBLIGED to “swap,” for Daly, his + loved were his companions; he was <i>obliged</i> to “swap,” for Daly, his employer, counted on him to get rid of all undesirable stock; power and responsibility of a sort were given him freely, for Daly was no Puritan, and felt himself amply capable of managing any number of Simpsons; so here @@ -6342,7 +6407,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. remittance for household expenses. </p> <p> - “Is your pain bad today, mother,” asked Clara Belle, who, only lately + “Is your pain bad today, mother?” asked Clara Belle, who, only lately given away, was merely borrowed from Mrs. Fogg for what was thought to be a brief emergency. </p> @@ -6424,7 +6489,10 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. out an envelope which held a sheet of paper and a tiny packet wrapped in tissue paper. The letter had been read once before and ran as follows: </p> - <p> + <div style="height: 2em;"> + + </div> + <p style="text-indent: 0px;"> Dear Mr. Simpson: </p> <p> @@ -6453,9 +6521,15 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> Please don't be angry with me, dear Mr. Simpson, because I like you so much and am so glad you are happy with the horses and colts; and I believe - now perhaps you DID think the flag was a bundle of washing when you took - it that day; so no more from your Trusted friend, Rebecca Rowena Randall. + now perhaps you <i>did</i> think the flag was a bundle of washing when you took + it that day; so no more from your </p> + <p style="text-indent: 0px;"> + Trusted friend,<br> + Rebecca Rowena Randall. + <div style="height: 2em;"> + + </div> <p> Simpson tore the letter slowly and quietly into fragments and scattered the bits on the woodpile, took off his hat, and smoothed his hair; pulled @@ -6636,7 +6710,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <p> An old-fashioned Female Seminary, with its allotment of one medium-sized - room to two medium sized young females, gave small opportunities for + room to two medium-sized young females, gave small opportunities for privacy by night or day, for neither the double washstand, nor the thus far unimagined bathroom, nor even indeed the humble and serviceable screen, had been realized, in these dark ages of which I write. @@ -6682,7 +6756,10 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. black-and-white English, made, in her opinion, the most convincing and heart-melting document ever sent through the mails: </p> - <p> + <div style="height: 2em;"> + + </div> + <p style="text-indent: 0px;"> Mea cara Emma: </p> <p> @@ -6698,15 +6775,19 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> Si cogitabis de me ero beatus. Tu es sola puella quam amo, et semper eris. Alias puellas non amavi. Forte olim amabis me, sed sum indignus. Sine te - sum miser, cum tu es prope mea vita omni est goddamn. + sum miser, cum tu es prope mea vita omnis est gaudium. </p> <p> Vale, carissima, carissima puella! </p> - <p> - De tuo fideli servo A.F. + <p style="text-indent: 0px;"> + De tuo fideli servo<br> + A.F. </p> - <p> + <div style="height: 2em;"> + + </div> + <p style="text-indent: 0px;"> My dear Emma: </p> <p> @@ -6729,9 +6810,13 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> Farewell, dearest, dearest girl! </p> - <p> - From your faithful slave A.F. + <p style="text-indent: 0px;"> + From your faithful slave<br> + A.F. </p> + <div style="height: 2em;"> + + </div> <p> Emma Jane knew the letter by heart in English. She even knew it in Latin, only a few days before a dead language to her, but now one filled with @@ -6810,11 +6895,9 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. sisters from North Riverboro came over to spend the day with Aunt Miranda, and Abijah went down to put up their horse. (“'Commodatin' 'Bijah” was his pet name when we were all young.) - </p> - <p> He scaled the ladder to the barn chamber—the dear old ladder that used to be my safety valve!—and pitched down the last forkful of - grandfather's hay that will ever be eaten by any visiting horse. They WILL + grandfather's hay that will ever be eaten by any visiting horse. They <i>will</i> be delighted to hear that it is all gone; they have grumbled at it for years and years. </p> @@ -6835,8 +6918,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. nautilus that he casts off on the shore and never looks at again. (At least I suppose he doesn't; but perhaps he takes one backward glance, half-smiling, half-serious, just as I am doing at my old Thought Book, and - says, “WAS THAT MY SHELL! GOODNESS GRACIOUS! HOW DID I EVER SQUEEZE MYSELF - INTO IT!”) + says, “<i>Was that my shell! Goodness gracious! how did I ever squeeze myself + into it!</i>”) </p> <p> That bit about the nautilus sounds like an extract from a school theme, or @@ -6904,7 +6987,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> They both love the sound of beautiful sentences and the tinkle of rhyming words, and in fact, of the three great R's of life, they adore Reading and - Riting, as much as they abhor 'Rithmetic. + 'Riting, as much as they abhor 'Rithmetic. </p> <p> The little girl in the old book is always thinking of what she is “going @@ -6923,21 +7006,22 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <pre> “High is the rank we now possess, - But higher we shall rise; - Though what we shall hereafter be - Is hid from mortal eyes.” - </pre> + But higher we shall rise; + Though what we shall hereafter be + Is hid from mortal eyes.” +</pre> <p> This hymn was sung in meeting the Sunday after my election, and Mr. Aladdin was there that day and looked across the aisle and smiled at me. Then he sent me a sheet of paper from Boston the next morning with just one verse in the middle of it. </p> - <p> - “She made the cleverest people quite ashamed; And ev'n the good with - inward envy groan, Finding themselves so very much exceeded, In their own - way by all the things that she did.” - </p> +<pre> + “She made the cleverest people quite ashamed; + And ev'n the good with inward envy groan, + Finding themselves so very much exceeded, + In their own way by all the things that she did.” +</pre> <p> Miss Maxwell says it is Byron, and I wish I had thought of the last rhyme before Byron did; my rhymes are always so common. @@ -6995,8 +7079,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. farm, there was going to be a sociable in Temperance village. Mother could not go as Jenny had whooping-cough and Mark had just broken his arm, and when she was tying father's necktie, the last thing before he started, he - said: “I wish, Aurelia, that you cared a little about YOUR appearance and - YOUR dress; it goes a long way with a man like me.” + said: “I wish, Aurelia, that you cared a little about <i>your</i> appearance and + <i>your</i> dress; it goes a long way with a man like me.” </p> <p> Mother had finished the tie, and her hands dropped suddenly. I looked at @@ -7029,7 +7113,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. used to lie in his hollow watching one eagle “wheeling slow as in sleep.” He used to wonder about the wide world that the eagle beheld, the eagle that was stretching his wings so far up in the blue, while he, the poor - shepherd boy, could see only the “strip twixt the hill and the sky;” for + shepherd boy, could see only the “strip 'twixt the hill and the sky;” for he lay in a hollow. </p> <p> @@ -7040,7 +7124,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> There was never anybody quite like Mr. Baxter. “Rebecca dear,” he said, “it may be that you need not always lie in a hollow, as the shepherd boy - did; but wherever you lie, that little strip you see 'twixt the hill and + did; but wherever you lie, that little strip you see ''twixt the hill and the sky' is able to hold all of earth and all of heaven, if only you have the right sort of vision.” </p> @@ -7065,8 +7149,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <pre> “My thoughts on awful subjects roll, - Damnation and the dead.” - </pre> + Damnation and the dead.” +</pre> <p> It was brother John for whom I was chiefly homesick on Sunday afternoons, because at Sunnybrook Farm father was dead and mother was always busy, and @@ -7113,8 +7197,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. asked. “Am I the beginnings of a Christian?” </p> <p> - “You are a dear child of the understanding God!” Mr. Baxter said; “and I - say it over to myself night and morning so that I can never forget it.” + “You are a dear child of the understanding God!” Mr. Baxter said; and I + say it over to myself night and morning so that I can never forget it. </p> <hr> <p> @@ -7166,27 +7250,27 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <pre> “A warrior so bold and a maiden so bright - Conversed as they sat on the green. - They gazed at each other in tender delight. - Alonzo the brave was the name of the knight, - And the maid was the fair Imogene. + Conversed as they sat on the green. + They gazed at each other in tender delight. + Alonzo the brave was the name of the knight, + And the maid was the fair Imogene. - “Alas!' said the youth, 'since tomorrow I go - To fight in a far distant land, - Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow, - Some other will court you, and you will bestow - On a wealthier suitor your hand.' + “'Alas!' said the youth, 'since tomorrow I go + To fight in a far distant land, + Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow, + Some other will court you, and you will bestow + On a wealthier suitor your hand.' - 'Oh, hush these suspicions!' Fair Imogene said, - “So hurtful to love and to me! - For if you be living, or if you be dead, - I swear by the Virgin that none in your stead - Shall the husband of Imogene be!' + “'Oh, hush these suspicions!' Fair Imogene said, + 'So hurtful to love and to me! + For if you be living, or if you be dead, + I swear by the Virgin that none in your stead + Shall the husband of Imogene be!'” </pre> <p> Ever since she was eight years old Rebecca had wished to be eighteen, but now that she was within a month of that awe-inspiring and long-desired age - she wondered if, after all, it was destined to be a turning point in her + she wondered if, after all, it was destined to be a turning-point in her quiet existence. Her eleventh year, for instance, had been a real turning-point, since it was then that she had left Sunnybrook Farm and come to her maiden aunts in Riverboro. Aurelia Randall may have been @@ -7254,9 +7338,9 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. never had anything but thunder and lightning, rain, snow, and hail, in their family history for twelve or fifteen years, perhaps it is only natural that they should enjoy a little spell of settled weather. If it - really turns out to BE settled, now that Aunt Jane and mother are strong - again I must be looking up one of what Mr. Aladdin calls my cast-off - careers.”—“There comes Emma Jane Perkins through her front gate; she + really turns out to <i>be</i> settled, now that Aunt Jane and mother are strong + again I must be looking up one of what Mr. Aladdin calls my 'cast-off + careers.'—There comes Emma Jane Perkins through her front gate; she will be here in a minute, and I'll tease her!” and Rebecca ran in the door and seated herself at the old piano that stood between the open windows in the parlor. @@ -7276,12 +7360,12 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. windows into the still summer air: </p> <pre> - “'A warrior so bold and a maiden so bright - Conversed as they sat on the green. - They gazed at each other in tender delight. - Abijah the Brave was the name of the knight, - And the maid was the Fair Emmajane.'” - </pre> + “A warrior so bold and a maiden so bright + Conversed as they sat on the green. + They gazed at each other in tender delight. + Abijah the Brave was the name of the knight, + And the maid was the Fair Emmajane.” +</pre> <p> “Rebecca Randall, stop! Somebody'll hear you!” </p> @@ -7290,13 +7374,13 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <pre> “'Alas!' said the youth, since tomorrow I go - To fight in a far distant land, - Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow, - Some other will court you, and you will bestow - On a wealthier suitor your hand.'” - </pre> + To fight in a far distant land, + Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow, + Some other will court you, and you will bestow + On a wealthier suitor your hand.'” +</pre> <p> - “Rebecca, you can't THINK how your voice carries! I believe mother can + “Rebecca, you can't <i>think</i> how your voice carries! I believe mother can hear it over to my house!” </p> <p> @@ -7304,11 +7388,13 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. reputation from the cloud cast upon it in the second,” laughed her tormentor, going on with the song: </p> - <p> - “'Oh, hush these suspicions!' Fair Emmajane said, 'So hurtful to love and - to me! For if you be living, or if you be dead, I swear, my Abijah, that - none in your stead, Shall the husband of Emmajane be!'” - </p> +<pre> + “'Oh, hush these suspicions!' Fair Emmajane said, + 'So hurtful to love and to me! + For if you be living, or if you be dead, + I swear, my Abijah, that none in your stead, + Shall the husband of Emmajane be!'” +</pre> <p> After ending the third verse Rebecca wheeled around on the piano stool and confronted her friend, who was carefully closing the parlor windows:— @@ -7329,7 +7415,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. expecting nobody. </p> <p> - “Oh, well, YOU! There's something inside of you that does instead of + “Oh, well, <i>you</i>! There's something inside of you that does instead of pretty dresses,” cried Emma Jane, whose adoration of her friend had never altered nor lessened since they met at the age of eleven. “You know you are as different from anybody else in Riverboro as a princess in a fairy @@ -7360,8 +7446,8 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> “Oh, no! Not now, because—well, because there are things you can't seem to write in Latin. I saw him at the Masonic picnic in the grove, but - he won't say anything REAL to me till he gets more pay and dares to speak - to mother and father. He IS brave in all other ways, but I ain't sure + he won't say anything <i>real</i> to me till he gets more pay and dares to speak + to mother and father. He <i>is</i> brave in all other ways, but I ain't sure he'll ever have the courage for that, he's so afraid of them and always has been. Just remember what's in his mind all the time, Rebecca, that my folks know all about what his mother was, and how he was born on the @@ -7454,7 +7540,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. Jane, there's another such a sweet little picture out there in the road. The next day after I came to Riverboro, do you remember, I stole out of the brick house crying, and leaned against the front gate. You pushed your - little fat pink-and-white face through the pickets and said: Don't cry! + little fat pink-and-white face through the pickets and said: 'Don't cry! I'll kiss you if you will me!'” </p> <p> @@ -7644,7 +7730,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. somersault, or jump incredible distances across the extended arms of the Simpson twins; and his bosom swelled with pride when the girls exclaimed, “Isn't he splendid!” although he often heard his rival murmur scornfully, - “SMARTY ALECK!”—a scathing allusion of unknown origin. + “<i>Smarty Aleck!</i>”—a scathing allusion of unknown origin. </p> <p> Squire Bean, although he did not send the boy to school (thinking, as he @@ -7677,7 +7763,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <p> Abijah wanted to go far away from Riverboro, as far as Limerick Academy, which was at least fifteen miles; but although this seemed extreme, - Rebecca agreed, saying pensively: “There IS a kind of magicness about + Rebecca agreed, saying pensively: “There <i>is</i> a kind of magicness about going far away and then coming back all changed.” </p> <p> @@ -7891,7 +7977,7 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. </p> <p> The Perkins front door opened and Abijah the Brave came out hand in hand - with his Fair Emma Jane. + with his Fair Emmajane. </p> <p> They walked through the orchard, the eyes of the old couple following them @@ -7919,4 +8005,3 @@ amount of jar and disturbance involved in the operation. <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1375 ***</div> </body> </html> - |