“’Tis pretty,” assented Mrs. Weston; “just as pretty as it can be.”
“So I say,” said Mrs. Jenks, “and now this mornin’ I met Mis’ Hodgkins and her husband. ‘They’d just come from here,’ they said, ‘and,’ says Mis’ Hodgkins, ‘we’re goin’ ter have the first apple-bee ter Mis’ Weston’s and,’ says she, sorter smilin’, ‘I ain’t sure’s you’ll be very anxious ter help, but we’re all goin’ ter do our part ter help make a grand time fer Miss Dayton;’ and says I, ‘If it’s fer Miss Dayton, I’ll agree to contribute anything you like toward the supper, and I’ll go right over now an’ tell Mis’ Weston so.’ My, but didn’t she look at me! I laughed ter myself, an’ I said right out loud, as I drove off, ‘Matilda Jenks, this is the last time any one will have a chance ter call ye stingy.’
“I commenced this mornin’ by givin’ Reuben a lot of maple sugar to treat the boys with, and I tell you Miss Dayton’s ’bout right, it does feel good to give. We’ve been prospered, and from this time forth I ain’t goin’ ter be foolish with this world’s goods; but I vow I won’t be mean; so I’ve come ter say that if there’s anythin’ I can offer ter help make the bee a success, jest say the word an’ you shall have it.”
“Mrs. Jenks,” said Mrs. Weston, kindly, “I always said ye hadn’t but one fault, and now you’ve overcome that, seems to me you’re pretty near perfect.”
“I guess there’s room fer improvement,” said Mrs. Jenks, grasping her friend’s extended hand, “but I’ve started in the right direction. Now, I must be goin’, and remember I’ll do anything ter help along that bee.”
Mrs. Weston promised to remember, and as rapidly as she came Matilda Jenks strode down the path and drove away.
A few minutes later Randy came running in at the door. “Oh, mother,” said she, “I ran out to look for Prue again, while Mrs. Jenks was talking, and, mother, she’s doing the cunningest thing. She’s playing read. She’s lying on the grass back of the house, with the fairy book in front of her. She’s making b’lieve read to Tabby. Do come and see her.”
Softly they made their way around the house and, sure enough, there lay Prue, the wonderful fairy book before her, her elbows on the book, and her chin in her hands. Soon they were near enough to hear what she was reading, and yet not to be observed.