Cousin John read it, and sez he, "Wal, what harm is there in this? I'm sure it was very thoughtful of Mary, and I'm glad she did it. You will go of course; there will be a good deal of company, and they are all anxious to see you since your letters come out in the Express."
"What," sez I, "is Miss Beebe a going to have a party—why didn't she say so then?"
"Oh it's only a swarry, she often has them," says he.
"A what?" sez I.
"A swarry—a conversationanny," sez he. I couldn't think what he meant, but I remembered that jest afore Mary was married she used to have hysteric fits, now and then, and I thought they give them things some other name down here in York.
"Dear me," sez I, "I'm sorry, but if I can do any good I'll come up, I s'pose you'll have a doctor."
"Oh yes," sez he, "there'll be two or three, besides lots of lawyers, and poets, and editors."
"You don't say so," sez I, "why what will you du with them all?"
"Oh Mary will take care of them," sez he, "she does those things very well, indeed, considering she was brought up in the country."
"But I thought you wanted us to take care of her," sez I.