Got up at 5 and went out at once to see after MacDuff. He was not in his bed nor could I see him anywhere in the yard. I feared he had wandered off to die—that is the dog's instinct, the call of the wild, I suppose, to go off into the woods and unseen give up its last breath. I sent Jim to search the whole enclosure, which is large, and a creek runs at the northern side. I stood a while silent by the well and then lifted up my voice and called, "MacDuff, MacDuff!" when around the piazza and down the front steps clattered the little fellow, frisking and jumping, apparently perfectly well. I am thankful; I would have missed my little companion sadly.
This afternoon Goliah came to me looking very solemn and asked to go home for two days. When I asked why he wanted to go he said his little brother, Tillman, was dead and he wanted to go to the "settin' up" and the funeral. Poor little strangely named fellow; he never was well. The same disease that carried off his mother and brothers gripped him early. I ought not to let Goliah go, but it would break his heart not to, and so I let him go. After all, poor little Tillman is safe, and this smart, good little Goliah, whom I teach and train as well as I can, is already showing that he will soon break away from my authority and he may grow up a bad man after all, while poor little Tillman is safe from evil influences. There are many things worse than death.
Peaceville, July 25.
The field Loppy has ploughed is a sight to make one weep. Great boulders of earth much bigger than his head lie around as though tossed there by some giant playing ball, and the earth being dry and caked the harrowing does not have much effect. Bad as Gibbie is, this is worse. I am sending him all the nourishing food I can find to get him on his feet again.
No chance of a stand of peas with such work. The only cheering spark is little Laycock, who every other day with great flourish of trumpets deposits a tiny little egg in the geranium lined nest.
This evening I had all the children in the village to dance here for an hour. I told them I would be happy to play for them from 9 to 10 o'clock every Friday evening—not a party, because there are no refreshments, only a dancing class. They seemed greatly to enjoy themselves.
There are not more than fifteen all together, and L. came to help me direct the dancing. I am so fond of young people that it is a pleasure to me, and they do have a very dull time, especially those who have come home from school. I meant to make a tennis court in the yard, but I attempted to have the grass improved. It was moderately smooth before, but I ordered it very carefully ploughed while I was away and fresh grass seed planted. Gibbie was the person to do it, and it is now like the billows of the sea, so that a tennis court is impossible.
The mail brought me to-day a most interesting looking parcel with forty-two cents postage on it. I opened it slowly and with much satisfaction. Is there anything more delightful than an unknown quantity? When I opened the box, about six inches square by two high, out came a white canvas bucket with stout rope handle, capable of holding a peck.
I examined it with great interest and wonder as to its purpose. A water bucket, I concluded, so I called Lizette and had her take it to the ever flowing well and fill it. She brought it back held at a respectful distance, for the water dripped out very steadily though not fast. Then I decided it was for me to pick fruit and vegetables in. I could only see by the postmark that it came from Maine. I am quite charmed with its lightness. No basket is half so light to carry.
To-day Chloe is walking about the yard a little, which is a joyful sight to me. She at last got a chance to tell me her amusing story. One day while I was away, Gibbie came to her looking most mysterious.