“Well, well, things do come sudden always. I must get my things on and drive down and tell ’em all at Liza Jane’s Thread and Needle Store to start the news a-spreadin’.”
“Then I may go?”
“Matthew, hitch up Barnabas, quick now,” responded Mrs. Babcock, by way of response. “You, Alfy, go inside in the front room and get your clothes out so we can see what’s clean and what ain’t.”
“Ma! Then I can go! Oh, goody, goody! I am so glad. And I can start to-morrow—yes? Oh please say yes!” coaxed Alfy.
Inside in the front room, Alfy working quickly, sorted things out and before Ma Babcock got back with a new pair of shoes for her, she had most of her things mended (as she was real handy with the needle), and nearly all packed in the old suit case Pa Babcock brought home with him from Chicago.
“Alfy!” called ma from the kitchen. “Try on these shoes and see as they’re all right.”
“Yes, ma,” answered Alfy, coming into the kitchen with thread and needle in one hand and shirt-waist in the other. “What shall I do with these? I can’t take those shoes with these in my hand.”
“Go back and take those things in and put them on the bed,” said ma, getting vexed at Alfy’s excitement and trying to calm her down.
Alfy, after laying the things down, came back and took the shoes and some new ribbons ma had brought her from Liza Jane’s and went back to the front room.