Jarius. Mrs. Prime as buried her husband last week; has gone to Jarsey to modify her grief.
Sally. Poor Mrs. Prime! How I pity her!
Jarius. Jes’ so. She lost a prime husband, that’s a fact. He was the best feller on a fishing frolic you ever see. Parson Lucas has resigned, and they do say the parish is resigned to his resigning, too. They’ve got a new bell-rope onto the second parish. Mrs. Jones’s expectations has turned out a bouncing boy—
Sally. What! another?
Jarius. That’s what they say. Molly Moses had a candy scrape last night, and Si Jones went home with his hair full. Bunsen has got a new lot of calicoes—prime ones, fast colors. And Joe Britton has killed his hog. But there’s no news.
Sally. No weddin’, no nothin’? I don’t hear anythin’ about your marriage, Mr. Jerden.
Jarius. Don’t you? Well, that’s queer. I ben about it every time I come home. But it’s all talk and no cider. No, Miss Peeslee, I’m an unplucked apple on the tree of life. But, to return the compliment, I don’t hear nothin’ ’bout your gittin’ spliced.
Sally. Me? I guess not. It’s time enough to think about that when mother is able to take care of herself. I won’t say I haven’t had a chance, Mr. Jerden; but my first duty is to her; and I mean to work my fingers to the bone, if need be, that the old home may shelter her as long as she lives.
Jarius. Jes’ so. So you gave Si Slocum the mitten?