“You had better go now.”
Mrs. Schwalm was “next door” on the other side. She would now housekeep for old Liebereich for a week. Then Mrs. Engwein, who lived next to Mrs. Krantz, would take her turn, and so on while old Liebereich lived—which it was thought would not be long. For no one ever went to “the poor-house” or “the home” from this German vicinage.
These things were so well understood that they were not even discussed at this gathering. But there was a well-defined understanding that the brief management of old Liebereich would be difficult. Mrs. Schwalm rose to go.
“He won’t fold his britches unless you make him,” warned Mrs. Krantz.
“And I’ve heared,” said another, “that he never hangs ’em on the back of a cheer if he kin put ’em on the floor.”
Old Liebereich had an odious reputation for this sort of thing.
“You know Emmy she spoiled him.”
“If he didn’t do things, she done ’em.”
“That’s a good way to spoil ’em!”
Mrs. Krantz warned again: