Jest then a little boy came sailin’ by, with a segar in his mouth almost as big as he was. And I ketched holt of him, and whispered to him,
“Bub who is dead?” and says I, “be you one of the mourners?”
“Yes, old lady,” says he, in a impudent tone, “I am out on a short mourn.”
If it hadn’t been for the mournful occasion, and for gettin’ off’en my dignity, I would have spanked him, then and there; he laughed so impudent at me. But I let him go on, and then I took out my snowy 25 cent linen handkerchief and wiped off my heated face, and says I to Betsey,
“I am wore out; there hain’t no end to this procession seemin’ly, we may as well go on, for I am beat out, we shall act as well as some of the mourners do any way, if we do walk on.” So we wended on. Betsey’s cousin lived not a great ways from Miss Asters’es, only it was down a little ways another street, up over a store. I told her “I guessed I wouldn’t climb up them grocery stairs, I was so tuckered out, and then Miss Aster would most probable have supper about ready, and I didn’t want to have her fuss to set the table over for me, or steep her tea over, and I felt that a cup of tea I must have.”
I was kinder dreadin’ goin’ in alone, not bein’ acquainted with Miss Aster, and I don’t know when I have been tickleder, than I was to meet Jonothan Beans’es ex-wife, right on the sidewalk. She was real glad to see me too, for I befriended her when she first went to grass, (as it was,) I took her right in for 3 weeks, and give her 2 pair of seamed stockin’s, and a lot of other things for her comfort.
She went right back with me. Of all the big houses I ever see, Mr. Asters’es house beat everything. I was determined not to act green and be a askin’ questions, and so I didn’t say a word. But I spose from the size of it, that Mr. Aster lets part of it for meetin’ houses, and mebby they have a few select schools in it, and a few lunatick asylums, I should think they would need ’em, such a noise. But I didn’t say a word.
Jonothan Beans’es ex-wife told me I must put my name down on the Register before I went to my room, I didn’t object, nor I didn’t ask no questions, but I kep’ a pretty good look out. “Register!” I knew I had heard somethin’ that sounded like that, connected with deeds, and I wasn’t goin’ to sign away my property. I didn’t know as it was so, but I did have my thoughts, that mebby somebody had told ’em I was comein’ to the village, and they was tryin’ to get me to sign away my thirds, there is so much iniquity in the world. But I kep’ my thoughts to myself, and kep’ my eyes open. I jest looked over the book pretty sharp, before I put my name down, and I see it was all right. My room was on the 5th story, and I told J. Beans’es ex-wife that how I was goin’ to climb up them stairs I didn’t know, I was so tuckered out, I was sorry the minute I said it, for I was afraid she would go and tell Miss Aster, and Miss Aster would give up her bedroom to me, or mebby she would make Mr. Aster sleep with one of the boys, and have me sleep with her, and I wouldn’t have her put herself out for the world. And I spoke up and says I,
“I guess I can weather it some way.”
And she spoke up and says she, “Here is the elevater, be carried up.”