“What’s done,” says I droppin’ my knife onto the floor.
“Betsey’s gone!” shouted he, and he run out the door like a luny.
I was a most skairt to death, and remained motionless nigh onto a minute, when I heard Josiah comin’ in. Little did I dream what a blow was comin’ onto me. He come and stood right in front of me, and I thought at the time, he looked at me dreadful curious, but I kep’ on a scrapin’ my potatoes, (I had got ’em most done.)
Finally all at once Josiah spoke up and says he,
“Betsey Bobbett is married.”
I dropped the pan of potatoes right down onto the floor for I was as weak as a weak white cat. “Who! Josiah Allen! who! is the man?”
“Simon Slimpsey,” says he, “They was married last night—as I was comin’ by the old cider mill——”
“I see all through it,” says I mournfully. “He and seven or eight of his children have been sick, and Betsey would go and take care of ’em.”
“Yes,” says Josiah, “As I was comin’ past the old cider mill——”