She knows enough in her way, Ardelia duz. And she has a wisdom of the heart which sometimes I think, goes fur ahead of the wisdom of the head. And then agin, I think they go well together, wisdom of the head and the heart too. (The times I think this is after readin’ her poetry.)
But any way she will make Abram a good soft little wife, lovin’ and affectionate always. And good land! he loves her to that extent that it wouldn’t make no difference to him if she didn’t know enough to come in when it rained. He would fetch her in, drippin’ and worship her, damp or dry.
Them verses of Ardelia’s, that she handed me, by the Roller Coaster wuz as follows—
“A LAY ON A ROLLER COASTER
“BY ARDELIA TUTT.
“Oh was thy track all straight, and smooth like glass
Thou couldest not mount the hills, and lo, the dells,
The hills and dells oh! Roller Coaster pass
In peace, believing all things well.
“The hills of life go down, and mount elate
We mount or sink on them, as case may be
All seated on the wagon seat of life—
A holdin’ on in peace, or screamin’ fearfulee.
“Hold then thy breath, and go, e’en up or down,
Hold to the seat, and hold to royal hope,
Hope for the best, so shalt thou wear a crown,
A clinging hope to hold, is better than a rope.
“Mount then the Mounts, Oh Roller Coaster mount,
And sink then in the dells with brow serene;
’Tis no disgrace to sink a spell, we count
Him coward, knave, who floats and calls it mean.”
Ardelia always will stand up for Josiah Allen, and I am glad on’t. I should jest as soon be jealous of one of Josiah’s gingham neckties, one of the thinnest and stringiest ones, as to be jealous of her. She means well, Ardelia duz.
Chapter XX.
AN ACCIDENT WITH RESULTS.
Wall, it wuz on the very day before we laid out to leave for home. I wuz a settin’ in my room a mendin’ up a rip in my pardner’s best coat, previous to packin’ in his trunk, when all of a sudden Miss Flamm’s hired girl came in a cryin’, and sez I, “What is the matter?”
And sez she, “Ah! Miss Flamm has sent for you and Mr. Allen to come over there right away. There has been a axident.”
“A axident!” sez I.
“Yes,” sez she. “The little girl has got hurt, and they don’t think she will live. Poor little pretty thing,” sez the hired girl, and busted out a cryin’ agin.