But she left for the city a few weeks after little Angenora’s death; she said she couldn’t bear the associations connected with that house, and I hear she pays more attention to Mr. Greene Smythe than she did; howsumever, I don’t know. Thomas J. gets bizness letters from her occasionally—I guess he’ll git her free from Emery Tweedie, he is a villian and a blackmailer, so Thomas J. sez. As for Medora, he don’t see his way clear to free her from her husband, and I guess as long as she lives she will have to suffer from the effects of her early trainin’ and git along the best she can.
Now, can any one tell by what occult law or onseen enactment it is, or what strange, mysterious jury sets on the case and determines it thus or so, but is there one among my readers who will contradict me when I say that when one thing happens in this world other things like it will keep on happenin’, pleasant things and sad things? Now, if people have one pleasant thing happen to ’em they will keep on happenin’, and the same with sad things; if one suicide takes place don’t folks look for another? And they do not look in vain; the same with embezzlements, murders, war, and rumors of wars.
Alas! the grass wuz not yet green on little Angenora’s grave when—— But I can’t put it down yet; no, I have got to lead up to it gradual or I can’t stand it; I have got to kinder stiddy myself by relating other things first.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Things went on in their usual roteen in our home in Jonesville, Josiah good, over-good at times, anon puggicky and hard to git along with, softened into amiability agin by his own good principles and his pardner’s oncommon tact and cookin’. Meetin’s, socials, visitors, agents, and colporters varied the calm roteen as of yore; the children had been home frequent, and Hamenses folks had been down on a visit and stayed several days.
One day Aunt Polly Worden come to spend the day with me. She lives with her brother and his wife, and is pretty well off if she only knew it, but she don’t know it, and probable never will. She will go on and complain of her sister-in-law by the hour if folks will listen to her. But I always git her attention off as soon as I can onto other subjects, knittin’ or piecin’ up, or the minister’s wife, or sunthin’ or ruther. Well, little Delight wuz stayin’ with us for a few days, and Aunt Polly seemed to forget her grievances lookin’ at the dear little creeter and hearin’ her pretty talk as she played with her dollys and books and toys.
I got a oncommon good dinner—Aunt Polly loves her vittles—and she brightened up considerable and wuz talkin’ real agreeable for her, and that afternoon Thomas J. and Maggie stopped in for a few minutes with their baby. They wuz out ridin’ and come in for a few minutes, and Thomas J. went to find his Pa, wantin’ to see him on bizness. The baby looked sweet as a rosebud, and Maggie looked like the parent rose on the same stem.
Maggie couldn’t take off her bunnet even, for they had to be back before noon, but she said they wuz comin’ down that week to stay all day. But I did take off the baby’s little white silk hood and snowy cashmere cloak, and made of it a sight, Delight lookin’ on as happy as a little queen. After they went away I spoke as is nateral to Aunt Polly about the charms and loveliness of that baby, and Aunt Polly winked at me real knowin’ and sez to Delight: