If the truth were told, Uncle Joe did not agree to the making of all these “frocks and furbelows” for Hannah’s Car’lyn without the filing of some objections.
“I tell you, Aunty Rose,” he said to his austere housekeeper (and it took courage for him to say this), “I tell you the child will get it into her head that she can always have all these things. Her father didn’t leave anything—scarcely any money at all. I don’t suppose, if I sell out that flat, I’d get a hundred dollars for it. How are all these frocks and furbelows going to be paid for?”
“You can stop in at the First National, Joseph Stagg, and draw enough out of my account to pay for them,” said Aunty Rose placidly.
“Huh? I guess not!” ejaculated the hardware dealer angrily. “I can pay my just debts yet, I hope—and them of Hannah’s Car’lyn, too. If there’s money got to be spent on the child, I’m the one to spend it.”
“Then don’t talk as though you were afraid the sheriff was going to tack a notice on your store door to-morrow morning,” returned the old lady tartly. To herself she observed, out of his hearing: “It will do Joseph Stagg good to learn to spend money, as well as to make it.”
But Mr. Stagg did not take kindly to this, nor to other innovations that the coming of Carolyn May to The Corners brought about. Especially was he outspoken about Prince. That faithful follower of “Hannah’s Car’lyn” he failed to discover any use for or any good in.
Prince was a friendly creature, and he did not always display good judgment in showing his affection. In his doggish mind he could not see why Mr. Stagg did not like him; he approved of Mr. Stagg very much indeed.
One particularly muddy day he met the returning hardware merchant at the gate with vociferous barkings and a plain desire to implant a welcoming tongue on the man’s cheek. He succeeded in muddying Mr. Stagg’s suit with his front paws, and almost cast the angry man full length into a mud puddle.
“Drat the beast!” ejaculated Mr. Stagg. “I’d rather have an epileptic fit loose around here than him. Now, look at these clo’es! I declare, Car’lyn, you’ve jest got to tie that mongrel up—and keep him tied!”
“All the time, Uncle Joe?” whispered the little girl.