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Now I'd like to know whether that ain't pleasanter than 't
is to have a man do all the shed 'n' barn work up smart；
and then set round the stove looking as doleful as a last
year's bird's nest？ Take my advice； Miss Hollis：
get a good provider if you can； but anyhow try to find you
a husband that'll keep on courting a little now and then；
when he ain't too busy； it smooths things consid'able
round the house。
〃There； I got so int'rested in what I was saying； I've went
on and finished the carnation； and some of the stem； too。
Now what comes next？ Why； the thing that happened next；
of course； and that was little Jot。
〃I'll work in a bud on my rose and one on Lovey's；
and my bud'll be made of Jot's first trousers。 The goods
ain't very appropriate for a rosebud； but it'll have to do；
for the idee is the most important thing in this rug。
When I put him into pants； I hadn't any cloth in the house；
and it was such bad going Jot couldn't get to Wareham to buy
me anything； so I made 'em out of an old gray cashmere skirt；
and lined 'em with flannel。〃
〃Buds are generally the same color as the roses；
aren't they？〃 ventured Priscilla。
〃I don't care if they be；〃 said Diadema obstinately。
〃What's to hender this bud's bein' grafted on？ Mrs。 Granger
was as black as an Injun； but the little Granger children
were all red…headed； for they took after their father。
But I don't know； you've kind o' got me out o' conceit with it。
I s'pose I could have taken a piece of his baby blanket；
but the moths never et a mite o' that； and it's too good to cut up。
There's one thing I can do： I can make the bud up with a long stem；
and have it growing right up alongside of mine；would you？〃
〃No； it must be stalk of your stalk； bone of your bone；
flesh of your flesh； so to speak。 I agree with you； the idea
is the first thing。 Besides； the gray is a very light shade；
and I dare say it will look like a bluish white。〃
〃I'll try it and see； but I wish to the land the moths
_had_ eat the pinning…blanket； and then I could have used it。
Lovey worked the scallops on the aidge for me。
My grief！ what int'rest she took in my baby clothes！
Little Jot was born at Thanksgiving time； and she come over
from Skowhegan； where Reuben was settled pastor of his first church。
I shall never forget them two weeks to the last day of my life。
There was deep snow on the ground。 I had that chamber there；
with the door opening into the setting…room。 Mother and father
Bascom kep' out in the dining…room and kitchen； where the work
was going on； and Lovey and the baby and me had the front
part of the house to ourselves； with Jot coming in on tiptoe；
heaping up wood in the fireplace so 't he 'most roasted us out。
He don't forget his chores in time o' sickness。
〃I never took so much comfort in all my days。
Jot got one of the Billings girls to come over and help
in the housework； so 't I could lay easy 's long as I
wanted to； and I never had such a rest before nor since。
There ain't any heaven in the book o' Revelations that 's any
better than them two weeks was。 I used to lay quiet in my good
feather bed； fingering the pattern of my best crochet quilt；
and looking at the fire…light shining on Lovey and the baby。
She 'd hardly leave him in the cradle a minute。 When I did
n't want him in bed with me； she 'd have him in her lap。
Babies are common enough to most folks； but Lovey was diff'rent。
She 'd never had any experience with children； either； for we
was the youngest in our family； and it wa'n't long before we
come near being the oldest； too； for mother buried
seven of us before she went herself。 Anyway； I never saw
nobody else look as she done when she held my baby。
I don't mean nothing blasphemious when I say 't was for all
the world like your photograph of Mary； the mother of Jesus。
〃The nights come in early； so it was 'most dark
at four o'clock。 The little chamber was so peaceful！
I could hear Jot rattling the milk…pails； but I'd draw a deep
breath o' comfort； for I knew the milk would be strained
and set away without my stepping foot to the floor。
Lovey used to set by the fire； with a tall candle on the light…stand
behind her； and a little white knit cape over her shoulders。
She had the pinkest cheeks； and the longest eyelashes； and a mouth
like a little red buttonhole； and when she bent over the baby；
and sung to him；though his ears wa'n't open； I guess for his
eyes wa'n't；the tears o' joy used to rain down my cheeks。
It was pennyrial hymns she used to sing mostly； and the one I
remember best was
〃'Daniel's wisdom may I know；
Stephen's faith and spirit show；
John's divine communion feel；
Moses' meekness； Joshua's zeal；
Run like the unwearied Paul；
Win the day and conquer all。
〃'Mary's love may I possess；
Lydia's tender…heartedness；
Peter's fervent spirit feel；
James's faith by works reveal；
Like young Timothy may I
Every sinful passion fly。'
〃'Oh Diademy；' she 'd say； 'you was always the best；
and it 's nothing more 'n right the baby should have come to you。
P'r'aps God will think I'm good enough some time； and if he does；
Diademy； I'll offer up a sacrifice every morning and every evening。
But I'm afraid；' says she； 'he thinks I can't stand any more happiness；
and be a faithful follower of the cross。 The Bible says we 've
got to wade through fiery floods before we can enter the kingdom。
I don't hardly know how Reuben and I are going to find any way
to wade through； we're both so happy； they 'd have to be consid'able
hot before we took notice；' says she； with the dimples all breaking
out in her cheeks。
〃And that was true as gospel。 She thought everything Reuben done
was just right； and he thought everything she done was just right。
There wa'n't nobody else； the world was all Reuben 'n' all Lovey to them。
If you could have seen her when she was looking for him to come
from Skowhegan！ She used to watch at the attic window； and when she
seen him at the foot of the hill she 'd up like a squirrel； and run down
the road without stopping for anything but to throw a shawl over her head。
And Reuben would ketch her up as if she was a child； and scold her for
not putting a hat on； and take her under his coat coming up the hill。
They was a sight for the neighbors； I must confess； but it wa'n't one you
could hardly disapprove of； neither。 Aunt Hitty said it was tempting
Providence and couldn't last； and God would visit his wrath on 'em
for making idols of sinful human flesh。
〃She was right one way；it didn't last； but nobody
can tell me God was punishing of 'em for being too happy。
I guess he 'ain't got no objection to folks being happy here below；
if they don't forget it ain't the whole story。
〃Well； I must mark in a bud on Lovey's stalk now；
and I'm going to make it of her baby's long white cloak。
I earned the money for it myself； making coats； and put four
yards of the finest cashmere into it； for three years after
little Jot was born I went over to Skowhegan to help
Lovey through her time o' trial。 Time o' trial！ I thought I
was happy； but I didn't know how to be as happy as Lovey did；
I wa'n't made on that pattern。
〃When I first showed her the baby （it was a boy；
same as mine）； her eyes shone like two evening stars。
She held up her weak arms； and gathered the little bundle o'
warm flannen into 'em； and when she got it close she shut
her eyes and moved her lips； and I knew she was taking
her lamb to the altar and offering it up as a sacrifice。
Then Reuben come in。 I seen him give one look at the two
dark heads laying close together on the white piller；
and then go down on his knees by the side of the bed。
'T wa'n't no place for me； I went off； and left 'em together。
We didn't mistrust it then； but they only had three days
more of happiness； and I'm glad I give 'em every minute。〃
The room grew dusky as twilight stole gently over
the hills of Pleasant River。 Priscilla's lip trembled；
Diadema's tears fell thick and fast on the white rosebud；
and she had to keep wiping her eyes as she followed the pattern。
〃I ain't said as much as this about it for five years；〃 she went on；
with a tell…tale quiver in her voice； 〃but now I've got going I can't stop。
I'll have to get the weight out o' my heart somehow。
〃Three days after I put Lovey's baby into her arms the Lord
called her home。 'When I prayed so hard for this little
new life； Reuben；' says she holding the baby as if she could never let
it go； 'I didn't think I'd got to give up my own in place of it；
but it's the first fiery flood we've had； dear； and though it burns
to my feet I'll tread it as brave as I know how。'
〃She didn't speak a word after that； she just faded
away like a snowdrop； hour by hour。 And Reuben and I stared
at one another in the face as if we was dead instead of her；
and we went abou