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or take her the news； one went in to get a bit of brightness；
and to hear the news。
〃I should get lonesome； I s'pose；〃 she was wont to say； 〃if it wa'n't
for the way this house is set； and this chair； and this winder； 'n' all。
Men folks used to build some o' the houses up in a lane； or turn 'em back
or side to the road； so the women folks couldn't see anythin' to keep their
minds off their churnin' or dish…washin'； but Aaron Dunnell hed somethin'
else to think about； 'n' that was himself； first； last； and all the time。
His store was down to bottom of the hill； 'n' when he come up to his meals；
he used to set where he could see the door； 'n' if any cust'mer come；
he could call to 'em to wait a spell till he got through eatin'。 Land！
I can hear him now； yellin' to 'em； with his mouth full of victuals！
They hed to wait till he got good 'n' ready； too。 There wa'n't so much
comp'tition in business then as there is now； or he'd 'a' hed to give up
eatin' or hire a clerk。 。 。 。 I've always felt to be thankful that the house
was on this rise o' ground。 The teams hev to slow up on 'count o'
the hill； 'n' it gives me consid'ble chance to see folks 'n' what they've
got in the back of the wagon； 'n' one thing 'n' other。 。 。 。 The
neighbors is continually comin' in here to talk about things that's goin'
on in the village。 I like to hear 'em； but land！ they can't tell me
nothing'！ They often say； ‘For massy sakes； Lucindy Bascom； how d'
you know that？' ‘Why；' says I to them； ‘I don't ask no questions；
'n' folks don't tell me no lies； I just set in my winder； 'n' put two
'n' two together；that's all I do。' I ain't never ben in a playhouse；
but I don't suppose the play…actors git down off the platform on t'
the main floor to explain to the folks what they've ben doin'； do they？
I expect； if folks can't understand their draymas when the're actin'
of 'em out； they have to go ignorant； don't they？ Well； what do I want
with explainin'； when everythin' is acted out right in the road？〃
There was quite a gathering of neighbors at the Bascoms'
on this particular July afternoon。 No invitations had been sent out；
and none were needed。 A common excitement had made it vital
that people should drop in somewhere； and speculate about certain
interesting matters well known to be going on in the community；
but going on in such an underhand and secretive fashion that it
well…nigh destroyed one's faith in human nature。
The sitting…room door was open into the entry； so that
whatever breeze there was might come in； and an unusual
glimpse of the new foreroom rug was afforded the spectators。
Everything was as neat as wax； for Diadema was a housekeeper
of the type fast passing away。 The great coal stove was enveloped
in its usual summer wrapper of purple calico； which； tied neatly
about its ebony neck and portly waist； gave it the appearance
of a buxom colored lady presiding over the assembly。
The kerosene lamps stood in a row on the high； narrow mantelpiece；
each chimney protected from the flies by a brown paper bag
inverted over its head。 Two plaster Samuels praying under
the pink mosquito netting adorned the ends of the shelf。
There were screens at all the windows； and Diadema fidgeted
nervously when a visitor came in the mosquito netting door；
for fear a fly should sneak in with her。
On the wall were certificates of membership in the Missionary Society；
a picture of Maidens welcoming Washington in the Streets of Alexandria；
in a frame of cucumber seeds； and an interesting document setting forth
the claims of the Dunnell family as old settlers long before the separation
of Maine from Massachusetts；the fact bein' established by an obituary
notice reading； 〃In Saco； December 1791； Dorcas； daughter of Abiathar Dunnell；
two months old of Fits unbaptized。〃
〃He may be goin' to marry Eunice； and he may not；〃 observed Almira Berry；
〃though what she wants of Reuben Hobson is more 'n I can make out。
I never see a widower straighten up as he has this last year。
I guess he's been lookin' round pretty lively； but couldn't find anybody
that was fool enough to give him any encouragement。〃
〃Mebbe she wants to get married；〃 said Hannah Sophia；
in a tone that spoke volumes。 〃When Parson Perkins come
to this parish； one of his first calls was on Eunice Emery。
He always talked like the book o' Revelation； so says he；
‘have you got your weddin' garment on； Miss Emery？' says he。
‘No；' says she； ‘but I ben tryin' to these twenty years。'
She was always full of her jokes； Eunice was！〃
〃The Emerys was always a humorous family；〃
remarked Diadema； as she annihilated a fly with a newspaper。
〃Old Silas Emery was an awful humorous man。 He used to live
up on the island； and there come a freshet one year；
and he said he got his sofy 'n' chairs off； anyhow！〃 That was
just his jokin'。 He hadn't a sign of a sofy in the house；
't was his wife Sophy he meant； she that was Sophy Swett。
Then another time； when I was a little mite of a thin runnin'
in 'n' out o' his yard； he caught holt o' me； and says he；
‘You'd better take care； sissy； when I kill you and two more；
thet'll be three children I've killed！' Land！ you couldn't
drag me inside that yard for years afterwards。
。 。 。 There！ she's got a fire in the cook…stove； there's a stream o'
smoke comin' out o' the kitchen chimbley。 I'm willin'
to bet my new rug she's goin' to be married tonight！〃
〃Mebbe she's makin' jell'；〃 suggested Hannah Sophia。
〃Jell'！〃 ejaculated Mrs。 Jot scornfully。 〃Do you
s'pose Eunice Emery would build up a fire in the middle o'
the afternoon 'n' go to makin' a jell'； this hot day？
Besides； there ain't a currant gone into her house this week；
as I happen to know。〃
〃It's a dretful thick year for fol'age；〃 mumbled grandpa Bascom；
appearing in the door with his vacant smile。 〃I declare some o'
the maples looks like balls in the air。〃
〃That's the twentieth time he's hed that over since mornin'；〃
said Diadema。 〃Here； father； take your hat off 'n' set in the
kitchen door 'n' shell me this mess o' peas。 Now think smart；
'n' put the pods in the basket 'n' the peas in the pan；
don't you mix 'em。〃
The old man hung his hat on the back of the chair； took the pan
in his trembling hands； and began aimlessly to open the pods；
while he chuckled at the hens that gathered round the doorstep
when they heard the peas rattling in the pan。
〃Reuben needs a wife bad enough； if that's all；〃 remarked the
Widow Buzzell； as one who had given the matter some consideration。
〃I should think he did；〃 rejoined old Mrs。 Bascom。
〃Those children 'bout git their livin' off the road in summer；
from the time the dand'lion greens is ready for diggin'
till the blackb'ries 'n' choke…cherries is gone。
Diademy calls 'em in 'n' gives 'em a cooky every time
they go past； 'n' they eat as if they was famished。
Rube Hobson never was any kind of a pervider； 'n' he's
consid'able snug besides。〃
〃He ain't goin' to better himself much；〃 said Almira。
〃Eunice Emery ain't fit to housekeep for a cat。
The pie she took to the pie supper at the church was so tough
that even Deacon Dyer couldn't eat it； and the boys got holt
of her doughnuts； and declared they was goin' fishin' next day
'n' use 'em for sinkers。 She lives from hand to mouth Eunice
Emery does。 She's about as much of a doshy as Rube is。
She'll make tea that's strong enough to bear up an egg； most；
and eat her doughnuts with it three times a day rather than
take the trouble to walk out to the meat or the fish cart。
I know for a fact she don't make riz bread once a year。〃
〃Mebbe her folks likes buttermilk bread best； some do；〃
said the Widow Buzzell。 〃My husband always said； give him
buttermilk bread to work on。 He used to say my riz bread
was so light he'd hev to tread on it to keep it anywheres；
but when you'd eat buttermilk bread he said you'd got somethin'
that stayed by you； you knew where it was every time。
。 。 。 For massy sake！ there's the stage stoppin' at the Hobson's door。
I wonder if Rube's first wife's mother has come from Moderation？
If 't is； they must 'a' made up their quarrel； for there was a time
she wouldn't step foot over that doorsill。 She must be goin'
to stay some time； for there's a trunk on the back o' the stage。
。 。 。 No； there ain't nobody gettin' out。 Land； Hannah Sophia；
don't push me clean through the glass！ It beats me why they make winders
so small that three people can't look out of 'em without crowdin'。
Ain't that a wash…boiler he's handin' down？ Well； it's a mercy；
he's ben borrowin' long enough！〃
〃What goes on after dark I ain't responsible for；〃
commented old Mrs。 Bascom； 〃but no new wash…boiler has gone
into Rube Hobson's door in the daytime for many a year；
and I'll be bound it means somethin'。 There goes a broom； too。
Much sweepin' he'll get out o' Eunice； it's a slick 'n'
a promi