ps to pay for it, but we don't take no collections in
church, like you say. That's a funny way----"

The appearance of Maria Metz prevented further discussion of church
collections. With a large, fringed shawl pinned over her plain gray
dress and a stiff black silk bonnet tied under her chin, she was ready
for church. She was putting the big iron key of the kitchen door into a
deep pocket of her full skirt as she came down the walk.

"That way, now we're ready," she said affably. "I guess you're Phoebe's
teacher, ain't? I see you go past still."

"Yes. I am very glad to meet you, Miss Metz. It is very kind of you to
invite me to go with you."

"Ach, that's nothing. You're welcome enough. We always have much company
when church is on the hill. This is a nice day, so I guess church will
be full. I hope so, anyway, for I got ready for company for dinner. But
how do you like Greenwald?"

"Very well, indeed. It is beautiful here."

"Ain't! But I guess it's different from Phildelphy. I was there once, in
the Centennial, and it was so full everywheres. I like the country best.
Can't anything beat this now, can it?"

They reached the summit of the hill and paused.

"No," said Miss Lee, "this is hard to beat. I love the view from this
hill."

"Ain't now"--Aunt Maria smiled in approval--"this here is about the
nicest spot around Greenwald. There's the town so plain you could almost
count the houses, only the trees get in the road. And there's the
reservoir with the white fence around, and the farms and the pretty
country around them--it's a pretty place."

"I like this hill," said Phoebe. "When I grow up I'm goin' to have a
farm on this hill, when I'm married, I mean."

"That's too far off yet, Phoebe," said her aunt. "You must eat bread and
butter yet a while before you think of such things."

"Anyhow, I changed my mind. I'm not goin' to live in the country when I
grow up; I'm going to be a fine lady and live in the city."

"Phoebe, stop that dumb talk, now!" reproved her aunt sternly. "You turn
round and walk up the hill. We'll go on now, Miss Lee. Mebbe you'd like
to go on the graveyard a little?"

"I don't mind."

"Then come." Aunt Maria led the way, past the low brick meeting-house,
through the gateway into the old burial ground. They wandered among the
marble slabs and read the inscriptions, some half obliterated by years
of mountain storms, others freshly carved.

"The epitaphs are interesting," said Mi