in fine
style. Uncle Jason had taken an abundance of water out to the cattle.
Usually the drinking trough was filled but once a day, and that about
noon. Now the poor horses and the neglected cow could have plenty of
water.

And so could the household. Aunt 'Mira need no longer give things "a
lick and a promise," as she so frequently expressed it. When she came
down it was to a humming fire, a steaming kettle, and a brimming pail
on the shelf.

"I declare for't, Janice!" she exclaimed. "What you done now?"

"Nothing, Aunty--save to put a pretty bunch of lilacs on the table for
you."

"An' them lilacs is always fragrant," agreed the lady. "Who went for
the water? Is Marty up?"

"Marty wouldn't lose his beauty sleep," laughed Janice.

"For the mercy's sake!" gasped Aunt 'Mira. "The pump bench is wet. I
declare for't! Jason never fixed that pump, did he?"

"Just try it, Aunty!" cried the delighted Janice. "See how easy it
works! And the more it's pumped the better the water will be. It's
not quite clear yet, you know. Moss _will_ grow in the pipe."

"Janice, you're a wonder! You kin do more with your uncle than his own
fam'bly can, an' that's a fact!"

"I hope you don't mind, Aunty?" she whispered, coming over to the large
lady and hugging her. "You know, after all, it's for you he did it."

"Wal, it does lighten my labor, that's a fact," admitted Aunt 'Mira.
"He use ter do a-many things for me, years ago. Oh, yes! Your Uncle
Jason warn't allus like he is now. But we got kinder in a rut I
'xpec'. An' I ain't young and good-lookin' like I use ter be, an' that
makes a diff'rence with a man."

"_I_ think you're very pleasant to look at, Aunt 'Mira," declared the
girl, warmly. "And I don't believe Uncle Jason ever saw a girl he
liked to look at so well as you. Of course not!"

"But I be gittin' old," sighed the poor woman. "An' I ain't got a
decent gown to put on no more. An' I'm _fat_."

Janice still hugged her. "We'll just overhaul your wardrobe, you and
I, Aunty, and I believe we can find something that can be fixed over to
look nice. You'd ought to wear pretty gowns--of course you had. Let's
surprise Uncle Jason by dressing you up. Why, he hasn't seen you
dressed up since--since I've been here."

"Longer'n that, child--much longer'n that," admitted Aunt 'Mira,
shamefacedly. "P'r'aps _'tis_ my fault. Anyway, I'm glad about the
pump," and she kissed her niece, heartily.