all our worries lately to do somethin' just
plain plumb foolish, like lettin' young ones have a nice time. Me an'
Eunice, we have more on our minds 'an we let on to you, but I'm goin' to
forget 'em."

"Forgettin' your mind won't be no great job, nor loss nuther. Wouldn't
be much matter if 'twasn't never found again," he retorted,
half-facetiously, and half-vexed that, as she hinted, there were still
confidences withheld from him.

Susanna ignored his playfulness, and went on as if he had not
interrupted:

"I'm goin' to make jumbles, an' little frosted cakes, an' teeny-tiny riz
biscuit, an' raisin-loaf. I've got a ham on b'ilin', an'--my suz! It
most makes me feel a dozen years younger, just the mere idee of havin' a
childern's party. We hain't had none sence Johnny run away, an'--"

"Oh, hum! An' here I must lie like a log o' wood an' no share in it. Me
that always thought more of young ones 'an you did. Anyhow, I don't see
what great call _you_ got to mix up in it. S'pose you expect to be
invited, don't you? What you goin' to wear? White with pink ribbons,
like all the other little girls?" demanded the imprisoned man.

"Well, I hain't thought much about my clothes, but I did lay out to wear
my common sense an' trim it with a wreath o' good nature, an' maybe a
sprig of patience fastenin' the hull. Never mind, Moses. Maybe you'll
get more share in it 'an I shall. Somethin' may happen to keep me from
enjoyin' myself any more'n you are this minute. An'--my suz! I smell
that ham water b'ilin' over this instant. An'--what next! There's Kitty
Keehoty comin' out the tool-house with that roll o' grapevine wire that
you put away so careful--an' it's most more'n she can lug. But she'd
tackle it. She'd tackle it if it was twicet as heavy. She's got more
ambition an' gumption than ary young one I ever knowed. My suz! She
couldn't carry it, after all, so she's put it down an' is draggin' it.
She looks a pictur'! Her hair blowin' all 'round her head, her cheeks
like roses, her feet fairly dancin' with happiness, her eyes like stars.
Well, a body'd ought to take a bit o' trouble, now an' then, whilst
they're little. It does take such a mere mite to make childern pleased.
She--"

Poor Uncle Moses could bear no more. There had never been so many
interesting things happening as since he had been in bed, unable to take
part in them. Within his age-worn body beat the heart of a little child,
and he was nearly frantic, imagining wha