ebbe the Sperrits was some wore
out themselves, f'r they jus' told him 't no one could possibly
object, 'n' then they had the carryall 'n' drove 'em both in town
right after dinner.

"I was down in the square buyin' flypaper, 'n' I heard the commotion
'n' run out, 'n'--well, Mrs. Lathrop, you c'n believe me or not jus'
's you please--but it was a sight to draw tears to any one's eyes.
Folks waved anythin' 't they could grab, 'n' all the boys yelled 'n'
cheered. The minister was real touched--he quoted, ''N' there went up
a great multitude'--but he never got no further, f'r Deacon White
jumped up in the band-stand 'n' proposed 'No church Sunday, but a
donation party Saturday night. Who bids?' 'n' every one shrieked,
'Aye--Aye.'"

Mrs. Lathrop's eyes kindled slowly but surely.

"I wish--" she said, biting firmly into a large red one.

"It's too late now," said Susan, not unkindly, "it's all over now--all
'xcept the donation party, 'n' I don't see how you c'n do much there
'nless I bring over the butter 'n' mix it for you. But you mustn't
interrupt me, Mrs. Lathrop, f'r if you do I never shall get through.

"So the donation party was decided, 'n' Mrs. Brown's good cookin'
heart come out strong 'n' she pledged three pies right then n' there.
I put myself down f'r a pan o' biscuit, 'n' Mr. Kimball said he
believed 's the Aliens would outdo every one 'n' give a whole cow,
without no urgin' neither. Mrs. Allen laughed a little, 'n' then Mrs.
Macy come up so out o' breath 't it was all o' five minutes afore she
could get out a word. Seemed when she _did_ speak, 't she wasn't
tryin' to give nothin'--she only wanted to know about the minister's
ear-muffs, 'n' it appears 't he never took 'em a _tall_. Seems 't
Brunhilde Susan cut teeth on 'em till they was only fit to be used f'r
kettle-holders."

Susan paused for a second. Mrs. Lathrop chewed and waited. In a minute
the narrative flowed on.

"When every one else was through, Mrs. Sperrit said 't if she could
take 'Liza Em'ly home with her to help look after the little ones
she'd be willin' to keep 'em a fortnight more 'n' let the
minister--'n' his wife--have a real good rest in their own house. Mrs.
Maxwell spoke right up 'n' said she c'd have 'Liza Em'ly 'n' welcome,
'n' Mrs. Sweet said she c'd have Rachel Rebecca too. But Mrs. Fisher
crowded round in front 'n' said she nor no one couldn't have John
Bunyan not now 'n' not never, f'r he'd weeded 'n' mowed 'n' grafted
'n