ur way to Rufus's
funeral, for we _never_ could have faced him in real life after hearin'
such a tale.

"Seems there was the pond 'n' there was the edge o' the pond, 'n' there
was two barrels as Rufus 'n' Nathan had set close to the edge. One o'
the barrels was empty 'n' one was full o' dirty swamp-water, 'n' Rufus's
superior mind had hung a old piece o' carpet from one barrel over into
the other so it could suck up dirty water 'n' drip off clean, 'n' mebbe
if the sun did n't shine too hard Hannah 'd have a pail o' clean water
come Hallowe'en. 'N' the wash waitin'!

"Mr. Jilkins said as that was jus' what might o' been expected o' Rufus.
He'd like to observe the theery 'n' he would n't care about the wash.
Gran'ma Mullins said it did the business for Hannah, though. She never
could make up her mind to take Dr. Lumb before on a'count o' his
swearin' so, but she made up her mind as anythin' as 'd rid her o' Rufus
'n' give her a chance to boss Nathan 'd fill her bill after that, 'n'
she went up that very night 'n' told Dr. Lumb, as if he still wanted
her, she was prepared to be took. He wanted her 'n' he took her, 'n' she
was to the funeral to-day with Nathan 'n' his two boys, all of 'em
brushed so slick you could see with half a eye as Hannah had got a deal
o' satisfaction out o' them all these years since.

"She come over to sit beside Gran'ma Mullins 'n' talked a little while.
She said Bessy Timmans was bearin' Rufus's loss mos' bravely, 'n' her
daughter Betty was come home 'n' brought the baby to comfort her. Hannah
said as Betty was a very sweet young woman. She said she never forgot
the day when she was only four years old, 'n' asked right out why the
family had to be so proud o' Rufus. Hannah said her mother shut her up
quick, but it was plain to be seen as that child had eyes for them as
could hear, 'n' was pretty quick at sizin' up Rufus.

"It was a awful big funeral. Folks was there from all over. I drove out
to the graveyard with old Dr. Lumb 'n' Dr. Cogswell from the city. The
other one was Susy Carter, 'n' she's so deaf all I could do was to
listen to the front seat. Dr. Cogswell said as it was a great pity that
a superior man like Rufus Timmans should have had to live his life out
on highways 'n' edges by circumstances probably beyond his control. Dr.
Lumb said yes, a small community like Meadville could n't never offer
nothin' like a addykit scope to a brain like Rufus's. He said he was
surprised as Rufu