ompelled to go to school
until I learned enough to understand what the books contained about
birds, flowers, and moths, anyway; and perhaps there would be some
having Fairies in them. Of course those would be interesting.

I never hated doing anything so badly, in all my life, but I could see,
with no one to tell me, that I had put it off as long as I dared. I
would just have to start school when Leon and May went in September.
Tilly Baher, who lived across the swamp near Sarah Hood, had gone two
winters already, and she was only a year older, and not half my size.
I stood on the pulpit and looked a long time in every direction, into
the sky the longest of all. It was settled. I must go; I might as
well start and have it over. I couldn't look anywhere, right there at
home, and not see more things I didn't know about than I did. When
mother showed me in the city, I wouldn't be snapped up like hot cakes;
I'd be a blockhead no one would have. It made me so vexed to think I
had to go, I set Hezekiah on my shoulder, took Bobby under my arm, and
went to the house. On the way, I made up my mind that I would ask
again, very politely, to hold the little baby, and if the rest of them
went and pigged it up straight along, I'd pinch it, if I got a chance.

CHAPTER IV

The Last Day in Eden

"'Tis the sunset of life gives me mystical lore,
And coming events cast their shadows before."

Of course the baby was asleep and couldn't be touched; but there was
some excitement, anyway. Father had come from town with a letter from
the new school teacher, that said she would expect him to meet her at
the station next Saturday. Mother thought she might as well get the
room ready and let her stay at our house, because we were most
convenient, and it would be the best place for her. She said that
every time, and the teacher always stayed with us. Really it was
because father and mother wanted the teacher where they could know as
much as possible about what was going on. Sally didn't like having her
at all; she said with the wedding coming, the teacher would be a
nuisance. Shelley had finished our school, and the Groveville high
school, and instead of attending college she was going to Chicago to
study music. She was so anxious over her dresses and getting started,
she didn't seem to think much about what was going to happen to us at
home; so she didn't care if Miss Amelia stayed at our house. May said
it would be