She held out bravely, old Mrs. Bascom, though she was all skin, bones, and tongue, as the neighbors said; for nobody needed to go into the Bascoms to brighten up aunt Lucinda a bit, or take her the news; one went in to get a bit of brightness, and to hear the news.
I should get lonesome, I spose, she was wont to say, if it want for the way this house is set, and this chair, and this winder, n all. Men folks used to build some o the houses up in a lane, or turn em back or side to the road, so the women folks couldnt see anythin to keep their minds off their churnin or dish-washin; but Aaron Dunnell hed somethin else to think about, n that was himself, first, last, and all the time. His store was down to bottom of the hill, n when he come up to his meals, he used to set where he could see the door; n if any custmer come, he could call to em to wait a spell till he got through eatin. Land! I can hear him now, yellin to em, with his mouth full of victuals! They hed to wait till he got good n ready, too. There want so much comptition in business then as there is now, or hed a hed to give up eatin or hire a clerk. Ive always felt to be thankful that the house was on this rise o ground. The teams hev to slow up on count o the hill, n it gives me considble chance to see folks n what theyve got in the back of the wagon, n one thing n other. The neighbors is continually comin in here to talk about things thats goin on in the village. I like to hear em, but land! they cant tell me nothing! They often say, For massy sakes, Lucindy Bascom, how d you know that? Why, says I to them, I dont ask no questions, n folks dont tell me no lies; I just set in my winder, n put two n two together,thats all I do. I aint never ben in a playhouse, but I dont suppose the play-actors git down off the platform on t the main floor to explain to the folks what theyve ben doin, do they? I expect, if folks cant understand their draymas when there actin of em out, they have to go ignorant, dont they? Well, what do I want with explainin, when everythin is acted out right in the road?
There was quite a gathering of neighbors at the Bascoms on this particular July afternoon. No invitations had been sent out, and none were needed. A common excitement had made it vital that people should drop in somewhere, and speculate about certain interesting matters well known to be going on in the community, but going on in such an underhand and secretive fashion that it well-nigh destroyed ones faith in human nature.
The sitting-room door was open into the entry, so that whatever breeze there was might come in, and an unusual glimpse of the new foreroom rug was afforded the spectators. Everything was as neat as wax, for Diadema was a housekeeper of the type fast passing away. The great coal stove was enveloped in its usual summer wrapper of purple calico, which, tied neatly about its ebony neck and portly waist, gave it the appearance of a buxom colored lady presiding over the assembly. The kerosene lamps stood in a row on the high, narrow mantelpiece, each chimney protected from the flies by a brown paper bag inverted over its head. Two plaster Samuels praying under the pink mosquito netting adorned the ends of the shelf. There were screens at all the windows, and Diadema fidgeted nervously when a visitor came in the mosquito netting door, for fear a fly should sneak in with her.
On the wall were certificates of membership in the Missionary Society; a picture of Maidens welcoming Washington in the Streets of Alexandria, in a frame of cucumber seeds; and an interesting document setting forth the claims of the Dunnell family as old settlers long before the separation of Maine from Massachusetts,the fact bein established by an obituary notice reading, In Saco, December 1791, Dorcas, daughter of Abiathar Dunnell, two months old of Fits unbaptized.
He may be goin to marry Eunice, and he may not, observed Almira Berry; though what she wants of Reuben Hobson is more n I can make out. I never see a widower straighten up as he has this last year. I guess hes been lookin round pretty lively, but couldnt find anybody that was fool enough to give him any encouragement.
Mebbe she wants to get married, said Hannah Sophia, in a tone that spoke volumes. When Parson Perkins come to this parish, one of his first calls was on Eunice Emery. He always talked like the book o Revelation; so says he, have you got your weddin garment on, Miss Emery? says he. No, says she, but I ben tryin to these twenty years. She was always full of her jokes, Eunice was!
The Emerys was always a humorous family, remarked Diadema, as she annihilated a fly with a newspaper. Old Silas Emery was an awful humorous man. He used to live up on the island; and there come a freshet one year, and he said he got his sofy n chairs off, anyhow! That was just his jokin. He hadnt a sign of a sofy in the house; t was his wife Sophy he meant, she that was Sophy Swett. Then another time, when I was a little mite of a thin runnin in n out o his yard, he caught holt o me, and says he, Youd better take care, sissy; when I kill you and two more, thetll be three children Ive killed! Land! you couldnt drag me inside that yard for years afterwards. There! shes got a fire in the cook-stove; theres a stream o smoke comin out o the kitchen chimbley. Im willin to bet my new rug shes goin to be married tonight!
Mebbe shes makin jell, suggested Hannah Sophia.
Jell! ejaculated Mrs. Jot scornfully. Do you spose Eunice Emery would build up a fire in the middle o the afternoon n go to makin a jell, this hot day? Besides, there aint a currant gone into her house this week, as I happen to know.
Its a dretful thick year for folage, mumbled grandpa Bascom, appearing in the door with his vacant smile. I declare some o the maples looks like balls in the air.
Thats the twentieth time hes hed that over since mornin, said Diadema. Here, father, take your hat off n set in the kitchen door n shell me this mess o peas. Now think smart, n put the pods in the basket n the peas in the pan; dont you mix em.
The old man hung his hat on the back of the chair, took the pan in his trembling hands, and began aimlessly to open the pods, while he chuckled at the hens that gathered round the doorstep when they heard the peas rattling in the pan.
Reuben needs a wife bad enough, if thats all, remarked the Widow Buzzell, as one who had given the matter some consideration.
I should think he did, rejoined old Mrs. Bascom. Those children bout git their livin off the road in summer, from the time the dandlion greens is ready for diggin till the blackbries n choke-cherries is gone. Diademy calls em in n gives em a cooky every time they go past, n they eat as if they was famished. Rube Hobson never was any kind of a pervider, n hes considable snug besides.
He aint goin to better himself much, said Almira. Eunice Emery aint fit to housekeep for a cat. The pie she took to the pie supper at the church was so tough that even Deacon Dyer couldnt eat it; and the boys got holt of her doughnuts, and declared they was goin fishin next day n use em for sinkers. She lives from hand to mouth Eunice Emery does. Shes about as much of a doshy as Rube is. Shell make tea thats strong enough to bear up an egg, most, and eat her doughnuts with it three times a day rather than take the trouble to walk out to the meat or the fish cart. I know for a fact she dont make riz bread once a year.