第18章

Youcouldn’tseewhytheywashedthebedding，andtookthefeathersfromthepillowsandsteamedtheminmosquitonettingbagsanddriedthemintheshade，whenSally’swastobeamorningwedding，buttheydid。IevenhadtotakeabucketandgatherfromaroundthewallsallthelittleheapsofrocksandshellsthatUncleAbrahamhadsentmotherfromCalifornia，takethemoutandwashandwipethem，andstackthemback，withthefanciestonesontop。Hesentheraringmadeofgoldhedughimself。Shealwayskepttheringinabottleinherbureau，andshemeanttowearitatthewedding，withhernewsilkdress。I

hadanewdresstoo。Idon’tknowhowtheygoteverythingdone。

Allofthemworked，untilthelastfewdaystheywereperfectcrosspatches。

Whentheycouldn’tfindanotherthingindoorstoscour，theybeganontheyard，orchard，barnandroad。MotherevenhadLeonstackthewoodpilestraighter。Shesaidwhencordedwoodleanedatanangle，itmadepeopleseemshiftless；andsheneverpassedaplacewhereitlookedthatwaythatherfingersdidn’tjustitchtogetatit。Hehadtopulleveryragweedoneachsideoftheroadasfarasourlandreached，andlayeveryrailstraightinthefences。FatherhadtotakespikesandourbiggestmaulandgotothebridgesatthefootoftheBigandtheLittleHill，andseethateveryplankwasfast，sononeofthemwouldrattlewhenimportantguestsdroveacross。Shesaidshejustsimplywouldn’thavetheminsuchaconditionthatJudgePettiscouldn’thearhimselfthinkwhenhecrossed；foryoucouldtellfromhislooksthatitwasveryimportantthatnoneofthethingshethoughtshouldbelost。Therewasn’tasinglespotabouttheplaceinsideoroutthatwasn’tgoneover；andtolotsofityouneverwouldhaveknownanythinghadbeendoneifyouhadn’tseen，becausetheplacewasalwaysinpropershapeanyway；butfathersaidmotheractedjustlikethat，evenwhenhersonsweremarriedatotherpeople’shouses；andifshekeptongettingworse，everygirlshemarriedoff，bythetimeshereachedme，we’dallbescouredthreadbareandshe’dbeonthevergeofthegrave。MayandIweededtheflowerbeds，pickedalltheripeseed，andpulledupandburnedallthestalksthatweredoneblooming。FatherandLaddiewentoverthegardencarefully；theyscrapedthewalksandevenshookthepalingstoseeifoneweregoingtocomelooserightatthelastminute，wheneveryonewouldbesoflustratedtherewouldbenotimetofixit。

Thentheybegantotalkaboutarrangementsfortheceremony，whetherweshouldhaveourregularminister，orPresidingElderLemon，andwhatpeopletheyweregoingtoinvite。Justwhenwehadplannedtoaskeveryone，havetheweddinginthechurch，andthebreakfastatthehouse，andalldriveinajoyousprocessiontoGrovevilletogivethemagoodsend-offinwalkedSally。ShehadbeenvisitingPeter’speople，andweplannedalotwhileshewasaway。

“What’sgoingonhere？“sheasked，standinginthedoorway，danglingherbonnetbytheties。

Sheneverlookedprettier。Herhairhadblownoutinlittlecurlsaroundherfacefromriding，hercheeksweresopink，andhereyessobright。

“Weweretalkingabouthavingtheceremonyinthechurch，soeveryonecanbecomfortablyseated，andseeandhearwell，“

answeredmother。

Sallystraightenedupandbeganjerkingtherosesonherbonnetfartooroughlyforartificialflowers。PerhapsIsurprisedyouwiththatartificialword，butIcanspellanddefineit；it’seasydividedintosyllables。Goodnessknows，Ihaveseenenoughflowersmadefromthehairofthedead，wax，andpaper，whereyougettheshape，butthecolourneverisright。TheseofSally’sweremuchtoobright，buttheywerebetterthantheonesmadeatourhouse。Herswereofclothandboughtatastore。Youcouldn’ttellwhy，butSallyjerkedherroses；Iwishedshewouldn’t，becauseIverywellknewtheywouldbeusedtotrimmyhatthenextsummer，andshesaid：“Well，peopledon’thavetobecomfortableduringaweddingceremony；theycanstandupifI

can，andasforseeingandhearing，I’maskingagoodmanythatI

don’tintendtohaveseeorheareitherone！“

“Mysoul！“criedmother，andshedroppedherhandsandhermouthfellopen，likeshealwaystolduswenevershouldletours，whileshestaredatSally。

“Idon’tcare！“saidSally，straighteningtalleryet；hereyesbegantoshineandherlipstoquiver，asifshewouldcryinaminute；“Idon’tcare——！“

“Whichmeans，mychild，thatyouDOcare，verymuch，“saidfather。“Supposeyouceasesuchrecklesstalk，andexplaintousexactlywhatitisthatyoudowant。“

Sallygaveherbonnetanawfuljerk。Thoseroseswouldlooklikesinbeforemyturntowearthemcame，andshesaid：“Wellthen，Idocare！Icarewithallmymight！Thechurchisallright，ofcourse；butIwanttobemarriedinmyveryownhome！Everyonecanthinkwhatevertheypleaseabouttheirhome，andsocanI，andwhatIthinkis，thatthisisthenicestandtheprettiestplaceinalltheworld，andIbelonghere——“

Fatherliftedhishead，hisfacebegantoshine，andhiseyestogrowteary；whilemotherstartedtowardSally。Sheputoutherhandandheldmotherfromheratarm’slength，andsheturnedandlookedbehindherthroughthesitting-roomandparlour，andthenatus，andshetalkedsofastyounevercouldhaveunderstoodwhatshesaidifyouhadn’tknownallofitanyway，andthoughtexactlythesamethingyourself。

“Ihavejustlovedthishouseeversinceitwasbuilt，“shesaid，“andI’vehadasgoodtimeshereasanygirleverhad。IfanyonethinksI’msoveryanxioustoleaveit，andyou，andmother，andalltheothers，whyit’sabigmistake。Seemsasifagirlisexpectedtomarryandgotoahomeofherown；it’sdrummedintoherandthingsfixedforherfromthedayofherbirth；andofcourseIdolikePeter，butnohomeintheworld，noteventheoneheprovidesforme，willeverbeanydearertomethanmyownhome；andasI’vealwayslivedinit，Iwanttobemarriedinit，andIwanttostayhereuntiltheverylastsecond——“

“Youshall，mychild，youshall！“sobbedmother。

“Andasforhavingacrowdofmenthatfatherisplanningtoask，staringatme，becausehechangesharvesthelpandwoodchoppingwiththem，orbeingcriticisedandclawedoverbysomewomensimplybecausethey’llbeangryiftheydon’tgetthechance，I

justwon’t——sothere！NotifIhavetostandtheministeragainstthewall，andturnourbackstoeveryone。Ithink——“

“Thatwilldo！“saidfather，wipinghiseyes。“Thatwilldo，Sally！YourmotherandIhavegotaprettyclearunderstandingofhowyoufeel，now。Don’texciteyourself！Yourweddingshan’tbeusedtopayoffourscores。Youmayaskexactlywhomyouplease，want，andfeelquitecomfortabletohavearoundyou——“

ThenSallyfellonmother’sneckandeveryonecriedawhile；

thenwewipedup，LeongaveSallyhisslate，andshecameandsatbesidethetableandbegantomakeoutalistofthoseshereallywantedtoinvite。Firstsheputdownallofourfamily，evenmanyawayinOhio，andallofPeter’s，andthenhisfriends，andhers。Onceinthelistofgirlsshestoppedandsaid：“IfI

takethatbeautifulimportedhandkerchieffromPamelaPryor，I

havejustgottoinviteher“

“Andshewilloutdressandoutshineyouatyourownwedding，“putinShelley。

“Lether，ifshecan！“saidSallycalmly。“She’llhavetohumpherselfifshebeatsthatdressofmine；andasforlooks，Iknowlotsofpeoplewhothinkgrayeyes，pinkcheeks，andbrowncurlsfardaintierandprettierthanredcheeksandblackeyesandcurls。IfshereallyisbetterlookingthanIam，itisn’therfault；Godmadeherthatway，andHewouldn’tlikeustopunishherforit；anditwould，becauseanyonecanseeshewantstobefriends；don’tyouthink，mother？“——mothernodded——“andbesides，Ithinkshe’sbetterlookingthanIam，myself！“

Sallysaidthat，andwrotedownthePrincess’nameinbigletters，andnoonecheeped。

Thenshebeganonourneighbourhood，thinkingoutloudandwritingwhatshethought。Soallofuswereasstill，andheldourbreathinsoftlyandwaited，andSallysaidslowandmusinglike，“Ofcoursewecouldn’thaveanythingatTHIShousewithoutSarahHood。Shedressedmostofuswhenwewereborn，nurseduswhenweweresick，helpedwiththreshing，company，andparties，andshe’sjustsplendidanyway；webetteraskalltheHoods“；soshewrotethemdown。“AnditwillbelonelyforWidowWillisandthegirlstoseeeveryoneelsehere——wemusthavethem；andofcourseDeams——Amandaisalwayssuchsplendidhelp；andtheWidowFallissoperfectlylovely，wewantherfordecorativepurposes；

andwecouldscarcelyleaveoutShaws；theyalwayshaveallofuseverythingtheydo；andDr。Fennerofcourse；andwe’llwantFloandAgnesKuntztowaitontable，sotheirfolksmightaswellcometoo——“

Soshewentontakingupeachfamilyweknew，andtellingwhattheyhaddoneforus，orwhatwehaddoneforthem；andshefoundsomegoodreasonforinvitingthem，andprettysoonfathersettledbackinhischairandnevertookhiseyesfromSally’sshiningheadasshebentovertheslate，andthenhebeganpullinghislowerlip，likewhenitwon’tbehave，andhiseyesdancedexactlyasI’veseenLeon’s。Ineverhadnoticedthatbefore。

SallywentstraightonandatlastshecametoFreshetts。“Iamgoingtohaveallofthem，too，“shesaid。“Thechildrenaregoodchildren，anditwillhelpthemalongtoseehowthingsaredonewhentheyareright；andIdon’tcarewhatanyonesays，I

LIKEMrs。Freshett。I’llaskhertohelpwork，andthatwillkeepherfromtalking，andgivetheotherwomenachancetoseethatshe’sclean，andhuman，andwouldbeagoodneighbourifthey’dbefriendly。Ifweaskher，thentheotherswill。“

Whenshefinished——asyoulive——therewasn’tasoulshehadleftoutexceptBillRamsdell，whostarvedhisdoguntilitsuckedoureggs，andIsaacThomas，whowassolazyhewouldn’tworkenoughtokeephiswifeandchildrendressedsotheyevercouldgoanywhere，buthealwayswent，evenwithragsflying，andgothisstomachfulljustbytalkingabouthowhelovedtheLord。TosavemeIcouldn’tseeIsaacThomaswithoutbeginningtomyself：

“’Tisthevoiceofthesluggard；Ihearhimcomplain，Youhavewakedmetoosoon，Imustslumberagain。

Ipassedbyhisgarden，Isawthewildbrier，Thethorn，andthethistle，growbroaderandhigher；

Theclothesthathangonhimareturningtorags；

Andhismoneyhewastes，tillhestarvesorhebegs。“

ThatdescribedIsaactothelasttatter，onlyhecouldn’twastemoney；heneverhadany。OnceIaskedfatherwhathethoughtIsaacwoulddowithit，ifbysomeunforeseenworkingofDivineProvidence，hegottendollars。Fathersaidhecouldtellmeexactly，becauseIsaaconcesoldsometimberandhadahundredallatonce。HewentstraighttotownandboughtMandyaredsilkdressandabrassbreastpin，whenshehadnoshoes。Hegotthechildrenanorgan，whentheywerehungry；andhimselfaplughat。Mandyandthechildrencriedbecauseheforgotcandyandorangesuntilthelastcentwasgone。FathersaidtheonlytimeIsaaceverworkedsinceheknewhimwaswhenhesawhowthehatlookedwithhisrags。Heactuallyhelpedthemenfellthetreesuntilhegotenoughtobuyasuit，theremainsofwhichhestillworeonSunday。Iaskedfatherwhyhedidn’twearthehattoo，andfathersaidthelossofthathatwasablow，fromwhichIsaacneverhadrecovered。Onceatcamp-meetinghelaiditasidetoprayhislongest，mostimpressiveprayer，andanaffectionatecowstrayedupandlickedthenapalloffbeforeIsaacfinished，sohenevercouldwearitagain。

Sallysaid：“I’llbeswitchedifI’llhavethatdisgustingcreaturearoundstuffinghimselfonmyweddingday；butifyou’renotinbed，whenit’sallover，mother，Idowishyou’dsendMandyandthechildrenabasket。“

Motherpromised，andfathersatandlookedonandpulledhislowerlipuntilhisearsalmostwiggled。ThenSallysaidshewantedLaddieandShelleytostandattheparlourdoorandkeepittightshut，andseateveryoneinthesitting-roomexceptaspeciallistshehadmadeouttosendinthere。ShewantedallourfamilyandPeter’s，andonlyafewveryclosefriends，butitwasenoughtofilltheroom。ShesaidwhensheandPetercamedownstairseveryonecouldseehowtheylookedwhentheycrossedthesitting-room，andforallthedifferencethedoorwouldmake，itcouldbeleftopenthen；shewouldbewalledinbypeopleshewantedaroundher，andtheotherscouldhavethefunofbeingthere，seeingwhattheycould，andgettingalltheywantedtoeat。Fatherandmothersaidthatwasallright，onlytosaynothingabouttheplantoshutthedoor；butwhenthetimecamejusttocloseitandeverythingwouldbesatisfactory。

ThenSallytooktheslateupstairstocopythelistwithink，soeveryonewentaboutsomething，whilemothercrossedtofatherandhetookheronhislap，andtheylookedateachotherthelongestandthehardest，andneitherofthemsaidaword。Afterawhiletheycriedandlaughed，andcriedsomemore，anditwasaboutassensibleaswhataflockofgeesesaywhentheyareletoutofthebarnandstartforthemeadowinthemorning。Thenfather，alllaughyandcriey，said：“ThankGod！Oh，thankGod，thegirllovesthehomewehavemadeforher！“

Justsaiditoverandover，andmotherkeptputtingin：“Itpays，Paul！Itpays！“

NextdaySallyputonherridinghabitandfixedherselfasprettyasevershecould，andwentaroundtohavealastlittlevisitwitheveryone，andinvitedthemherself，andthenshewroteletterstopeopleaway。ElizabethandLucycamehome，andeveryonebegantowork。Fatherandmotherwenttothevillageinthecarriageandbroughthomethebedfullofthingstoeat，andallwehadwasadded，andmotherbegantopackbutter，andsaveeggsforcakes，andthedaybefore，Ithoughttherewouldn’tbeachickenleftontheplace。Theykilledandkilled，andSarahHood，AmandaDeam，andMrs。Freshettpickedandpicked。

“I’llbetadollarwegetsomethingthistimebesidesribsandneck，“saidLeon。“Howdoyousupposethighandbreastwouldtaste？“

“Iwasalwayscrazytotrythetail，“Isaid。

“Muchchanceyougot，“sniggeredLeon。“’MemberthetimethatfatheraskedthePresidingElder，`BrotherLemon，whatpieceofthefowldoyouprefer？’andheupandsaid：`I’mpartialtotherump，BrotherStanton。’Theresatfatherboundhewouldn’tgivehimmother’spiece，sohepretendedhecouldn’tfindit，andforkedallovertheplatterandthengavehimtheribsandthethigh。Gee，howmotherscoldedhimafterthepreacherhadgone！

Younoticefatherhasn’taskedthatsince。Now，healwayssays：

`Doyoupreferlightordarkmeat？’Muchchanceyouhaveofevertastingatail，iffatherwon’tevengiveonetothePresidingElder！“

“Butasmanyastheyarekilling——“

“OhTHIStime，“saidLeonwithaflourish，“thistimewearegoingtohavelivers，andbreast，andthighs，ANDtails，ifyouarebeholdentotail。“

“I’dliketoknowhowweare？“