第21章

CHAPTERVIII

TheShropshireandtheCrusader“For，amongtherichandgay，Fine，andgrand，anddeckedinlaces，Noneappearmoregladthenthey，Withhappierhearts，orhappierfaces。“

Everyonetoldmotherforaweekbeforetheweddingthatshewouldbesickwhenitwasover，andsureenoughshewas。Shehadbeenonherfeettoomuch，andhadsomanythingstothinkabout，andtherehadbeensuchadreadfulamountofworkforherandCandace，evenafteralltheneighbourshelped，thatshewassickinbedandwecouldn’tfindathingshecouldeat，untilshewasalmostwildwithhungerandfatherseemedasifhecouldn’tpossiblybearitadaylonger。

AfterCandacehadtriedeverythingshecouldthinkof，IwentupandtalkeditoverwithSarahHood，andshecamedown，pretendingshehappenedin，andshetriedthickenedmilk，toastandmulledbuttermilk；shekepttryingfortwodaysbeforeshegaveup。

Candacethoughtofnewthings，andMrs。Freshettcameandmadeallthesickdishessheknew，butmothercouldn’teventastethem；sowewereprettyblue，andwenearlystarvedourselves，forhowcouldwesitandeateverythingyoucouldmention，andmotherlyingthere，almostcryingwithhunger？

SaturdaymorningIwashangingaroundherroomhopingmaybeshecouldthinkofsomeleastlittlethingIcoulddoforher，evenifnomorethantobringaglassofwater，oralaterosetolayonherpillow；itwouldbebetterthannotbeingabletodoanythingatall。Afterawhilesheopenedhereyesandlookedatme，andIscarcelyknewher。Shesmiledthebravestshecouldandsaid：“Sorryformother，dear？“

Inodded。Icouldn’tsaymuch，andshetriedharderthanevertobecheerfulandasked：“Whatareyouplanningtodoto-day？“

“Ifyoucan’tthinkofonethingIcandoforyou，guessI’llgofishing，“Isaid。

Hereyesgrewbrighterandsheseemedhalfinterested。

“Why，LittleSister，“shesaid，“ifyoucancatchsomeofthosefishlikeyoudosometimes，IbelieveIcouldeatoneofthem。“

Ineverhadsuchabe-hangedtimegettingstarted。Islippedfromtheroom，andnevertoldasoulevenwhereIwasgoing。I

fellovertheshovelandcouldn’tfindanythingquickenoughbutmypockettoputthewormsin，andIforgotmystringer。Atlast，whenIraceddownthehilltothecreekandclimbedoverthewaterofthedeepplace，ontherootsofthePeteBillingsyowlingtree，Ihadonlysixworms，myapplesuckerpole，mycottoncordline，andbentpinhook。Iputthefirstwormoncarefully，andifeverIprayed！Sometimesitwashardtounderstandaboutthisprayingbusiness。Mymotherwasthebestandmostbeautifulwomanwhoeverlived。Shewasclean，andgood，andalwayshelped“thepoorandneedywhoclusterroundyourdoor，“likeitsaysinthepoetrypiece，andtherenevercouldhavebeenareasonwhyGodwouldwantawomantosufferherself，whenshewentflyingonhorsebackevendarknightsthroughrainorsnow，todoctorotherpeople’spain，andwhenshegaveawaythingslikeshedid——why，I’veseenhertakeabigpieceofmeatfromthebarrel，andasackofmeal，andheapsofapplesandpotatoestocarrytoMandyThomas——whenshegaveawayfoodbythewagonloadatatime，Godcouldn’thaveWANTEDhertobehungry，andyetsheWASthatveryminutealmostcryingforfood；andIprayed，ohhowIdidpray！andasneakingoldback-

endedcrayfishtookmyveryfirstworm。Ijustlookedattheskyandsaid：“Well，whenit’sforasickwoman，can’tYoudoanybetterthanthat？“

IsupposeIshouldn’thavesaidit，butifithadbeenyourmother，howwouldyouhavefelt？Ipinchedthenextwormintwo，soifacrayfishtookthat，itwouldn’tgetbuthalf。Ilaydownacrosstherootsandpulledmybonnetfarovermyfaceandtriedtoseetothebottom。Ireadinschooltheotherday：

“AndbythoselittleringsonthewaterIknowThefishesaremerrilyswimmingbelow。“

Therewerenoringsonthewater，butafterawhileIsawsomefishdartingaround，onlytheydidn’tseemtobehungry；fortheywouldcomerightupandnibbleatinybitatmyworm，buttheywouldn’tswallowit。Thenonedid，soIjerkedwithallmymight，jerkedsohardthefishandwormbothflewoff，andIhadonlythehookleft。Iputontheotherhalfandtriedagain。I

prayedstraightalong，butthetearswouldcomethattime，andtheprayerwasnopowerfuleffortlikeBrotherHastingswouldhavemade；itwaslittletornuppiecesmostly：“OLord，pleasedomakeonlyonefishbite！“Atlastonedidbitegood，soI

swungcarefullythattime，andlandeditonthegrass，butitwassolittleandithitastoneandwaskilled。Ihadnostringertoputitbackinthewatertokeepcool，andthesunwashotthatday，liketimesinthefall。Stretchedontheroots，withitshiningonmyback，andstrikingthewaterandcomingupfrombelow，Idrippedwithheat

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