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“`Madfrenzyfireshimnow，’“quotedLeon。
ItwasSundayafterdinner。WehadbeentochurchandSunday-
schoolintheforenoon，andwehadahousefulofcompanyfordinner。Allofthemremainedtospendtheafternoon，becauseinourhomeitwasperfectlylovely。Wehadabigdinnerwitheverythinggoodtostarton，andthenwetalkedandvisitedandtoldallthenews。Thewomenexchangednewrecipesforcooking，advisedeachotherabouthowtogetmoreworkdonewithlessworry，todoctortheirsickfolks，andtomaketheirdresses。Atlast，wheneverythingwastalkedover，andtherebegantobeaquiettime，fatherwouldreachacrossthetable，pickupapaperandreadalltheinterestingthingsthathadhappenedinthecountryduringthepastweek；thejokestoo，andtheymadepeoplethinkoffunnystoriestotell，andwejustlaughed。IntheAgriculturisttherewerenewwaystofarmeasier，tomakelandbearmorecrops；sohedividedthatwiththeneighbours，alsohowtomakegardens，andprunetrees。Beforehefinished，healwaysmanagedtoworkinalotaboutbeinghonest，kind，andlovingGod。
HeandmotherfeltsogoodoverLeon，andbythistimetheywerebeginningtoseethattheyweremightygladaboutthemoneytoo。
Itwouldn’thavebeensoeasytowork，andearn，andpaybackallthatforourschool，roads，andthechurch；andeverydayyoucouldseeplainerhowhappytheyfeltthattheydidn’thavetodoit。Becausetheyweresogladaboutthesethings，theyinvitedeveryonetheymetthatday；butweknewSaturdaymotherfeltthatprobablyshewouldaskacrowd，fromthechickens，pie，andcakeshegotready。Whenthereadingpartwasover，andthewomenwerebeginningtolookattheclock，andyouknewtheyfelttheyshouldgohome，anddidn’twantto，Laddiearoseandsaidthat，andLeonpipeduplikehealwaysdoesandmadeeveryonelaugh。OfcoursetheylookedatLaddie，andnooneknewwhathemeant，soallthewomenandafewofthemenaskedhim。
“Watchme，Isaid，“laughedLaddieashelefttheroom。
SoonMrs。Dover，sittingbesidethefrontwindow，cried：“Hereheisatthegate！“
Hewasonhishorse，buthehitcheditandwentaroundthehouseandupthebackway。Beforelongthestairdoorofthesitting-
roomopened，andtherehestood。Westaredathim。Ofcoursehewasbathed，andincleanclothingtostartwith，buthehadwashedandbrushedsomemore，untilheshone。Hischeekswereassmoothandasclearpinkasanygirl’s，hiseyesblue-grayandbig，withlonglashesandheavybrows。Hishairwasbrightbrownandwavy，andhewassobigandbroad。Heneverhadbeensickadayinhislife，andhedidn’tlookasifheeverwouldbe。
AndclothesDOmakeadifference。Hewouldhavehadexactlythesamehair，face，andbody，wearingahickoryshirtanddenimtrousers；buthewouldn’thavelookedashedidintheclothesheworeatcollege，whenitwasSundaythere，orhewasinvitedtoapartyatthePresident’s。Idon’tseehowanymancouldpossiblybehandsomerorlookfiner。Hisshirt，collar，andcuffsweresnow-white，likeeverythinghadtobebeforemothergotthroughwithit；hisbigloosetiealmostreachedhisshoulders；andourmencoulddoathingnoothermanintheneighbourhooddid：theycouldappeareasierinthefinestsuittheycouldputonthanintheirworkingclothes。
MotherusedtosayonethingshedreadedaboutSundaywastheevidenttorturesofthepoormensquirminginbootssheknewpinchedthem，coatstootight，andcollarstoohigh。Shesaidtheyactedlikehalf-brokencoltsfrettingoverrestriction。
Alwaysshesaidtofatherandtheboyswhentheywenttobuytheirnewclothes：“Now，DON’Tjointheharnessfighters！Getyourclothingbigenoughtosetyourbodieswithcomfortandease。“
Isupposethoseothermenwouldhavelookedlikeoursiftheirmothershadtoldthem。Youcanalwaysseethatamanneedsawomantohelphimoutawfulbad。
OfcourseLaddieknewhewashandsome；hehadtoknowallofthemwerelookingathimcuriously，buthestoodtherebuttoninghisgloveandlaughingtohimselfuntilSarahHoodasked：“Nowwhatareyouupto？“
Hetookasteptowardher，ranonehandunderherlanternjawedchin，pulledherheadagainsthissideandturnedupherface。
“Sarah，“hesaid，“’memberthedaywespoiledthewashing？“
Everyonelaughed。Theyhadmadejokesaboutituntilourfriendsknewwhattheymeant。
“Whatareyougoingtospoilnow？“askedSarah。
“TheEgyptians！The`furriners。’I’mgoingrightafterthem！“
“Well，youcouldbeinbetterbusiness，“saidSarahHoodsharply。
Laddielaughedandsqueezedherchin，andhuggedherheadagainsthim。
“Listentothat，now！“hecried。“Mybestfriendgoingbackonme。Sarah，Ithoughtyou，ofallpeople，wouldwishmeluck。“
“Ido！“shesaidinstantly。“Andthat’stheveryreasonIdon’twantyoumixedupwiththatmysterious，offish，stuck-upmess。“
“Ble
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