下载辰思小说免费APP
IfIcouldhavepainted，I’dhavemadeapictureofShelleywithacircleoflightaboveherheadliketheoneoftheboyJesuswhereHetalkedwiththewisemeninthetemple。Iaskedfatherifhenoticedhowmuchprettierandnicershewas，andhesaidhedid。ThenIaskedhimifhethoughtnow，thatacitywassuchabadplacetolivein，andhesaidwhereshewashadnothingtodowithit，thesamethingwouldhappenhere，oranywhere，whenlife’sgreatestexperiencecametoagirl。Thatwasallhewouldsay，butfiguringitoutwaseasy。Thegreatestexperiencethathappenedtoourgirlswaswhentheymarried，likeSally，soitmeantthatShelleyhadgoneandfalleninlovewiththatlawyerman，andshelikedsittingonthesofawithhim，andnodoubtshefixedhisties。ButifanyonethoughtIwouldtellanythingI
sawwhenhecametheywerebadlymistaken。
Allofusrushedaroundlikewewerecrazy。Iffatherandmotherhadn’theldsteadyandkeptusdown，wemighthaveraisedtheroof。WewereallsogladaboutgettingLeonandthemoneyback；
motherhadn’tbeensicksincethefishcuredher；thenewbluegoosewassoliketheonethathadburst，evenfathernevernoticedanydifference；allthechildrenwereeitherhomeorcoming，andafterwehadourgiftsandthebiggestdinnerweeverhad，Christmasnightallofuswouldgototheschoolhousetoseeourschooltrytospelldownthreeotherstowhomtheyhadsentsaucyinvitationstocomeandbebeaten。
Mothersatinthedining-roombesidethekitchendoor，sothatshecouldwatchthebaking，brewing，pickling，andspicing。Ittookfourmentohandlethebacklog，whichInoticedfatherpronouncedeveryyear“justalittlethefinestweeverhad，“andLaddiestrungthehousewithbittersweet，evergreens，andthemostbeautifulspraysofmyrtlethatherakedfromunderthesnow。Fatherdrovetotowninthesleigh，andthelistofthingstobepurchasedmothergavehimasareminderwasalmostayardlong。
TheminutetheyfinishedtheoutdoorworkLaddieandLeonbeganbringinginbasketsofapples，goldenbellflowers，greenpippins，whitewinterpearmains，RhodeIslandgreenings，andstripedrambosallcoveredwithhoarfrost，yetnotfrozen，andsofullofjuiceyouhadtobiteintothemcarefullyortheydrippedandoffendedmother。Thesetheywashedandcarriedtothecellarreadyforuse。
Thentheycrackedbigdishesofnuts；andpoppedcornthatpoppedwiththemostresoundingpopsinallmyexperience——poppedatubful，andLaddiemeltedmaplesugarandpouredoveritandmadebigballsoffluffandsweetness。Hetookapanandfilleditwithgrains，selectedoneatatime，theverylargestandwhitest，andmadeanespecialball，inthemiddleofwhichheputalovelypinkcandyheartonwhichwasprintedinredletters：
“Howcanthisheartbemine，yetyours，unlessourheartsareone？“Hewouldn’tletanyofthemseeitexceptme，andheonlyletmebecauseheknewI’dbedelighted。
ItwasalmostduskwhenfathercamethroughthekitchenloadedwithbundlesandfoundCandaceandthegirlsstillcooking。
Weweresoexcitedwecouldscarcelybegatheredaroundthesuppertable，andmothersaidwechattereduntilshecouldn’thearherselfthink。AfterawhileLaddielaiddownhisforkandlookedatourfather。
“Haveyouanyobjectiontomyusingthesleighto-morrownight？“
heasked。
Fatherlookedatmother。
“Hadyouplannedtouseit，mother？“
Mothersaid：“No。IfIgo，I’llrideinthebigsledwithallofus。Itissuchalittleway，andtheroadsarelikeglass。“
Sofathersaidpolitely，ashealwaysspoketous：“Thenitwillgivemegreatpleasureforyoutotakeit，myson。“
ThatmadeLeonbanghisforkloudlyashedaredandsquirminhischair，forwellheknewthatifhehadasked，theanswerwouldhavebeendifferent。IfLaddietookthesleighhewouldharnesscarefully，drivefast，butreasonably，blankethishorse，comehomeattherighttime，andputeverythingexactlywherehefoundit。ButLeonwouldpitchtheharnessonsomeway，raceeverystep，neverthinkofhissteaminghorse，comehomewhentherewasnoonesowildashelefttoplayprankswith，andscattertheharnesseverywhere。HeknewourfatherwouldlovetotrusthimthesameashedidLaddie。Hewouldn’talwaysprovehimselftrustworthy，butheenviedLaddie。
“Youthinkyou’lltakethePrincesstothespellingbee，don’tyou？“hesneered。
“Imeantoaskher，“repliedLaddie。
“Maybeyouthinkshe’llrideinouroldhomemade，hickorycheesebox，whenshecansailalloverthecountrylikeabirdinavelvet-linedcutterwitharealbuffalorobe。“
Therewasaquickcatchinmother’sbreathandIfeltherhandonmychairtremble。Father’slipstightenedandafrownsettledonhisface，whileLaddiefairlyjumped。Hewentwhitetothelips，andonehanddroppedonthetable，palmup，thefingersclosingandunclosing，whilehiseyesturnedfirsttomother，andthentofather，indumbappeal。Weallknewthathewassuffering。Noonespoke，andLeonhavingshothisarrowstraighthome，sawaspeoplesooftendointhisworldthatthedamageofunkindwordscouldnoteasilyb
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