I stuck a
stick in the ground, and carried a string to the winder; but I didn't
git at it soon enough, the bean vine kep' on growin' the other way,
towards the hollyhock. Then the other night I got my mad up, 'n' I jest
oncurled it by main force 'n' wropped it round the string, 'n,' if
you'll believe me, I happened to look at it this mornin,' 'n' there it
't was, as nippant as you please, coiled round the hollyhock agin! Then
says I to myself, 'Samantha Ann Ripley, you've known what 't was to be
everlastin'ly hectored 'n' intefered with all your life, now s'posin'
you let that bean have its hollyhock, if it wants it!'"
Miss Vilda looked at her sharply as she said, "Samantha Ann Ripley, I
believe to my soul you're fussin' 'bout Dave Milliken again!
"Well, I ain't! Every time I talk 'bout hollyhocks and scarlit beans I
ain't meanin' Dave Milliken 'n' me,--not by a long chalk! I was only
givin' you my views 'bout partin' them children, that's all!"
"Well, all I can say is," remarked Miss Vilda obstinately, "that those
that's desirous of takin' in two strange children, and boardin' and
lodgin' 'em till they get able to do it for themselves, and runnin' the
resk of their turnin' out heathens and malefactors like the folks they
came from,--can do it if they want to. If I come to see that the baby is
too young to send away anywheres I may keep her a spell, but the boy has
got to go, and that's the end of it. You've been crowdin' me into a
corner about him for a week, and now I've said my say!"
Alas! that tiny humming-bird's egg was crushed to atoms,--crushed by a
boy's slender hand that had held it so gently for very fear of breaking
it.
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