Part 10 (2/2)

”But no matter how bad he done, he always tried to do better. Mr.

d.i.c.k sorter puts me in mind of him 'bout that.”

”Who is Mr. d.i.c.k?”

”He's Mr. Bob's friend. Stays at his rooms sence he was took down.”

”Is Mr. Redding sick?” asked Lucy, the color suddenly leaving her face.

”No, it's Mr. d.i.c.k; he's consumpted. I clean up his room ever'

mornin' He coughs all the time, jes' like Mr. Wiggs done. Other day he had a orful spell while I was there. I wanted to git him some whisky, but he shuck his head. 'I'm on the water-cart,' sez he.

'Bob's drivin' it.' He ain't no fatter 'n a knittin'-needle, an'

weaker 'n water. You orter see him watch fer Mr. Bob! He sets by the winder, all propped up with pillars, an' never tecks his eyes offen that corner. An' when Mr. Bob comes in an' sets down by him an'

tells him what's goin' on, an' sorter fools with him a spell, looks like he picks up right off. He ain't got no folks nor nothin'--jes, Mr. Bob. He sh.o.r.ely does set store by him--jes' shows it ever' way. That's right, too. I hold that it's wrong to keep ever'thing bottled up inside you. Yer feelin's is like ras'berry vineger: if you 're skeered to use 'em an' keep on savin' 'em, first thing you know they 've done 'vaporated!”

Lucy's experience had proved the contrary, but she smiled bravely back at Mrs. Wiggs, with a new tenderness in her face.

”You have taught me lots of things!” she said impulsively. ”You are one of the best and happiest women I know.”

”Well, I guess I ain't the best by a long sight, but I may be the happiest. An' I got cause to be: four of the smartest childern that ever lived, a nice house, fair to middlin' health when I ain't got the rheumatiz, and folks always goin' clean out of the way to be good to one! Ain't that 'nough to make a person happy? I'll be fifty years old on the Fourth of July, but I hold there ain't no use in dyin' 'fore yer time. Lots of folks is walkin' 'round jes' as dead as they'll ever be. I believe in gittin' as much good outen life as you kin--not that I ever set out to look fer happiness; seems like the folks that does that never finds it. I jes' do the best I kin where the good Lord put me at, an' it looks like I got a happy feelin' in me 'most all the time.”

Lucy sat silent for a while, gazing out of the window. Mrs. Wiggs's philosophy was having its effect. Presently she rose and untied the bundle she held.

”Here is a dress I brought for Asia,” she said, shaking out the folds of a soft crepon.

”Umph, umph! Ain't that grand?” exclaimed Mrs. Wiggs, coming from behind the ironing-board to examine it. ”It does seem lucky that your leavin's jes' fits Asia, an' Asia's jes' fits Austry; there ain't no symptoms of them bein' handed down, neither! We all model right after you, but it looks like Asia's the only one that ketches yer style. Oh, must you go?” she added, as Lucy picked up her gloves.

”Yes; I promised Mrs. Schultz to read to her this afternoon.”

”Well, stop in on yer way back--I'll have a little present ready for you.” It was an unwritten law that no guest should depart without a gift of some kind. Sometimes it was one of Asia's paintings, again it was a package of sunflower seed, or a bottle of vinegar, and once Lucy had taken home four gourds and a bunch of paper roses.

”I declare I never will git no work done if this weather keeps up!”

said Mrs. Wiggs, as she held the gate open. ”If I wasn't so stove up, an' n.o.body wasn't lookin', I'd jes' skitter 'round this here yard like a colt!”

CHAPTER X

AUSTRALIA'S MISHAP

”'T is one thing to be tempted, Another thing to fall.”

THROUGH the long, sunny afternoon Mrs. Wiggs sang over her ironing, and Asia worked diligently in her flower-bed. Around the corner of the shed which served as Cuba's dwelling-place, Australia and Europena made mud-pies. Peace and harmony reigned in this shabby Garden of Eden until temptation entered, and the weakest fell.

”'T ain't no fun jes' keepin' on makin' mud-pies,” announced Australia, after enough pastry had been manufactured to start a miniature bakery.

”Wish we could make some white cakes, like they have at Mr.

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