Part 26 (1/2)

”She's all our Grandma,” said Ezekiel decidedly.

”Yes, yes, but she's mine, too,” declared Rachel, bobbing her head decidedly. ”She shall be my Gran--Grandma. I shall just take her, so there!”

”You musn't take her away,” said Ezekiel, in alarm.

”I ain't goin' to; I don't want to. I'm goin' to live here always an'

forever,” declared Rachel firmly.

Ezekiel smiled at that in great satisfaction, and the matter being settled, Rachel skipped over to the old lady's chair, and looked steadily down into the wrinkled face.

”Go out and put the b.u.t.ter-pat somewhere,” she said to Peletiah, who still held it in his hand, waiting to present it.

”I must give it to Grandma,” he said; ”my mother told me to.”

”Well, you can't while she's asleep,” said Rachel quickly, ”so you put it somewhere--anywhere--and when she wakes up, why, you can give it to her. Do hurry--and you go and help him.”

So the two boys walked off to find a place in the b.u.t.tery, and quick as lightning Rachel leaned over and set a kiss on the wrinkled old cheek. If Grandma couldn't hear, she was very quick at feeling.

”Why!” She stirred uneasily in her chair, and opened her eyes.

”Who is this?” she asked, staring at the strange little girl, for although the parson's wife had told her all about the new member of the family to come that day, Grandma was so bewildered by being suddenly aroused from her sleep, she had forgotten all about it. ”Hey, who is it?”

Peletiah, not having had time to put down the b.u.t.ter-pat, now came up and presented it with all due formality.

”But who is this little gal?” asked Grandma, as he set the b.u.t.ter-pat in the middle of the checked ap.r.o.n over her lap.

”She's Rachel,” said Peletiah.

”Eh? What?” Grandma held a shaking hand behind her ear. ”Speak a little louder, Peletiah; you know I'm a-growin' hard o' hearin', just a grain.”

”Rachel,” shouted Peletiah, as he stood still in his tracks in front of her.

”Ain't well! Oh, dear me!” exclaimed Grandma, in a tone of great concern.

”What a pity!” and she turned and regarded the stranger with anxiety.

”Oh, dear me! You get away, Peletiah,” commanded Rachel, brus.h.i.+ng him aside. So Peletiah, very glad to be released, moved off, and Rachel, putting her mouth to the nodding cap-border, said very distinctly:

”Mrs. Fisher sent me to live at the minister's; I'm Rachel.”

”Oh, my land o' Goshen!” exclaimed Grandma Bascom, lifting both hands in delight. ”Why, I can hear you splendid. You see, I'm only a grain deaf. An'

so you're that little gal. Well, I'm glad you've come, you pretty creeter, you!”

XII

DOINGS AT THE PARSONAGE

And in another minute Rachel was telling all about Mrs. Fisher and Polly and Phronsie--oh, and Joel and David--for Grandma kept interrupting and asking all sorts of questions, so that the news and messages were all tangled up together.