The Last of the Peterkins

by Lucretia P. Hale

  IX.

  LUCILLA'S DIARY.

  MONDAY.--I spent some time this morning watching for the rag-man. I wishI had taken down a note which day it was I saw him before. I remember itwas washing-day, for I had to take my hands out of the tub and wipe thesuds off when Johnnie came to tell me that the rag-man was on thestreet. He was just turning the corner by the Wylies when I got to thefront gate. But whether we washed on Monday I can't think. It rainedthat Monday, or the week before, and we had to wait till Tuesday; butwhich it was I couldn't say. I was in such a whirl fitting Artemas off,and much as ever I made him hear; and he wasn't the right man after all,for he wouldn't give more than a cent and a half a pound for the papers,and Mrs. Carruthers got two cents. She could not remember what was hisday for coming, but agreed to send him if she should see him again.

  * * * * *

  Mrs. Carruthers sent the rag-man to-day; but I can't say much for thebargain, though he was a different man from the one that came Monday,and it seems it was Monday. He agreed to give me the same he gave Mrs.Carruthers,--two cents a pound. And I had a lot of newspapers,--all thepapers Artemas has been taking through the winter; for he doesn't likeme to take them for kindlings, says he would rather pay separate forkindlings, as I might burn the wrong one. And there were the papers thatcame around his underclothes and inside the packing boxes he has takenaway. So I expected to make something; but he gave me no more thanforty-five cents! He weighed them, and said himself there were thirtypounds. That ought to have come to sixty cents at least, accordingto my arithmetic. But he made out it was all right, and had them allpacked up, and went off, though I followed him out to the gate and toldhim that it didn't amount to no more than I might have got from theother man at a cent and a half. He said it was all they were worth; thathe wished he could get as much for them. Then I asked him why he tookthe trouble to come for them, under the circumstances. But by that timehe was off and down the street.

  * * * * *

  I was just sitting at the window this morning, and there were Mr. andMrs. Peebles walking down the street,--he on one side and she on theother. I do wonder why they didn't go on the same side! If they hadn'tgot so far past the gate, I'd have asked them. I never heard there wasany quarrel between them, and it was just as muddy this side of thestreet as that. They have been spending their winters in the citylately, and perhaps it's some new fashion.

  I declare it's worth while to sit at the window now and then, and seewhat is going on. I'm usually so busy at the back of the house, I don'tknow. But now Lavinia has taken to going to school with the boys, andthey are willing to take care of her, half my work seems taken out of myhands. Not that she was much in the way for a girl of four, but shemight slip out of the gate at any time, as there are so many of thosegrinding organs around with their monkeys.

  * * * * *

  Mrs. Carruthers was in yesterday afternoon, and she said the Peebleswere looking up the numbers on the doors to find the Wylies. They gotpuzzled because the numbers go up one side of the street and down theother, and they haven't but just been put on. And it seems that up inthe city they have them go across. It does appear to me shiftless in ourtown officers, when they undertook to have the streets numbered as theydo elsewhere, that they didn't number them the same way. But I can't seebut our way is as good, and more sensible than having to cross a muddystreet to look up the next number.

  * * * * *

  Artemas has been gone a whole week. I told him I would put down the mostimportant things in a diary, and then he can look at it, if he has time,when he comes home. He thinks it is a more sensible way than writingletters every week.

  He expects to be up and down in Texas, and perhaps across the mountains;and in those lawless countries letters would not stand muchchance,--maybe they wouldn't ever reach him, after I'd had the troubleof writing them. There's the expense of stamps too,--not so very muchfor one letter, but it counts up.

  Nothing worries me more than getting a letter, unless it's having atelegraph come,--and that does give one a start. But even that's soonerover and quicker read; while for a letter, it's long, and it takes agood while to get to the end. I feel it might be a kind of waste of timeto write in my diary; but not more than writing letters, and it savesthe envelopes and hunting them up. I'm not likely to find much time foreither, for the boys are fairly through their winter suits; if I canonly keep them along while the spring hangs off so.

  * * * * *

  Mrs. Norris was in yesterday, just as I was writing about the boys'suits, to know if I would let Martha off to work for her after thewashing is over. I told her I didn't like to disoblige, but I couldn'tsee my way clear to get along without Martha. The boys ought to behaving their spring suits this very minute, and Martha was calculatingto make them this week; and they'd have to have their first wear of themSundays for a while before they start on them for school. I never was sobehindhand; but what with fitting off Artemas and the spring cleaningbeing delayed, I didn't seem to know how to manage. Martha is good atmaking over, and there are two very good coats of Artemas's that shewould do the right thing by; while there was a good many who could scruband clean as well as she,--there was that Nora that used to live atPatty's. But Mrs. Norris did not take to Nora. The Wylies tried her, butcould make nothing out of her. I said I thought it would be hard to findthe person Mrs. Wylie could get on with. Not that I ever knew anythingabout her till she came to live on our street last winter, but they dosay she's just as hard on her own family; for there's a story that shewon't let that pretty daughter of hers, Clara, marry Bob Prince's son,Larkin.

  Mrs. Norris said she didn't wonder, for Larkin Prince hadn't foundanything to do since he came home. I thought there was enough to liveupon in the Wylie family, even if Larkin didn't find something the firstminute he'd got his education.

  * * * * *

  I can see that Mrs. Norris didn't take it well that I was not willing togive up Martha; but I don't really see why I should be the one to giveup. But I must say I haven't got on as well with the work as I hadhoped, Lavinia's going with the boys so much keeps her clothes half tornoff her back, and I can't seem to see how to make her tidy. I was realashamed when I went to lift her out of a mud-puddle yesterday outsidethe gate; and there was Clara Wylie looking as clean as a white lily,and she stopped to help her out. It seemed that Lavinia had left herboot in the last mud-puddle, and I would have liked to have gone throughthe ground. I hope it will be a lesson to Lavinia, for Miss Wylieoughtn't to have touched her with her hand. But she did, yellow glovesand all, and said it was dreadful walking now, the frost so late comingout of the ground, and she had quite envied Lavinia running across thefields after the boys. But Lavinia has taken to envying Miss Wylie, andwishes she could wear that kind of boots she has, with high heels thatkeep her out of the mud-puddles.

  * * * * *

  I am thinking of having my ruby cashmere colored over. I don't seem tofeel like ripping it all up, pleatings and all; but Mrs. Peebles saysit can be dipped just as well made up, and I needn't take out a seam.I might have it a kind of dark olive, like Mrs. Carruthers' dress.

  * * * * *

  I have had a start! It is a letter from Artemas; nothing particularabout himself, only I should say he was well. But he wants to takeout a young man farther west with him,--somebody with something of aneducation, who understands chemicals or engineering, and he wants me topick out somebody. There's my brother Sam, of course. I thought of himthe first thing. But Artemas never took to Sam, though he is my brother.Still, I dare say he would do right by him. And Sam don't seem to findthe work here that suits, and I hate to have him hanging round. But hedon't know more than I about chemicals, as much as even what they are,though I dare say he could find out, for Sam is smart and always couldmake out if he chose to lay his hand
s to anything. And I dare sayArtemas thought of Sam, and that is why he sent to me to give him achance. From what he says it must be a pretty good chance, exactly whatSam would like if he knew anything about the business. I dare say he'ddo quite as well as half the fellows who might go. He can be steady ifhe's a mind to.

  But I can't but think of Larkin Prince; how he's taken all the pains toget an education, and his father for him laying up money for the verypurpose, and that pretty Clara Wylie waiting to be married till heshould get something fit to do, and maybe her father wanting to marryher off to some rich man while she's waiting, when her heart is set onLarkin. And he'd be just the man for Artemas, seeing as he's beenstudying just such things.

  * * * * *

  It wasn't no use taking up the time writing in my diary, as Artemas musthave a telegraph before night, and the boys home from school to know ifthey might go to the swamp after checkerberries, and Lavinia with them,and I let her go, clean apron and all, and I put on my bonnet to go overto Mrs. Prince's. It made my heart bump to think how much Sam would seton having the situation, and Artemas kind of expecting him; but I saidto myself, if Larkin should be out of town, or anything, that wouldsettle the matter for Sam.

  As it happened, who should I meet but Larkin just at the gate! and Iasked him if he would turn back and step in with me for a minute. Helooked kind of provoked, and I shouldn't wonder if he hadn't expected tomeet Clara Wylie coming out of her gate just below, as it's natural sheshould at this time. But he came in, and I gave him Artemas's letter toread, for there wasn't anything in it except particulars of the work. Hequite started as he read it, and then he looked at me inquiring, and Iasked him if he had the kind of knowledge Artemas wanted. I supposed hemight have it, as he'd been to the new schools. It told in the letterabout the expenses, and what the pay would be, and where he would findthe free pass, and that he'd have to telegraph right off, and perhaps henoticed he'd have to start to-night. Well, I guess he needn't care evento thank me; for that look in his face was enough, and I shan't forgetit. He wanted to know was it Artemas thought of him. But before I couldanswer, he saw somebody out in the street, and went to rushing out, onlyhe gave me another of those looks as he went, and said he'd see mebefore he sent the telegraph, and would take any message from me toArtemas.

  * * * * *

  I hadn't more than time to write this yesterday, when Mrs. Norris camein to inquire about some garden seeds, but I guess she expected to findout what Larkin Prince had been in for, for she was calling over at Mrs.Carruthers'. I offered her some squash seeds, and took her out the backway, through the garden, to show her how the squashes were likely tospread. Last summer they were all over the garden. It seems the onlything the boys let to grow.

  She hadn't more than gone when Larkin came in. It was all settled, andother things seemed to be settled too; for who should come in with himbut Clara Wylie, crying and smiling all at once. She had to come andhelp Larkin to thank me because he had got the place. After he was goneshe came back for a little cry. She didn't seem to wonder that Larkinwas the one chosen, and supposed Artemas must have known all about him,she said, as well as the company he is working for. They probably hadseen his name in the papers, she thought, when he graduated so honorablyfrom the school.

  I didn't tell her that there wasn't any company; that Artemas never hadtime to read that kind of thing in the newspapers, and would not havenoticed it if he had; and that he'd left it all to me.

  I can't but say after it was all settled I had a kind of a turn myself,to think that Sam might have gone just as well, and I had been standingin his way.

  * * * * *

  I shall have to let down Lavinia's gowns full two inches this summer.Lucky I put tucks in them all last year. Mrs. Carruthers wanted me tofinish them off with a frill; lucky I didn't, it would have been up toher ears this summer. As for the boys, I can take them in turn,--lastyear's clothes for the next boy all the way down, and Cyrus can have hisfather's. But it seems harder to fit out Lavinia. The ruby cashmere isas good for me as new; it is dipped.

  * * * * *

  I'm real sorry about the Jones's losing their cow; it comes hard forthem. It's better for our potato patch, particularly if they do not haveanother. Cyrus ought to fence it in.

  Sam came in last night. He had heard that Larkin Prince was summoned offby a company out West, for work that would pay, and would set him up foryears, and he had a free pass, and old Wylie had given his consent tohis marrying Clara. Some people, he said, had luck come to them withouttrying for it, just standing round. There was he himself had beenlooking for just such work last year, and nobody had thought of him.

  * * * * *

  I hope I wasn't hard on Sam. I couldn't help telling him if he'd gone upto the schools, as Larkin Prince did, and he might have done, he couldhave made himself fit for an engineer or a chemical agent. Well, it tookhim kind of surprised, and I agreed to go round this evening, whenfather is at home, and talk to father and mother about Sam's going tosome of them schools. At least he might try; and, anyhow, it would gethim out of the kind of company he's taken a fancy to.

  I must say I didn't think of how he'd feel about Clara Wylie; but, ofcourse, her father would never have given Sam any encouragement morethan Larkin. And as for Clara Wylie--well, I saw her look at Larkinthat night.

  * * * * *

  I don't know but I made a mistake in sending so many of his woollensocks to Artemas by Larkin Prince. Perhaps I had better have sent moreof the cotton ones. Larkin said he would tell him we were all well, andhow he found us. Lavinia had gone up to bed, and was hollering to meto come up to her, and Cyrus slung Silas's cap into the window, and itmost hit Larkin; Silas came in after it through the window, and the restof the boys were pounding on the barn door, where they were having amilitia meeting, or some kind of a parade, with half the boys in town.So Artemas will know things goes on about as usual.

  * * * * *

  An excellent sermon from Mr. Jenkins today. I can't seem to think whatit was about, to put it down; but we are all of us more and more pleasedwith him as a minister. You can't expect all things of any man; and ifa minister preaches a good sermon twice a Sunday and perhaps at eveningmeeting, and goes around among the people as much as Mr. Jenkins, andholds meetings through the week, and Bible class every Friday evening,and sits by the bedside of the sick and the dying, and gives a hand inhis own farming or a neighbor's, and stands on the committee for theschools, I don't know as you can expect much more of him.

  Mrs. Carruthers says there's a talk of the Peebles moving up to the cityfor good and all. I should think they might as well go as careening backand forth, spring and fall; though she says they will still go down tothe seashore or up to the mountains, summers. When I had a home, I willsay, I liked to stay in it.

  There, now! I do believe that I have not mentioned in my diary that ourhouse is burned down, and much as ever we all got out alive, coming inthe night so. I suppose I ought to have put it in as being one of theprincipal events; but somehow I have been so unsettled since the fire, Ihaven't seemed to think to write it down. And, of course, Artemas wouldsee from the depot, the minute he arrived, that the house wasn't there,and he wouldn't need to wait and read about it in my diary; and I havebeen pretty busy getting set to rights again. Everything being burnt,there 's all the summer clothes to be made over again, except a fewthings I brought off in a bundle along with the diary. Still, it mighthave been better than writing about my neighbors, as I did about thePeebles.

  * * * * *

  Mr. Jenkins came in as I was writing. He says that diaries are goodthings, and if you didn't put in only your thoughts in a sentimentalkind of way, they'd be useful for posterity. I told him I didn't writefor posterity, but for Artemas, instead of a letter. He was surprisedI hadn't writ
ten him about the fire, as the news might reach himexaggerated. I could not help from laughing, for I don't see how itcould be made out much worse,--the house burnt down, and the barn withthe horse in it, and Cyrus's crop of squashes. Much as ever we got outalive, and I had to come to rooms--two pair, back. I did bring the diaryout in my apron.

  Mr. Jenkins spoke of the insurance, and maybe Artemas might havesomething to say about that; but we talked it all over the night beforehe went away, and he spoke of the insurance being out, and he didn'tthink it worth while to renew; there never had been a fire, and itwasn't likely there would be.

  * * * * *

  Mrs. Carruthers came in to inquire when was a good time to try out soap.I told her I managed generally to do it when Artemas wasn't at home, ashe was not partial to the smell in the house. But Mr. Carruthers neverdoes go away, and she doesn't believe he'd notice it. I don't know butI'd rather have my husband coming and going like Artemas, instead ofsticking around not noticing, especially if he was Mr. Carruthers.

  * * * * *

  Clara Wylie has been with letters in her hands, and it seems she wroteto Larkin Prince all about our fire; how our boys dropped matches in thehay, and the fire spread to the house from the barn, and how we werewaked up, and had to hurry out just as we were. I don't believe she toldhow the Wylies took us in that night, and found us these rooms at theiraunt Marshall's till Artemas comes home. But it seems that Artemas hastold Larkin it ain't no kind of consequence, the house burning down,because he never liked it facing the depot, and he'll be glad to buildagain, and has money enough for it, and can satisfy the neighbors ifthere's a complaint that our boys burned down all that side of thestreet, with being careless with their matches. And there was a noteinclosed to me from Artemas. He says he'd had a kind of depressed time,when things were going wrong, but matters began to look up when LarkinPrince came, who had just the information needed. So it's just as wellI didn't write about the fire. I hope Artemas don't talk too large abouthis earning so much; anyhow, I shall try to get along spending next tonothing, and earning what I can making buttonholes.

  * * * * *

  I've made over my ruby cashmere for Lavinia, and I'm sorry now thatI had it dyed over so dark, the olive is kind of dull for her; but Ican't seem to lay my hand on anything else for her, and she must havesomething. Lucky it was lying on the chair, close by the door, so Ibrought it off from the fire.

  * * * * *

  Artemas has come home.