I have often since smiled at the recollection of it. I happened one day
to be employed in the back kitchen, or what they termed the sink-room,
and I soon became aware that I was the subject of conversation by the
family in the room adjoining. "Now if that boy ain't the most splendid
reader I ever did hear," said my kind old grandmother, "and I think,
takin' all things into consideration it's a good thing Nathan sent for
him; what do you say Lucinda?" "What I say is this," replied my aunt,
"it don't do to judge folks, specially boys, by first appearances, and I
shouldn't wonder a mite, for all his smooth ways and fine readin' if the
fellow turns out a regular limb for mischief before he's been here a
fortnight. I think Nathan Adams must have been out of his senses (if he
ever had any to get out of) when he went and fetched a boy here to tear
about and make a complete bedlam of the house. I had to work hard enough
before, but with a boy of that age round the house to cut up capers and
raise Cain generally, I don't know how we're to live at all." "Well,
Lucinda," replied Grandma, "Nathan's been a good dutiful boy to me,"
(Uncle Nathan was past forty) "and if he took a notion to bring Ellen's
boy here, I don't see as you ought to say a word against it. What if
you'd a married Joshua Blake as you expected to, and he'd a died and
left you with a boy to bring up and school, I guess you'd a been glad if
Nathan or somebody else had offered to take him off your hands for a
while." This reply from her mother, at once silenced Aunt Lucinda, and
there was no more said upon the subject.




CHAPTER X.