When they discovered that they were actually bean-pots, and not only
that, but were sitting on the floor, which had never been considered
a proper place for bean-pots in any capacity, they were really
surprised. Flora Clark said that for her part her bean-pot went into
the oven with beans in it, instead of into the corner with flowers in
it, as long as she had her reason. But I must say I did not quite
agree with her. I have only one bean-pot, and we eat beans, therefore
mine has to be kept sacred to its original mission; and I must say
that I thought Mrs. Jameson's with goldenrod in it really looked
better than mine with beans. I told Louisa that I could not see why
the original states of inanimate things ought to be remembered
against them when they were elevated to finer uses any more than
those of people, and now that the bean-pot had become a vase in a
parlor why its past could not be forgotten. Louisa agreed with me,
but I don't doubt that many people never looked at those pots full of
goldenrod without seeing beans. It was to my way of thinking more
their misfortune than the Jamesons' mistake; and they made enough
mistakes which were not to be questioned not to have the benefit of
any doubt.

Soon the Jamesons, with their farm, were the standing joke in our
village. I had never known there was such a strong sense of humor
among us as their proceedings awakened. Mr. H. Boardman Jameson did
not remain in Fairville long, as he had to return to his duties at
the custom-house. Mrs. Jameson, who seemed to rouse herself suddenly
from the languid state which she had assumed at times, managed the
farm. She certainly had original ideas and the courage of her
convictions.

She stopped at nothing; even Nature herself she had a try at, like