with a "Sh-sh-sh, children, mercy, goodness, you nearly drive me wild.
Here. Laura, take mother's bonnet and shawl up-stairs.

"Here, Jamie, take my boots and bring me my slippers. I'm that tired I
don't know what to do with myself. Goodness, but it feels good to get
home. The strangest thing's happened, Letty. The afternoon express
was coming into town this afternoon, and, when it was about two miles
out, all of a sudden the engineer saw a red flannel petticoat hanging
right down in the middle of the track, hanging by a clothes-line, mind,
from the limb of a tree. He thought at first it was a joke, but
changed his mind and thought he'd look further, and would you believe
it, he found a great, big log across the track. If the train had come
on that I guess there'd been more grief than Thanksgiving in this
neighborhood to-morrow."

Mrs. Mason had said all this along in one steady strain, while she was
walking round the room putting away her parcels.

Getting no response, she turned to look at Letty for the first time.
"Why goodness! The girl has fainted. What on earth do you suppose is
the matter with her?

"Jamie, come quick. Get me some water.

"There," when the restorative had had the desired effect. "Why, what
ailed you, Letty? You weren't sick when I went away. Bless me! I
hope you ain't going to be sick, and such a surprise as we've got for
you, too, out in the barn. But there. If that isn't just like me. I
didn't mean to tell you yet."