"No; we're to have a grand flag-raising!" ("That is," she
thought, "if we have any flag to raise!")

"That so? Where?"

"The three villages are to club together and have a rally, and
raise the flag at the Centre. There'll be a brass band, and
speakers, and the Mayor of Portland, and the man that will be
governor if he's elected, and a dinner in the Grange Hall, and we
girls are chosen to raise the flag."
"I want to know! That'll be grand, won't it?" (Still not a sign
of consciousness on the part of Abner.)
"I hope Mrs. Fogg will take Clara Belle, for it will be splendid
to look at! Mr. Cobb is going to be Uncle Sam and drive us on the
stage. Miss Dearborn--Clara Belle's old teacher, you know is
going to be Columbia; the girls will be the States of the Union,
and oh, Mr. Simpson, I am the one to be the State of Maine!"
Mr. Simpson flourished the whipstock and gave a loud, hearty
laugh. Then he turned in his seat and regarded Rebecca curiously.
"You're kind o' small, ain't ye, for so big a state as this one?"
he asked.
"Any of us would be too small," replied Rebecca with dignity,
"but the committee asked me, and I am going to try hard to do
well."
The tragic thought that there might be no occasion for anybody to
do anything, well or ill, suddenly overcame her here, and putting
her hand on Mr. Simpson's sleeve, she attacked the subject
practically and courageously.
"Oh, Mr. Simpson, dear Mr. Simpson, it's such a mortifying
subject I can't bear to say anything about it, but please give us