like addin' any more to her troubles.

But Ardelia, after her mother had swept out ahead, turned round
and held out her hand, and smiled a sweet but ruther of a
despondent and sorrowful smile, and I kissed her warmly. I like
Ardelia. And what I said, I said for her good, and she knew it.
I like Ardelia.

Well, Miss Tutt and Ardelia went from our house to Eben Pixley's.
They are distant relatives of hern, and live about 3 quarters of a
mile from us. The Pixleys think everything of Ardelia but they
can't bear her mother. There has been difficulties in the family.

But Ardelia stayed there mor'n two weeks right along. She haint
very happy to home I believe. And before she went back home it
wuz arranged that she should teach the winter's school and board
to Miss Pixley's. But Miss Pixley wuz took sick with the tyfus
before she had been there two weeks -- and, for all the world, if
the deestrict didn't want us to board her. Josiah hadn't much to
do, so he could carry her back and forth in stormy weather, and it
wuz her wish to come. And it wuz Josiah's wish too, for the pay
wuz good, and the work light -- for him. And so I consented after
a parlay.

But I didn't regret it. She is a good little creeter and no more
like her mother than a feather bed is like a darnin' needle. I
like Ardelia: so does Josiah.