providing for 'em. And in the right spirit, too, walking into each
kitchen and taking the best offen the stove--no left-over scraps in
her offering to the Lord, and she have gave a lesson to grown-ups.
We all love the old folks and was ready to do, but 'Liza have proved
that love must be mixed with a little gumption to make wheels go
round. And ain't she cute about it? She told the Deacon that she had
to bring something from everybody's kitchen or hurt all our
feelings. They is a way of putting what-oughter-be into words that
makes it a truth, and she did it that time." As she delivered her
little homily on the subject of the absent small Sister Pike, Mother
Mayberry's face shone with emotion and there was a mist in her eyes
that also dimmed the vision of some of the others.

"And the way of her," laughed the widow softly. "Told me yesterday I
didn't brown my hoe-cake enough on both sides for the Deacon's
greens--that Mis' Peavey's was better."

"Why, Mis' Pratt, 'Liza oughtn't to speak that way to you; it ain't
manners," her mother hastened to say as they all laughed, even the
misanthrope, who was much pleased over this public acknowledgment of
the superiority of her handiwork.

"Now, Judy honey, don't you say one word to 'Liza about that! She
have got the whole thing fixed up for us now, and it won't do to get
her conscious like in her management of the old folks. The thing for
us to do is to make our engagements for truck with her regular and
take her dictation always about what is sent. Keep it in her mind
how complimented we are to be let give to the Deacon and she'll
manage him, pride and all, in a sorter game. We'll make it a race
with her which pleases him. most. And now," Mother paused and looked