mealy-mouthed to be honest--pity, or _despise_ them, I cannot tell
which."

All now had withdrawn from the table, except Emma, Mary, Joshua
Cheever, and little Edwin. "Your milk is very nice, Mary," said Eddy,
"but it does not cure my thirst; O I do want some cold water."

"There is none nearer than the pond," said Joshua, "unless you go to
Graffam's; but they are so piggish, I would choke before I would ask
water of them. The last time I went there, the old woman sent one of
the young ones to tell me that the village folks were an unmannerly
set, and she wanted them to keep their distance. I told the girl to
give my love to her mother, and tell her that she was the sweetest
poppy upon the plain. So you see that it wouldn't do for me to go there
again; I might get my head cracked with one of Graffam's rum-jugs."

"I am not afraid to go," said Mary. "I have no doubt but that the
blueberry parties are a trouble to Mrs. Graffam."

"_Mrs_. Graffam!" exclaimed Joshua, laughing. "Nobody else calls her
anything but Moll, and her husband, Pete."

Emma now lifted Edwin from his seat upon the rock, and taking his hand,
while Mary brought the bright dipper, they started for the log-house,
which looked in the distance like a black stump.

"It is loving your neighbor _better_ than yourself,"--said the little
boy, looking smilingly up into Emma's face,--"I am sure it is, to come
all this way with me."