As they drove into Hartley, Mrs. Bates drew forth the deed.
"You are right about the bank being a safe place for this," she
said. "I've had it round the house for two years, and it's a fair
nervous thing to do. I wish I'd a-had sense to put it there and
come after you the day I made it. But there's no use crying over
spilt milk, nor fussin' with the grease spot it makes; salt it
down safely now, and when you get it done, beings as this setting
is fairly comfortable, take time to run into Harding's and pick up
some Sunday-school clothes for the children that will tally up
with the rest of their relations'; an' get yourself a cheap frock
or two that will spruce you up a bit till you have time to decide
what you really want."
Kate passed the lines to her mother, and climbed from the wagon.
She returned with her confidence partly restored and a new look on
her face. Her mother handed her two dimes.
"I can wait five minutes longer," she said. "Now get two nice
oranges and a dime's worth of candy."
Kate took the money and obeyed orders. She handed the packages to
her mother as she climbed into the wagon and again took the lines,
heading the horse toward the old, familiar road. Her mother
twisted around on the seat and gave each of the children an orange
and a stick of candy.
"There!" she said. "Go on and spoil yourselves past redemption."
Kate laughed. "But, Mother," she said, "you never did that for
us."
"Which ain't saying I never WANTED to," said Mrs. Bates, sourly.
"You're a child only once in this world; it's a little too rough
to strip childhood of everything. I ain't so certain Bates ways
are right, that for the rest of my time I'm goin' to fly in the
face of all creation to prove it. If God lets me live a few years
more, I want the faces around me a little less discontenteder than
those I've been used to. If God Almighty spares me long enough, I
lay out to make sure that Adam and Polly will squeeze out a tear
or two for Granny when she is laid away."
"I think you are right, Mother," said Kate. "It didn't cost
anything, but we had a real pretty Christmas tree this year, and I
believe we can do better next time. I want the children to love
you, but don't BUY them."
"Well, I'd hardly call an orange and a stick of candy traffickin'
in affection," said Mrs. Bates. "They'll survive it without
underminin' their principles, I'll be bound, or yours either.
Katie, let's make a beginning to-day. LET'S WORK WHAT IS RIGHT,
AND HEALTHY, A FAIR PART OF THE DAY, AND THEN EACH DAY, AND SUNDAY
ESPECIALLY, LET'S PLAY AND REST, JUST AS HARD AS WE WORK. IT'S
BEEN ALL WORK AND NO PLAY TILL WE'VE BEEN MIGHTY 'DULL BOYS' AT
OUR HOUSE; I'M FREE TO SAY THAT I HANKER FOR A CHANGE BEFORE I
DIE."