Itoldhimandhesaid：“Well，Idon’tknowbutthisisthegladdesthourofmylife。Gostraightandrepeattoyourmotherexactlywhatyou’vesaidtome。Takeherawayallalone，andthenforgetaboutit，youlittleblessing。“
　　“Father，haveyougottoomanychildren？“
　　“No！“hesaid。“IwishIhadadozenmore，ifthey’dbelikeyou。“
　　WhenIwentupthelaneIwassopuffedupwithimportanceIfelttoodignifiedtorun。Istruttedlikeourbiggestturkeygobbler。Theonlyreasonyoucouldn’thearmywingsscrape，wasbecausethroughmistaketheygrewontheturkey。IfI’dhadthem，Iwouldhavedraggedthemsure，andcried“Ge-hobble-
　　hobble！“ateverystep。
　　Itookmotherawayaloneandtoldher，andsheaskedmanymorequestionsthanfather，butshewasevengladderthanhe。Shealmosthuggedthebreathoutofme。SometimesIgetthingsRIGHT，anyway！ThenItookthecombandranbacktoShelley。
　　“Ithoughtyou’dforgottenme，“shesaid。
　　Shehadwipedupandwaslookingbetter。IfeverIcombedcarefullyIdidthen。JustwhenIhadallthetanglesout，therecamemother。Shehadnotwalkedthatfarinalongtime。I
　　thoughtmaybeshecouldcomfortShelley，soIlaidthecombinherlapandwenttoseehowthesnakehunterswerecomingon。Itmustbeallright，whentheBiblesaysso，buttheAfricanJunglewilldoforme，andapopgunisnotgoingtoscatterfamilies。I
　　neverfeltsostronglyaboutbreakinghometiesinmylifeasI
　　didthen。Therewasnothingworse。ItwasnotwhereIwantedtobe，soIthoughtI’dgobacktothebarn，andhangaroundfather，hopingmaybehe’dbragonmesomemore。GoingupthelaneIsawawagonpassingwiththebiggestboxIeverhadseen，andIrantothegatetowatchwhereitwent。ItstoppedatourhouseandFrankcametowardmeasIhurrieduptheroad。
　　“Wherearethefolks？“heasked，withoutpayingtheleastattentiontomyaskinghimoverandoverwhatwasinthebox。
　　“MayandCandacearekillingeverysnakeinthedriftwoodbehindthebarn，Shelleyandmotheraredownintheorchard，andfatherandtheboysarehaulingcorn。“
　　“Gotelltheboystocomequicklyandkeepquiet，“hesaid。“Butdon’tletanyoneelseknowI’mhere。“
　　ThatwassoexcitingIalmostfellovermyfeetrunning，andallthreeofthemcamequiteasfast。Istoodbackandwatched，andIjustdancedasteadyhopfromonefoottotheotherwhilethosemengotthebigboxoffthewagonandopenedit。OnthesideI
　　spelledPiano，soofcourseitwasforShelley。Itwassoheavyittookallsixofthem，fatherandthethreeboys，thedriverandanotherverystylishlookingmantocarryit。Theyputitintheparlour，screwedalegoneachcorner，andaqueerharpinthemiddle，thentheylifteditupandsetitonitsfeet，underthewhatnot，anditseemedasifitfilledhalftheroom。ThenFrankspreadabeauteouswinecolouredcoverallembroideredinpinkroseswithgreenleavesoverit，andthestylishmanopenedalid，satdownandspreadouthishands。Franksaid：“Softpedal！Mightysoft！“Sohesmothereditdown，andtriedonlyenoughtofindthatithadnotbeenhurtcoming，andthenhewentawayonthewagon。Fatherandtheboysgatheredupeveryscrap，sweptthewalk，andputallthethingstheyhadusedbackwheretheygotthem，likewealwaysdid。
　　ThenFranktookacardfromhispocketandtiedittothemusicrack，anditread：“ForShelley，fromherbrothersinfact，andinlaw。“Toacornerofthecoverhepinnedanothercardthatread：“FromPeter。“
　　“Whatisthat？“askedfather。
　　“That’sfromPeter，“saidFrank。“Peterisgreatonfinishingtouches。Hehadtooutdotherestofusthatmuchorbust。Factis，noneofusthoughtofacoverexcepthim。“
　　“Howaboutthis？“askedfather，staringatitasifitwereananimalthatwouldbite。
　　“Well，“saidFrank，“itwasapparentthatpractisingherfingerstothebonewouldn’tdoShelleymuchgoodunlessshecouldkeepitupinsummer，andyouandmotheralwayshavedonesomuchfortherestofus，andnowmotherisn’tsostrongandtheexpensesgoonthesamewiththeseyoungsters；weknowyouwerefiguringonit，butwebeatyou。Putyoursinthebank，andtrythefeelofasurplusoncemore。Haven’thadmuchlately，haveyou，father？“
　　“Well，nottospeakof，“saidfather。
　　“Nowlet’sshuteverythingup，ringthebelltocallthem，andgetShelleyinhereandsurpriseher。“
　　“She’snotverywell，“saidfather。“Motherthinkssheworkedtoohard。“
　　“She’sallrightnow，father，“Isaid。“Sheisgettingpinkagainandrounder，andthiswillfixhergrand。“
　　Wouldn’titthough！Therewasn’toneanywhere，shortofthecity。EventhePrincesshadnone。Fatherhuntedupasongbook，openeditandsetitontherack。Thenallofuswentout。
　　“We’llwritetotheboys，motherandI，andShelleyalso，“saidfather。“Ican’texpressmyselfjustnow。Thisisafinethingforallofyoutodo。“
　　Frankseemedtothinksotoo，andlookedratherpuffedup，untilLeonbegantellingabouthishorse。WhenFrankfoundoutthatLaddie，whohadnotyetbranchedoutforhimself，hadgivenLeonmuchmorethananyoneofthemhadShelley，helookedalittledisappointed。Heexplainedhowthepianocosteighthundreddollars，butbypayingcashallatonce，themantooksevenhundredandfifty，soitonlycostthemonehundredandfiftyapiece，andnoneofthemfeltitatall。
　　“Sometimesthecloudsloomupprettyblack，andmotherandI
　　scarcelyknowhowtogoon，saveforthehelpoftheLord，butwecertainlyareblestwithgoodchildren，childrenwecanbeproudof。YourmotherwilllikethatinstrumentaswellasShelley，son，“saidfather。
　　Frankwentoutandrangthebell，tolledit，andmadeabignoiselikehealwaysdidwhenhecameunexpectedly，andthensatonthebackfenceuntilhesawthemcoming，andwenttomeetthem。HewalkedbetweenmotherandShelley，withanarmaroundeachone。
　　IfhethoughtShelleylookedbadly，hedidn’tmentionit。Whathedidsaywasthathewasstarved，andtoflyaroundandgetsupper。IthoughtI’dburst。Theybegantocook，andtheboyswenttofeedandseeLeon’shorse，andthenwehadsupper。I
　　justsatandstaredatFrankandgrinned。Icouldn’teat。
　　“Dofinishyoursupper，“saidmother。“Ineversawanythingtakeyourappetitelikeseeingyourbrother。You’llbewantingapiecebeforebedtime。“
　　Ididn’tsayaword，becauseIwasafraidto，butIkeptlookingatLeonandhesmiledback，andwehadgreatfun。Secretsarelovely。Mothercouldn’thaveeatenabiteifshe’dknownaboutthatgreatshiningthing，allfullofwonderfulsound，standinginourparlour。Whenthelastslowpersonhadfinished，fathersaid：“Shelley，won’tyoustepintothefrontroomandbringmethatbookIborrowedfromFrankon`Taxation。’Iwanttotalkoverafewpoints。“
　　Allofusheardherlittlebreathlesscry，andmothersaid，“There！“asifshe’dbeenlisteningforsomething，andshebeatallofustothedoor。Thenshecriedouttoo，andsuchatimeaswedidhave。Atlastafterallofushadgrownsensibleenoughtobehave，Shelleysatonthestool，spreadherfingersoverthekeysandplayedattheplacefatherhadselected，andallofussangashardaswecould：“Beiteversohumble，There’snoplacelikehome；“andthereWASnoplacelikeours，ofTHATI’mquitesure。
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　InFaithBelieving“NorcouldthebrightgreenworldaroundAjoytoherimpart，ForstillshemissedtheeyesthatmadeThesummerofherheart。“
　　Soonasshehadthepiano，ShelleyneededonlythePagetmantomakeherhappyasagirlcouldbe；andhavingfaithinthatprayer，Idecidedtotryitrightaway。SoIgotLaddietopromisesurelythathe’dwakemewhenhegotupthenextmorning。
　　Ilaidmyclothesoutallready；hemerelytouchedmyfoot，andI
　　cameto，slippedoutwithhim，andhehelpedmedress。Wewenttothebarnwhenthemorningwasallgray。
　　“Whatthedickenshaveyougotinyourheadnow，Chicken？“heasked。“IsitbusinesswiththeFairies？“
　　“No，thisiswiththeMostHigh，“Isaidsolemnly，likefather。
　　“Goawayandleavemealone。“
　　“Wellofallthequeerchickens！“hesaid，buthekissedmeandwent。
　　Iclimbedthestairstothethreshingfloor，thentheladdertothemow，walkedabeamtothewall，therefollowedonetotheeastend，andanothertothelittle，high-upventilatorwindow。
　　ThereIstoodlookingatthetopoftheworld。Agraymistwasrisinglikesteamfromtheearth，therewasacuriouscolourintheeast，stripesoforangeandflamesofred，wherethesunwascoming。Ifoldedmyhandsonthesill，facedthesky，andstoodstaring。Juststood，andstood，nevermovingamuscle。ByandbyIbegantothinkhowmuchwelovedShelley，howhappyshehadbeenatChristmasthewayshewasnow，andhowmuchallofuswouldgiveinmoney，ortime，orlove，tomakehersparkling，bubbling，happyagain；soIthoughtandthought，gazingatthesky，whicheverysecondbecameagrandersight。Littlecoldchillsbegangoingupmyback，andsoonIwastalkingtotheLordexactlyasifHestoodbeforemeonthereddestraythattoppedourappletrees。
　　Idon’tknowallIsaid。That’sfunny，forIusuallyremembertothelastword；butthistimeitwassoimportant，Iwanteditsobadly，andIwassoinearnestthatwordspouredinastream。I
　　beganbyremindingHimthatHekneweverything，andsoHe’dunderstandifwhatIaskedwasforthebest。ThenItoldHimhowitlookedtous，whoknewonlyapart；andthenIwentatHimandimploredandbeseeched，ifitwouldbebestforShelley，andwouldmakeherhappy，tosendherthePagetman，andtobequickaboutit。WhenIhadsaidthelastwordthatcametome，andbeggedallIthoughtbecoming——Idon’tthinkwithHisface，thatJesuswantsustogroveltoHim，atleastHelookstoodignifiedtodoitHimself——Ijuststoodthere，stillstaring。
　　Ididn’texpecttoseeaburningbush，orapillaroffire，oracloudofflame，oreventohearasmall，stillvoice；butI
　　watched，soIwouldn’tmissitifthereshouldbeanythingdifferentinthatsunrisefromanyotherIeverhadseen，andtherewasnot。Notonething！Itwassobeautiful，andIwassoinearnestmyhearthurt；butthatwaslikeanyothersunriseonafineJulymorning。Therewasn’ttheleastsignthatJesushadheardme，andwouldsendtheman；yetbeforeIknewit，Iwasamazedtofindthefeelingcreepingovermethathewascoming。
　　IfIhadheldtheletterinmyhandsayinghewouldarriveonthenoontrain，Icouldn’thavegrownsurer。Why，IevenlookeddownthefirsttimeImoved，toseeifIhadit；butIwascertainanyway。SoIlookedsteadilytowardtheeastoncemoreandsaid，“Thankyou，withallmyheart，LordJesus，“thenIslowlymademywaydownandbacktothehouse。
　　Shelleywasattheorchardgate，waiting；soIknewtheyhadmissedme，andLaddiehadtoldthemwhereIwasandnottocall。
　　Shehadthestrangestlookonherface，assheasked：“Wherehaveyoubeen？“
　　Ilookedstraightandhardatherandsaid，“It’sallright，Shelley。He’sgoingtocomesoon“；butIdidn’tthinkitwasathingtomouthover，soItwistedawayfromher，andrantothekitchentoseeifbreakfasthadallbeeneaten。IleftShelleystandingtherewithhereyeswide，alsohermouth。ShelookedaboutasintelligentasMehitabelHeasty，anditwouldn’thavesurprisedmeifshehadbeguntojumpupanddownandsaythereweresnakesinHERshoes。Nodoubtyouhaveheardofpeoplehavingbeenknockedsilly；Iknewshewas，andsoshehadaperfectrighttolookthatway，untilshecouldrememberwhatshewasdoing，andcomebacktoherself。Maybeittookherlonger，becausemotherwasn’tthere，toremindherabouthermouth，andI
　　didn’tproposetomentionit。
　　Atbreakfast，mothersaidfatherwasgoingtodriveFrankhomeinthecarriage，andifIwouldlike，Imightgoalong。Iwouldhavetositonthebackseatalone，going；butcominghomeI
　　couldridebesideandvisitwithfather。Ilovedthat，foryoucouldseemorefromthefrontseat，andfatherwouldstoptoexplaineverysinglething。Healwaysgavemethemoneyandletmepaythetoll。Hewouldgetmeadrinkatthespring，letmewadeafewminutesatEnyard’sriffles，wheretheircreek，withtheloveliestgravelbed，ranbesidetheroad；andhealwaysracedlikewildfireatthenarrows，whereforamiletherailroadranalongtheturnpike。
　　WetookFranktohisoffice，stoppedalittlewhiletovisitLucy，andgiveherthebutterandcreammothersent，wenttothestoretoseePeter，andthentothepost-office。Fromtherewecouldseethattheverandaofthehotelacrossthestreetwasfilledwithgaylydressedpeople，andfathersaidthatthesummerboardersfrombigcitiesaroundmustbepouringinfast。Whenhecameoutwiththemailhesaidhebetteraskifthelandlorddidnotwantsomeofmother’scornandmilkfedspringchickens，becauselastyearhehadpaidhermorethanthegrocer。Sohedroveacrossthestreet，stoppedatthecurb，andleftmetoholdtheteam。
　　MaybeyouthinkIwasn’tproud！I’vetoldyouaboutNedandJo，withtheirsharpears，dappledsides，andsilkytails，andthecarriagealmostnew，withleatherseats，patentleathertrimmings，andsidelamps，soshinyyoucouldseeyourselfinthebrass。Weneverdroveintothebarnwithonespeckofmudordustonit。Thatwashowparticularmotherwas。
　　Iwatchedtheteamcarefully；IhadtoifIdidn’twantmyneckbroken；butIalsokeptaneyeonthatveranda。Youcouldseeataglancethatthosewerestylishwomen。Nowmymotherlikedtobeinfashionaswellasanyonecould；soIknewshe’dbemightilypleasedifIcouldtellheranewplacetosethercomb，adifferentwaytofastenhercollar，oraboutanunusualpatternforafrock。