I own up for a minute I didn't know WHAT was comin'.After Kyan Iwas prepared for 'most anything.But he told me that Lurany Phelps,who the parish committee had counted on to keep house for Mr.Ellery,had sent word her sister was sick and couldn't be left,and that somebody must be hired right off 'cause the minister's expected by day after to-morrow's coach.And they'd gone over every likely candidate in town till it simmered down to Mehitable Burgess.And Cap'n Zeb Mayo spoke right up in the committee meetin'and gave out that if Mehitable kept house for Mr.Ellery he,for one,wouldn't come to church.Said he didn't want to hear sermons that was inspired by HER cookin'.Seems she cooked for the Mayos one week when Mrs.Mayo had gone to Boston,and Cap'n Zeb declares his dreams that week was somethin'awful.'And I'm a man with no nerves and mighty little imagination,'he says.'Land knows what effect a dose of Mehitable's biscuits might have on a MINISTER.'
And so,continued Keziah,they decided Mehitable wouldn't do,and finally somebody thought of me.I have a notion 'twas Zeb,although Cap'n Elkanah did his best to make me think 'twas himself.
And the cap'n was made a delegate to come and see me about it.
Come he did,and we settled it.I went down to the parsonage with him before dinner and looked the place over.There's an awful lot of sweepin'and dustin'to be done afore it's fit for a body to live in.I did think that when I'd finished with this house Icould swear off on that kind of dissipation for a while,but Iguess,judgin'by the looks of that parsonage,what I've done so far is only practice.She paused,glanced keenly at her friend and asked:Why!what's the matter?You don't act nigh so glad as I thought you'd be.Grace said of course she was glad;but she looked troubled,nevertheless.
I can hardly make it seem possible,she said.Is it really settled--your salary and everything?And what will you do about your position in Boston?Oh,I'll write Cousin Abner and tell him.Lord love you,HE won't care.He'll feel that he did his duty in gettin'me the Boston chance and if I don't take it 'tain't his fault.HIS conscience'll be clear.Land sakes!if I could clean house as easy as some folks clear their consciences I wouldn't have a backache this minute.
Yes,the wages are agreed on,too.And totin'them around won't make my back ache any worse,either,she added drily.
Grace extended her hand.
Well,Aunt Keziah,she said,I'm ever and ever so glad for you.
I know you didn't want to leave Trumet and I'm sure everyone will be delighted when they learn that you're going to stay.Humph!that includes Laviny Pepper,of course.I cal'late Laviny's delight won't keep her up nights.But I guess I can stand it if she can.Now,Grace,what is it?You AIN'T real pleased?Why not?
The girl hesitated.
Auntie,she said,I'm selfish,I guess.I'm glad for your sake;you mustn't think I'm not.But I almost wish you were going to do something else.You are going to live in the Regular parsonage and keep house for,of all persons,a Regular minister.Why,so far as my seeing you is concerned,you might as well be in China.You know Uncle Eben.Keziah nodded understandingly.
Yes,she said,I know him.Eben Hammond thinks that parsonage is the presence chamber of the Evil One,I presume likely.But,Grace,you mustn't blame me,and if you don't call I'll know why and I shan't blame you.We'll see each other once in a while;I'll take care of that.And,deary,I HAD to do it--I just had to.If you knew what a load had been took off my mind by this,you'd sympathize with me and understand.I've been happier in Trumet than I ever was anywhere else,though I've seen some dark times here,too.I was born here;my folks used to live here.My brother Sol lived and died here.His death was a heavy trouble to me,but the heaviest came to me when I was somewheres else and--well,somehow I've had a feelin'that,if there was any real joys ever planned out for me while I'm on this earth,they'd come to me here.I don't know when they'll come.There's times when I can't believe they ever will come,but--There!there!everybody has to bear burdens in this life,I cal'late.It's a vale of tears,'cordin'to you Come-Outer folks,though I've never seen much good in wearin'a long face and a crape bathin'suit on that account.Hey?What are you listenin'to?
I thought I heard a carriage stop,that was all.Mrs.Coffin went to the window and peered into the fog.
Can't see anything,she said.'Tain't anybody for here,that's sure.I guess likely 'twas Cap'n Elkanah.He and Annabel were goin'to drive over to Denboro this afternoon.She had some trimmin'to buy.Takes more than fog to separate Annabel Daniels from dressmakin'.Well,there's a little more packin'to do;then I thought I'd go down to that parsonage and take a whack at the cobwebs.I never saw so many in my born days.You'd think all the spiders from here to Ostable had been holdin'camp meetin'in that shut-up house.The packing took about an hour.When it was finished,the carpet rolled up,and the last piece of linen placed in the old trunk,Keziah turned to her guest.
Now,Gracie,she said,I feel as though I ought to go to the parsonage.I can't do much more'n look at the cobwebs to-night,but to-morrow those spiders had better put on their ascension robes.The end of the world's comin'for them,even though it missed fire for the Millerites when they had their doin's a few years ago.You can stay here and wait,if 'twon't be too lonesome.We'll have supper when I get back.
Grace looked tempted.
