to sit 'n' smile on Mr. Weskin to-night from between two such ears as is
on me, for a man is a man, 'n' it can't be denied as a woman as is
mainly ears ain't beguilin'. Besides, I may in confidence state to you,
Mrs. Lathrop, as the one as buzzed aroun' my head wa'n't really no wasp
a _tall_ in comparison to the one as got under my skirts."
Mrs. Lathrop's eyes were full of sincere condolence; she did not even
imagine a smile as she gazed upon her afflicted friend.
"I must go," said the latter, rising with a groan, "seems like I never
will reach the bottom o' my troubles this year. I keep thinkin' there's
nothin' left 'n' then I get a wasp at each end at once. Well, I 'll come
over when Mr. Weskin goes--if I have strength."
Then she limped home.
* * * * *
It was about nine that night that she returned and pounded vigorously on
her friend's window-pane. Mrs. Lathrop woke from her rocker-nap, went to
the window and opened it. Susan stood below and the moon illuminated her
smile and her ears with its most silvery beams.
"He 's just gone!" she announced.
"Yes," said Mrs. Lathrop, rubbing her eyes.
"He's gone; I come over to tell you."
"What--" said Mrs. Lathrop.
"I would n't care if my ears was as big as a elephant's now."
"Why--" asked Mrs. Lathrop.
"Mrs. Lathrop, you know as I took them bonds straight after father died
'n' locked 'em up 'n' I ain't never unlocked 'em since?"
Mrs. Lathrop assented with a single rapt nod.
"Well, when I explained to Mr. Weskin as I 'd got to have money 'n' how
was the best way to sell a bond, he just looked at me, 'n' what do you
think he said--what _do_ you think he said, Mrs. Lathrop?"
Mrs. Lathrop hung far out over the window-sill--her gaze was the gaze of
the ever earnest and interested.
Susan stood below. Her face was aglow with the joy of the affluent--her
very voice might have been for once entitled as silvery.
"He said, Mrs. Lathrop, he said, 'Miss Clegg, why don't you go down to
the bank and cut your coupons?'"
* * * * *
A VERY SUPERIOR MAN
Miss Clegg sat in Mrs. Lathrop's rocking-chair, on Mrs. Lathrop's
kitchen stoop. Mrs. Lathrop sat at her friend's feet, picking over
currants. If she picked over a great many she intended making jelly; if
only a few, the result was to be a pie.
Susan had on her bonnet and mitts and held her sun-umbrella firmly
gripped between her two hands and her two knees. She looked weary and
worn.
"It seems kind o' funny that I bothered to go, now that I come to think
it over," she said, gazing meditatively down upon her friend and her
friend's currant-picking; "I wa'n't no relation of Rufus Timmans, 'n'
although I don't deny as it 's always a pleasure to go to any one's
funeral, still it's a long ways to Meadville, 'n' the comin' back was
most awful, not to speak o' havin' no dinner nowhere. It never makes no
one brisk but a horse to go without eatin', 'n' I must in consequence
say 't I was really very sorry as Rufus was dead durin' the last part of
the drive; but o' course he was a very superior man, 'n' as a
consequence nobody wanted to have it said in after life as they wa'n't
to his buryin'. So I went along with the rest, 'n' Heaven help me now,
for I never was more beat out in all my life. I was up awful early this
mornin' to be sure o' not bein' left, 'n' I may in confidence remark as
I 've thought many times to-day as if I had been left I 'd of been a
sight better off. Long rides is very frisky for them as is young 'n' in
love 'n' likes to drive alternate, but for a woman o' my age, bein'
wedged solid for sixteen miles at a time is most tryin'; 'n' comin' back
some o' them smart Meadville boys had the fine idea o' puttin' walnuts
under the seats, 'n' we rode most of the way thinkin' as they was our
bones till Mr. Dill jus' got up 'n' whopped his cushion over to see if
it 'd feel any different the other side, 'n' I may state as the results
I shall remember till I die."
"Who--" began Mrs. Lathrop.
"Everybody!" said Susan; "I never knowed how superior Rufus was till I
see how folks turned out for his funeral. Every minister 'n' doctor in
the whole vicinity was there. The Lumbs drove way up from Clightville,
got overturned in the brook by the old knife factory, but come along
just the same. Old Mr. 'n' Mrs. Trumbull started day before yesterday as
soon as they knowed he was dead 'n' ate with relations all the way along
'n' got them to come too whenever they could. They was seven buggies 'n'
two democrats when they arrived at last. Mrs. Macy was waitin' for me in
the square when I got there this mornin' 'n' she told me as a city
reporter had come up to write a account of it 'n' as Dr. Cogswell was
goin' to be there. They say as a live bishop wanted to make the prayer
but Rufus was so advanced in his views it seemed better not to come out
too strong over his dead body. Mrs. Macy said it all showed what a very
superior man he was. She says as she feels as maybe we did n't
appreciate him enough. She says maybe we was prejudiced. Lord knows it's
very hard not to be prejudiced agin' the folks you live among, 'n' I
guess any one as see Rufus mildly stumblin' around losin'
pocket-handkerchiefs 'd of had a hard time regardin' him as superior;
but he _was_ superior, 'n' Mrs. Macy says he _always_ was superior, for
her aunt, old Mrs. Kitts, of Meadville, remembers when he was born, 'n'
Mrs. Macy says Mrs. Kitts always says as he was superior right from the
start. She says as Mrs. Kitts says as Rufus's father was really 'most a
nuisance, talkin' about his superiority even the very first week he was
born. Mrs. Macy says Mrs. Kitts says that his father said right off the
day he was born, as to his order o' thinkin' Rufus was different from
other babies right then 'n' there. He told Mrs. Kitts hisself as he
knowed folks was often fools over their first babies, 'n' he did n't
calcalate to act no such part, but in common honesty he _must_ state as
Rufus was 'way above the ordinary run, not because he was his baby, but
just because it was the plain truth. Mrs. Kitts said she see Rufus
herself when he wa'n't but three days old, 'n' she told Mrs. Macy as she
must in truth confess as he looked then jus' about as he always
looked--kind of too awful wise to have any sense a _tall_. Mrs. Macy
says Mrs. Kitts says the superior thing about Rufus them first days was
the way as his mother looked on him. Mrs. Kitts says Tabitha Timmans was
a mos' remarkable woman, straight up her back 'n' all in 'n' out in
front--one o' them women as is most all teeth--front teeth, 'n' Mrs.
Kitts said whenever she looked at Rufus she was all back teeth too. They
had him in a clothes-basket to keep off draughts, with a quilt to
pervent changes in the weather, 'n' a mosquito-nettin' for fear a fly
might thaw out unexpectedly 'n' get near him. Mrs. Kitts said Tabitha
Timmans was just about wild over him; she told Mrs. Kitts she felt it
gallopin' up 'n' down her spine as how Rufus was surely goin' to grow up
to be a inspector--or mebbe the president; she said any one could see he
was in for bein' suthin' high up 'n' sort o' quiet 'n' important. Tilda
Ann, Sammy Timmans's aunt, was there too. Mrs. Kitts says she always
liked Tilda Ann, what little she see of her, even if she _was n't_
patient. Mrs. Macy says Mrs. Kitts says Tilda Ann never had no real
fault, only her never bein' able to be patient. She says if Tilda Ann
had only had a little patience it 'd of been a great deal better for her
in the end, for if Tilda Ann 'd had a little more patience she 'd never
have come scurryin' home cross-lots that night in the fog 'n' gone
hickety-pickety over the well-curb, thinkin' it was a stone wall. Mrs.
Kitts says she never can help considerin' what a shock Tilda Ann must
have got when she realized as she was over, 'n' so was everythin' else."
"My--" said Mrs. Lathrop.
"But she was alive then," continued Susan, "'n' she was there takin'
care o' Tabitha 'n' watchin' over Rufus. Mrs. Kitts said it did n't take
much to see as Tilda Ann had n't no particular admiration for Rufus; she
said right then 'n' there, as to her order o' thinkin,' Tabitha 'd ought
to teach him to quit suckin' his thumb right off,--she said as it was a
most terrible job when they got bigger. Mrs. Kitts said Tabitha said as
not many babies was smart enough to suck their thumbs at Rufus's age,
'n' then Tilda Ann said as not many mothers was fool enough to let 'em.
Mrs. Kitts said Tilda Ann was never one to mince words. She always said
jus' what she thought, 'n' that was a very bad thing for her too, for
afore she died she 'd said jus' what she thought to so many people that
they had great difficulty gettin' a party together to hunt for her that
day as she turned up missin' on a'count of bein' down in the well.
"While we was talkin'--Mrs. Macy 'n' me--up Gran'ma Mullins come 'n' it
turned out from her as we was all three expected to squeeze over to
Meadville on Mr. Jilkins's back seat together. Mrs. Macy 'n' me was far
from pleased at that prospeck, 'n' Gran'ma Mullins did n't look over
rejoiced herself. There is them as can wedge, 'n' them as can't, 'n' we
was all three the kind as can't. I ain't as wide as Mrs. Macy, nor yet
the soft and squashy kind like Gran'ma Mullins, but I will say, Mrs.
Lathrop, as bein' overflowed around for sixteen miles, is to my order o'
thinkin' full as tryin' as to be overflowin' aroun' somebody else."
"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop, mildly.
"No, you would n't either," said Susan, "I know you better 'n you know
yourself, Mrs. Lathrop, for I know you asleep 'n' awake, 'n' you only
know yourself awake; not as asleep 'n' awake is n't very much the same
thing with you, Mrs. Lathrop; but asleep or awake, the main fact is as I
know most, so you can just keep still till I get done with what I 'm
sayin'."
Mrs. Lathrop kept still.
"Well, after it was settled as, willy-nilly, we'd got to back-seat it to
Meadville together, Gran'ma Mullins begin about what a very superior man
Rufus was 'n' what a very superior boy he used to be. Mrs. Macy did n't
say nothin', 'cause it was easy to see as she 'd really took it a good
deal to heart bein' thirded for sixteen miles; but Gran'ma Mullins went
right on with when she lived in Meadville 'n' taught school that winter
she was seventeen. She said as Rufus was in her middle class that winter
'n' _mos_' superior. He was nine 'n' the oldest o' nine, there bein' two
pairs o' twins; she said it looked like Tabitha 'n' Sammy had took the
Bible about replenishin' the earth right on to their own shoulders.
Gran'ma Mullins said it was suthin' to make any one content to teach
school forever, only to look at 'em; she said she should always think it
was that as made all the men in Meadville so ready to go to the war 'n'
the women so calm over their gettin' killed; she said no one wanted to
get married there, anyhow."
"But she--" interposed Mrs. Lathrop, quickly.
"Well, but she knew he had a bullet in him 'n the Roman fever 'n' a
pension," said Susan, "she knowed she was pretty safe--I would n't blame
her under them circumstances. But that's neither here nor anywhere else,
Mrs. Lathrop, 'n' what with your interruptin' Lord knows when we will
get around to Rufus, for I keep forgettin' he 's dead 'n' rememberin'
him alive, 'n' no one as remembers Rufus Timmans alive could ever tell
anything about him, 'n' you know that as well as I do. Gran'ma Mullins
said herself to-day as he was a great problem to her in school, 'n' she
used to study him out of all comparison to the other children. Every one
admitted as he was superior, 'n' yet no one knowed jus' why. She says he
really _was_ superior in lots o' ways, 'n' he whittled her a open-work
ink-stand once for a Christmas as she 's used for toothpicks ever since,
but she says the inside o' his ideas was surely most amazin'. She says
she had him for two years, 'n' all she could say was as in all them two
years she was mostly struck dumb by him. She says she used to go up 'n'
talk to Tabitha, 'n' Tilda Ann used to come down 'n' talk with her, but
nothin' ever seemed to come of it. Tilda Ann declared up 'n' down as he
was a fool through 'n' through, 'n' poor Tabitha was awful nervous for
fear he 'd invent somethin' in bed some night as would surely blow the
house up. Seems he was so ahead at ten years old that he wanted to study
to be a chemist, 'n' so behind that he spelt it 'kemst,' 'n' him all of
ten years old.
"Gran'ma Mullins said she used to be clean beside herself; he was the
show-boy whenever the board came, 'n' never got his lessons between
times. She says she always knowed he 'd turn out _some way_, but Tilda
Ann never had no opinion of him a _tall_. Not as Tilda Ann's opinion
mattered much, 'cause she climbed into the well just about then, 'n'
Rufus looked out a verse for her tombstone in the Bible. It was a very
good motto for her too,--it was, 'Well done, thou good 'n' faithful
servant'; it made a lot o' talk, 'cause she really never was paid
nothin', but the sentiment about the well was very pretty, 'n' every one
thought Tilda Ann herself would have liked it if she 'd stayed up 'n' so
had any say in the matter.
"Gran'ma Mullins went on to say as she got married soon after, so she
run out of talk, an' Mrs. Macy 'n' me was so tired listenin' to her
anyway that we was all more 'n' content jus' to stand aroun' 'n' wait
till the Jilkinses come drivin' up. Then we all had to up 'n' in
somehow, 'n' I will say, Mrs. Lathrop, as wedgin' Mrs. Macy an' Gran'ma
Mullins was certainly a sight to see. They was for puttin' me in the
middle, but I was flat for a outside so 's I could breathe, 'n' in the
end Mrs. Jilkins set between me 'n' Gran'ma Mullins, 'n' Mrs. Macy set
with Mr. Jilkins--what of her did n't hang over outside."
"What did--" began Mrs. Lathrop.
"There was n't no other way to get 'em both there--that's why," said
Susan; "there was them as went on the cars, but that was n't no great
success, for they was so late that Rufus had his lid all on afore they
got there, so they really had very little for their money. 'N' besides,
if we 'd all gone on the cars, how was we to get to the grave? Rufus was
well this side o' Meadville, 'n' the cemetery's some further this way,
'n' whatever your views may be I hope you don't mind my sayin' right out
as other folks' views is always more sensible. You can't be expected to
know much, Mrs. Lathrop, with your few church privileges 'n' your parlor
too small for the sewin' society; but if you was less inclined to talk
'n' more inclined to listen to me I may in confidence remark as you
_might_ learn about the funeral--even if you never learned nothin' else
in this world."
Mrs. Lathrop was again silent forthwith.
"Drivin' over we all talked about Rufus. We had really a very pleasant
ride, for we was all disposed to view him kindly goin' over. Mrs. Macy
told over again what a superior baby he was, 'n' Gran'ma Mullins told
over again what a superior boy he was, 'n' Mrs. Macy said as Mrs. Kitts
said as he was the talk o' the town when he was twenty-one. Gran'ma
Mullins did n't remember much about him then, 'cause she got married
along about that time, 'n' she 's always said that them who gets married
don't need nothin' else to do for one while; but Mrs. Macy said Rufus
was one o' the most superior young men as Mrs. Kitts ever see. She said
as old Mr. Tilley took him right into the heart 'n' soul o' his
drug-store jus' because his mother was his cousin, 'n' even then the
general feelin' was as he was way above the business. Mrs. Macy said as
Mrs. Kitts said she 'd never forget goin' in one day for some salts 'n'
finding Rufus all alone. Why, she said she never had known he was so
head 'n' shoulders above other people! She says she 's told the story a
million times 'n' it 's still fresh in her mind. She said she asked for
simple salts, 'n' he begun right off about a comet. She felt awful
uncomfortable to have to say as she had n't seen no comet, 'n' then it
turned out no wonder, 'cause you could only see it from China an'
Maddygasgar. She said she was awful interested, 'n' he was too, 'n' in
the end he was _so_ interested that he found he had n't poured out o'
the salts bottle a _tall_. It was only just a chance as he remembered as
it was salts she wanted, 'n' she said he was _so_ nice about it, went
under the counter to find a cork to fit, 'n' told her all about how they
get gumarabic while he was under there, 'n' she was so deep in the
subjeck that she never noticed, 'n' he stuck a poison label on, 'n' they
both laughed over that fit to kill themselves. My goodness, Mrs. Macy
said, but Mrs. Kitts said as he was a taking young man. In the end he
wrote the name in Latin across the skull 'n' cross-bones, 'n' she only
had to always remember as 'Sally Simplex' meant 'simple salts' from
then on.
"She went on to say as the biggest thing Rufus ever done long about then
was to down their minister in a open conversation one night callin' at
Deacon Grummel's. She told all about it, 'n' seems as there was some
talk afterwards about gettin' up a subscription to send him to college,
only it never come to nothin' 'cause no one wanted to subscribe. Seems
the minister was Luther Law, him as moved to Chicago afterwards 'n' got
burnt up or out--I forget which--in the fire. Seems he was to Deacon
Grummel's one night, 'n' him 'n' Rufus got to discussin' what we all
come from. Mrs. Macy says Mrs. Grummel said she never hear the like. She
'n' her husband was jus' all of a tremble. She said afterwards that if
it 'd of been any other minister than Luther Law, Rufus _would_ have had
him sure. She said it was just like a lecture hall to hear, upon her
honor. The minister begun by startin' out for our all comin' from Adam
'n' Eve, but Rufus come out flat for our bein' from monkeys. Well, Mrs.
Grummel said she 'n' her husband could n't do no more than feel their
hearts beat at _that_. Rufus jus' argued 'n' kep' on arguin' till he
made the minister admit as there was n't nothin' absolute agin' monkeys,
'n' then--if that young man did n't go him one better 'n' say as he
believed in tadpoles himself. Luther Law was flat agin' tadpoles, but
Rufus never let up till he got him to admit that if the Lord could make
a man out of a monkey He could make him out of a tadpole, too. 'N'
_then_, when he'd got him so far, what _do_ you think, Mrs.
Lathrop,--what do you think!--Mrs. Macy said as Mrs. Kitts said as Mrs.
Grummel said if that young man did n't look right square into Luther's
face 'n' say as to _his_ order o' thinkin' it wasn't what we'd come from
as mattered so much as what we'd develop into _next_. 'That's what I
want to know,' he said to Luther Law, runnin' his hand into himself in
that way as was so fashionable along 'bout then, 'that's what _I_ want
to know, 'n' I can't find no one as has a addykit answer for me.'
"Well, Mrs. Macy said Mrs. Kitts said as up to her deathbed day Mrs.
Grummel _always_ said as that was _the_ minute o' her life. She said
facin' cannon would n't be nothin' to the way she 'n' the deacon felt
over seein' the minister asked a thing like that right on top o' their
own tea! But, lor, you never could stick Luther Law. A minister would
n't be able to be able to be a minister if little things like questions
you can't answer could run him aground. He jus' waited a minute 'n' then
he looked slow 'n' sad, an' lifted up his hand _so_, 'n' pointed _so_,
an' said, 'Young man, how can you ask such a question, with the starry
heaven right on top of your head?'
"Well! Mrs. Grummel said it was like a flash o' thunder splittin' clean
through the air. She said her husband never quit saying to his dying day
as that was the smartest thing as Luther Law ever said, considerin' how
little time he had to think, 'n' it was the only thing in the wide world
as he could of said, too. She said she told that story all over town,
'n' no one could ever decide which was the smartest, Rufus or Luther
Law; 'cause even if Luther Law did find a way out, it was such a
astonishin' thing as he did that Rufus got a sight o' credit out of
comin' as nigh to stickin' him as _he_ did. A good many people begun to
say then as he was too superior for a small town;--old Dr. Lumb said as
to his order o' thinkin' he 'd ought to move near to some place where
he'd have professors to talk to.
"Mrs. Macy said Mrs. Kitts give her to understand, though, as there was
a 'nother side to Rufus even then, 'n' it begun to crop out mighty
young, too. Mrs. Kitts said she would n't mention it only in confidence,
but Mr. Tilley, of the drug-store where Rufus was, told _her_ as he'd be
only too glad to see Rufus move _anywhere_, whether it had professors to
talk to or not. Mr. Tilley said his ideas was far too advanced for a
small town. Mr. Tilley said he could n't find the easiest things after
Rufus had got 'em labelled in Latin, 'n' he said it wasn't practical to
classify no drug-store without a rollin' step-ladder anyhow. Then there
came up the Kelly cat, 'n' on account of the Kellys havin' money the
Kelly cat come nigh to endin' Rufus. I never hear about the Kelly cat
afore, but seems as the Kelly cat was ailin' 'n' the Kellys took it to
Rufus for catnip, 'n' Rufus got to discoursin' with Bessy on how if
you're born under Venus with Mars gettin' up you're bound to marry
whoever you love, 'n' he clean forgot what ailed the cat 'n' tried to
give her ipecac as if she was croupy instead o' bein' droopy. The cat
knowed ipecac even if Rufus did n't, 'n' she bounced out from between
him 'n' Bessy 'n' bounced into the winder 'n' busted the big bottle full
o' green. Rufus said it was a fit, 'n' he got a hair-oil bottle as gives
you a nickel nose of your own for nothin', 'n' he put the nose on the
ipecac 'n' got the whole down the cat so far that she come nigh to
swallowin' the nose. Mrs. Macy said Mrs. Kelly never felt to forgive
Rufus, 'n' it set her deader 'n' ever agin' him, but, lor, Bessy was too
head over heels in love to care about cats or ipecac. She was as sure
Rufus was superior as any one could be, 'n' every one knowed what was up
as well as she 'n' Rufus did. Mrs. Macy said as every one said as a
superior young man must marry money or he could n't in reason stay
superior long, 'n' Rufus was dead set on stayin' superior, so they was
married the next spring 'n' moved to the city, 'n' they did n't come
back till it was plain as Mr. Kelly 'd have to support 'em or let Bessy
starve on Rufus's superiority."
Susan paused abruptly and sighed. Mrs. Lathrop said never a word.
Presently the discourse flowed on again.
"Well, there was n't really no wish to say nothin' but good of Rufus,
but it is a long drive to Meadville an' we had to talk, 'n' you know as
well as I do, Mrs. Lathrop, as it's nigh to impossible to talk long of
people if you 're only to say good of 'em. Rufus was there 'n' dead to
talk about, 'n' while we naturally wished him well, still we was pretty
tired before we got through drivin' sixteen miles to bury him. Gran'ma
Mullins said finally as he was certainly a very superior man, but she
knowed from her niece Hannah as he was trying to live with. She said
Hannah lived with 'em for five years 'n' looked after the children, 'n
cheered Bessy up when she was nigh to wore out with bein' married to
Rufus. Hannah never had no use for Rufus Timmans herself,--she was awful
fond o' Bessy 'n' the boys, but she drawed the line at Rufus, 'n'
Gran'ma Mullins says she never minced matters neither. Gran'ma Mullins
says as Hannah used to walk right in on Rufus 'n' let fly whenever she
felt as the salvation of her soul called on her to speak or bu'st. She
said Hannah said what she could n't stand was the way the general public
seemed to coincide with Rufus's opinion of himself. Hannah used to say
as the general run o' folks did n't have to live with Rufus Timmans an'
she did, 'n' she furthermore used to say if the general run o' folks had
had to live with Rufus Timmans they would n't o' viewed him from no
fancy standpoint no more 'n' she did herself. Hannah used to say as day
in 'n' day out was a terrible lettin' in o' light on dark spots, 'n' for
her part she had n't got no use for a man as had the whole o' the inside
o' the earth by heart 'n' was n't one earthly bit o' good on the outside
of it. Hannah said as all she could say was as she wisht as some o' them
as admired his superior understandin' could just be in her place one
while. Gran'ma Mullins said as there was one time as Hannah never got
over, 'n' that was the cistern, she said as Hannah always got mad
whenever she told it, 'n' she told it so often, her face stayed always
red in the end, jus' from tellin' that story so often.
"Seems as Rufus thought mebbe there was a dead rat in the cistern, so he
had the cistern cleaned out, 'n' the drouth came on, 'n' Monday come on
top o' the drouth, 'n' Hannah pumped her arms most off afore she
realized as there wa'n't no water a _tall_, 'n' then she was that mad as
she walked right in on Rufus 'n' give it to him.