Long before dawn the noise of the melting water could be heard running
with musical tinkle under the ice. The ponds crashed and boomed in long
reverberating explosions, as the sinking water heaved it up and let it
fall with crackling roar; flights of ducks flashed over, cackling
breathlessly as they scurried straight into the north.
Deacon and Sarah arrived early and took possession, for Sarah was to
have the eighty which included the house. They were busy getting things
ready for the partition. The Deacon, assisted by Jack, the hired man,
was busy hauling the machinery out of the shed into the open air, while
Sarah and a couple of neighbors' girls, with skirts tucked up and towels
on their heads, were scouring up pots and pans and dusting furniture in
the kitchen.
The girls, strong and handsome in their unsapped animal vigor, enjoyed
the innocent display of their bare arms and petticoats.
People from Sand Lake passing by wondered what was going on. Gideon
Turner had the courage to pull up and call out, for the satisfaction of
his wife:--
"What's going on here this fine morning?"
"Oh, we're goin' to settle up the estate!" said Sarah. "Why! how de do,
Mrs. Turner?"
"W'y, it's you, is it, Serry?"
"Yes; it's me,--what they is left of me. I been here sence six o'clock.
I'm getting things ready for the division. Deacon Williams is the
ex-e_cu_tor, you know."
"Aha! Less see, you divide equally, I hear."
"Near's we can get at it. Uncle left me the house eighty, and the valley
eighty to Emmy. Deacon's goin' to parcel out the belongin's."