Your poor old grandmother was so glad to get those letters, after such
long waiting! My dear child, we were anxious; but now we are pleased. I
was afraid you were down with the measles, for they’re about. Your aunt
Phebe thinks you had ’em when you were a month old; but I know better.
Your father was anxious himself at not hearing; though he didn’t show it
any. But I could see it plain enough. As soon as he brought the letters
in, I set a light in the window to let your aunt Phebe know she was
wanted. She came running across the yard, all of a breeze. You know how
your aunt Phebe always comes running in.
“What is it?” says she. “Letters from Billy? I mistrusted ’t was letters
from Billy. In his own handwriting? Must have had ’em pretty light.
Measles commonly leave the eyes very bad.”
But you know how your aunt Phebe goes running on. Your father came in,
and sat down in his rocking-chair,--your mother’s chair, dear. Your
sister was sewing on her doll’s cloak by the little table. She sews
remarkably well for a little girl.
“Now, Phebe,” says I, “read loud, and do speak every word plain.” I put
on my glasses, and drew close up, for she does speak her words so fast.
I have to look her right in the face.
At the beginning, where you speak about being whipped, your father’s
rocking-chair stopped stock still. You might have heard a pin drop.
Georgianna said, “O dear!” and down dropped the doll’s cloak. “Pshaw!”
said Aunt Phebe, “’t isn’t very likely our Billy’s been whipped.”
Then she read on and on, and not one of us spoke. Your father kept his
arms folded up, and never raised his eyes. I had to look away, towards
the last, for I couldn’t see through my glasses. Georgianna cried. And,
when the end came, we all wiped our eyes.
“Now what’s the use,” said Aunt Phebe, “for folks to cry before they’re
hurt?”
“But you almost cried yourself,” said Georgianna. “Your voice was
different, and your nose is red now.” And that was true.
After your sister was in bed, and Aunt Phebe gone, your father says to
me: “Grandma, the boy’s like his mother.” And he took a walk around the
place, and then went off to his bedroom without even opening his night’s
paper. If ever a man set store by his boy, that man is your father. And,
O Billy, if you had done anything mean, or disgraced yourself in any
way, what a dreadful blow ’t would have been to us all!
The measles come with a cough. The first thing is to drive ’em out. Get
a nurse. That is, if you catch them. They’re a natural sickness, and one
sensible old woman is better than half a dozen doctors. Saffron’s good
to drive ’em out.
Aunt Phebe is knitting you a comforter. As if she hadn’t family enough
of her own to do for!