P. S. We have got good times enough planned out to last a month. Uncle
J. says we may have his old horse, and Young Gray, and Dobbin, and the
cow too, if we want, to ride horseback on, or tackle up into anything we
can find, from a hay-cart to a wheelbarrow. I shall want to write, but
sha’ n’t. There’ll be no time. When I get home, I’ll talk a week.
Love to all inquiring friends.
* * * * *
Maggie could have formed but little idea of the nature of the offer
mentioned in Dorry’s postscript, because she had never, at that time,
stood on the spot and seen with her own eyes all the “wheel-ed things”
that were to be seen in Uncle Jacob’s back-yard.
How gladly would I, if space permitted, go into a minute description of
that roomy enclosure, with its farming implements, garden tools, cattle,
pump, fowls, watering-trough, grindstone, woodpile, haystack, etc., and
carryalls, carts, wagons, wheelbarrows, roller-carts, and tip-carts,
some in good repair, others very far out of it! “Entertainment for man
and beast” might truly have been written over the entrance!
Mother Delight (an old nurse-woman) once remarked of Uncle Jacob, that
he was a very _buying man_. This was a true remark, and yet he never
bought without a reason. For instance, if Quorm (a Corry Pond Indian)
brought bushel-baskets along to sell, Uncle Jacob took one, not because
he had not bushel-baskets enough, but to encourage Quorm. And if Old
Pete Brale wanted to let Uncle Jacob have an infirm, rickety wagon, and
take his pay in potatoes, Uncle Jacob traded, that Pete Brale might be
kept from starvation. And so of other things.
It may be imagined, therefore, that as time went on all manner of
vehicles were there gathered together. Some of these were in good
running order, while others had been bought partly with a view to their
being repaired and sold at a profit. The expression on Aunt Phebe’s face
when Uncle Jacob brought home an addition to his interesting collection
was very striking. I remember particularly observing this at the coming
into harbor of a rattling, shackly, green-bottomed carryall, which had a
door at the back, and seats running lengthwise. It formerly belonged to
some person who, having then a large family of small children to get to
meeting, contrived a conveyance which would take in and discharge again
the greatest number with the least trouble.
In this odd vehicle, which had been run under an overhanging apple-tree,
I often sat through the summer afternoon, now reading my book, now
watching the animal life about me, gaining useful knowledge from both.
Sometimes, when feeling like a boy again,--as I often did and do
feel,--I would amuse myself with playing _go to ride_ in a comical old
chaise. It was set high, and pitched forward, the lining was ragged, the
back “light” gone, the stuffing running out of the cushions; yet there I
liked to sit, and “ride,” and joggle up and down, as in the happy days
of boyhood. But not, as in those happy days, “hard as I could,” for
reasons easy to guess.
I trust no one will imagine that spacious yard to have been merely a
sort of safe anchorage, where all manner of disabled craft might run in
for shelter! Lest any words of mine should imply this, or seem to cast
blame on Uncle Jacob, let me hasten to say that he really required a
variety of “wheel-ed things” to carry on his business.
Neither of the Mr. Carvers got their living wholly, or even chiefly, by
farming. They drew wood from lots owned by themselves, or by others, and
used their teams in any way, according as employment was offered them.
Thus heavy carts were wanted for heavy work, and light carts for light
work, besides carryalls for dry and for rainy weather, and riding
wagons, because they were handy.
For all the Summer Sweeting folks were hard workers, they knew how to
get up a good time, and enjoyed it too, as we shall see by the account
of one which Dorry gives in the following letter:--
* * * * *
_Dorry to his Sister._