tell
those that ask how 'tis with me,' she said, 'an' tell them I want to
be alone.' I couldn't speak; no, there wa'n't anything I could say, she
seemed so above everything common. I was a good deal younger then than I
be now, and I got Nathan's little coral pin out o' my pocket and put it
into her hand; and when she saw it and I told her where it come from,
her face did really light up for a minute, sort of bright an' pleasant.
'Nathan an' I was always good friends; I'm glad he don't think hard of
me,' says she. 'I want you to have it, Almiry, an' wear it for love
o' both o' us,' and she handed it back to me. 'You give my love to
Nathan,--he's a dear good man,' she said; 'an' tell your mother, if I
should be sick she mustn't wish I could get well, but I want her to be
the one to come.' Then she seemed to have said all she wanted to, as
if she was done with the world, and we sat there a few minutes longer
together. It was real sweet and quiet except for a good many birds and
the sea rollin' up on the beach; but at last she rose, an' I did too,
and she kissed me and held my hand in hers a minute, as if to say
good-by; then she turned and went right away out o' the door and
disappeared.

"The minister come back pretty soon, and I told him I was all ready,
and we started down to the bo't. He had picked up some round stones and
things and was carrying them in his pocket-handkerchief; an' he sat down
amidships without making any question, and let me take the rudder an'
work the bo't, an' made no remarks for some time, until we sort of eased
it off speaking of the weather, an' subjects that arose as we skirted
Black Island, where two or three families lived belongin' to the parish.
He preached next Sabbath as usual, somethin' high soundin' about the
creation, and I couldn't help thinkin' he might never get no further; he
seemed to know no remedies, but he had a great use of words."

Mrs. Fosdick sighed again. "Hearin' you tell about Joanna brings the
time right back as if 'twas yesterday," she said. "Yes, she was one o'
them poor things that talked about the great sin; we don't seem to
hear nothing about the unpardonable sin now, but you may say 'twas not
uncommon then."

"I expect that if it had been in these days, such a person would be
plagued to death with idle folks," continued Mrs. Todd, after a long
pause. "As it was, nobody trespassed on her; all the folks about the
bay respected her an' her feelings; but as time