be a good girl and do
whatever Susanna tells you. Good-by. Good-by, Montgomery. Please give my
love to your grandmother, and thank her for sending to inquire after
Moses."

Then the lady stepped into the buggy, the deacon chirruped to Dobbin,
and they rode away. At the same moment came a shrill whistle from the
street, and Monty ran to the gate. Bob Turner and a lot of boys were
waiting near, rods over their shoulders and fish-hooks in their pockets,
intent upon a Saturday half-holiday at their favorite sport. Besides
their tackle they had great sacks of burlap, or canvas, because when
they had caught all the fish in the river they expected to gather all
the chestnuts in the woods. In any case, they were bound for a good
time, and Montgomery did not hesitate in joining them. He delayed just
long enough to go into the house and secure Moses' oldest line and rod,
catch up a basket for nuts, and was off, leaving a very lonely girl
standing on the path and wishing most earnestly that she had been born a
boy so she, too, might do things worth while. She had already heard so
much about the delightful art of angling that she longed to try it for
herself; but with Uncle Moses helpless, and Monty--so mean!--He might
have taken her. He might have stayed and talked over their secret
scheme, which Deacon Meakin was unconsciously furthering by his ultra
tidiness. He might, at least, have promised to bring her some chestnuts.
But he had done none of these thoughtful things. He had been just
plain--boy! Girls? Were there any she might visit uninvited? Aunt Eunice
was very particular about that. She had explained that the Turner girls,
Sophronia Walker, and even the Clackett sisters, Mercy and Lucinda, had
many household duties to perform. Especially on Saturdays were their
services in demand, since at this time of year there was pickling and
preserving, soap-making and carpet-weaving; even among the more thrifty
households "butchering and packing." Most families deferred the latter
operation until much colder weather, but, as Susanna expressed it,
"there's some in Marsden township 'at if they knowed they was to be
hung 'd want it done the day afore, they're so forehanded." Even the
widow herself, Katharine fancied, leaned a little toward this
"forehandedness," since she made fruit-cake six months before it was to
be eaten; and on that memorable night of the storm had actually produced
for each child a piece of the same sort of cake, m