d, and your eyes grow dim like mine, some one will be
as kind to you as you are to me." I don't know how it is, Charley, but
some how I always feel happier after reading to grandma Adams. Aunt
Lucinda is Uncle Nathan's sister, you know; she keeps house; she is a
real go-a-head sort of woman, and a great worker; she is older than
Uncle Nathan, but, between you and I, I don't think she cares to hear
that spoken of, but it's no harm for me to tell you. She is so different
in her ways from your mother and mine that at first I hardly knew what
to make of her. She has a queer way of snapping people up short if she
isn't just suited. For a long time I was afraid Aunt Lucinda would never
like me, she seemed to have such a horror of boys--may be that's the
reason she never got married. I have begun to think lately that I am
gaining in her good opinion and I am very glad of it. After all she is
kind-hearted, for all her queer ways; I could get along better if she
wasn't so distressingly neat and particular about the house. I tell you
if you lived with my Aunt, you'd have to remember always to wipe your
feet on the door-mat before coming into the house; if you did happen to
forget Aunt Lucinda would sharpen up your memory, depend upon it. When
I first came here I really believe she thought I should burn either the
house or barn, perhaps both, or commit some other enormity; but as no
such occurrence has as yet taken place, she begins to think, I believe,
that I am not so bad as I might be. In fact I heard her tell Uncle
Nathan the other day, that she "would be real sorry if I was to go away,
I was such a help about the house, and so careful to keep the chores all
done up," that was a great deal for Aunt Lucinda to say in my favor; and
I was so pleased when I heard her that I wished there was more chores to
do than there are although I sometimes think there are quite enough
already. But it is time I was telling you something about my school. I
attend the Academy over at Fulton, the small village which is about two
miles from Uncle Nathan's farm. The Academy is the only thing here which
reminds me of Elmwood. It is a large building, two stories in height,
painted white, and the grounds around it are thickly set with many
different kinds of shade-trees. The upper story of the building is used
as a Public Hall while the lower one is appropriated to the school.
There is about an equal number of boys and girls attending this term.
By-the-b