under the seats, 'n' we rode most of the way thinkin' as they was our
bones till Mr. Dill jus' got up 'n' whopped his cushion over to see if
it 'd feel any different the other side, 'n' I may state as the results
I shall remember till I die."

"Who--" began Mrs. Lathrop.

"Everybody!" said Susan; "I never knowed how superior Rufus was till I
see how folks turned out for his funeral. Every minister 'n' doctor in
the whole vicinity was there. The Lumbs drove way up from Clightville,
got overturned in the brook by the old knife factory, but come along
just the same. Old Mr. 'n' Mrs. Trumbull started day before yesterday as
soon as they knowed he was dead 'n' ate with relations all the way along
'n' got them to come too whenever they could. They was seven buggies 'n'
two democrats when they arrived at last. Mrs. Macy was waitin' for me in
the square when I got there this mornin' 'n' she told me as a city
reporter had come up to write a account of it 'n' as Dr. Cogswell was
goin' to be there. They say as a live bishop wanted to make the prayer
but Rufus was so advanced in his views it seemed better not to come out
too strong over his dead body. Mrs. Macy said it all showed what a very
superior man he was. She says as she feels as maybe we did n't
appreciate him enough. She says maybe we was prejudiced. Lord knows it's
very hard not to be prejudiced agin' the folks you live among, 'n' I
guess any one as see Rufus mildly stumblin' around losin'
pocket-handkerchiefs 'd of had a hard time regardin' him as superior;
but he _was_ superior, 'n' Mrs. Macy says he _always_ was superior, for
her aunt, old Mrs. Kitts, of Meadville, remembers when he was born, 'n'
Mrs. Macy says Mrs. Kitts always says as he was superior right from the
start. She says as Mrs. Kitts says as Rufus's father was really 'most a
nuisance, talkin' about his superiority even the very first week he was
born. Mrs. Macy says Mrs. Kitts says that his father said right off the
day he was born, as to his order o' thinkin' Rufus was different from
other babies right then 'n' there. He told Mrs. Kitts hisself as he
knowed folks was often fools over their first babies, 'n' he did n't
calcalate to act no such part, but in common honesty he _must_ state as
Rufus was 'way above the ordinary run, not because he was his baby, but
just because it was the plain truth. Mrs. Kitts said she see Rufus
herself when he wa'n't but three days old, 'n' she told Mrs. Macy as she
must in