year. The way that mop has skipped dirt 'n'
dripped water!--well, seein' is the only believin' when it comes to
mops, but all I can say is that you never looked more spotty than I have
since that mop, 'n' you know how lookin' spotty is mortal agony to
me--me not bein' one who can be happy rockin' on top of dirt.

"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, I said I was goin' to begin at the beginnin', so I
will, although the whole town knows as it was that fine scheme of Mr.
Kimball's as set my ball bouncin' down hill. I was n't the only one as
got rolled over 'n' throwed out feet up, but I don't know as bein' one
of a number to lose money makes the money any more fun to lose. Mr. Dill
was sayin' yesterday as he would n't have listened to nothin' but white
for Lucy's weddin'-dress if it had n't been for Mr. Kimball 'n' his
little scheme, but I don't get any great comfort out of knowin' that
Lucy Dill 's got to try 'n' get herself married in her Aunt Samantha
Dill's blue bengaline. The blue bengaline 's very handsome 'n' I never
see a prettier arrangement of beads 'n' fringe, but every one says too
much of Lucy shows at the top 'n' bottom to even be romantic. They _can_
hook it, but Lucy can't stay hooked inside but five minutes at the
outside. I 'm sure I don't see how they 'll ever fix it, 'n' Gran'ma
Mullins says she cries whenever she thinks that at Hiram's weddin' the
bride won't have no weddin'-dress. Polly Allen wanted Lucy to open the
darts 'n' let in puffs like Mary Stuart's husbands always was puffed,
but Lucy never see Mary Stuart 'n' the only picture in town of any of
her husbands has got him in bed with the sheet drawed up to his chin 'n'
his hands folded right on top of where they 'd want to copy the darts.
Such a picture ain't no help a _tall_, so Lucy is still shakin' her head
the same as at first. _My_ idea would be to make no wish-bones about it
'n' just be married in her travelin'-dress 'n' then wear it when she
goes away, but it seems she wants her travelin'-dress for church, 'n'
does n't mean to wear it travelin' anyhow, because she 'n' Hiram is just
wild over the no-one-knowin'-they 're-married idea, 'n' Lucy is goin' to
wear old gloves 'n' some buttons off her shoes, 'n' Hiram is goin' to
wear his mother's spectacles 'n' Mr. Shores' store umbrella. Gran'ma
Mullins feels awful over Hiram's goin' away like that; she says she 's
brought him up so neat 'n' always a vest on Sunday 'n' only
shirt-sleeves in summer, 'n' now to