3l8 THE DRAPERY OF VINES 



" 'Why not have her?' sez she, pointin' to the 

 name on the front page. 



" f l 'd be well satisfied, only I don't know if 

 she 's alive, even.' 



"'She is,' said the minister's wife, jumpin' up, 

 not able to keep it in longer, 'and she 's got to 

 give up teachin' for good and all, on account of the 

 close air in the school - house hurting her lungs 

 again. She 's poorly off, and looking for a place as 

 housekeeper, if only to work for board. We were 

 school -girls together, and when I moved here she 

 told me all about you and said she hoped she 'd 

 see you once again. She would not curb your 

 comings and goings, but would be a daughter to 

 you. May I write to her?' 



'The Lord be praised! It does beat all,' sez 

 I, 'how takin' counsel o' right-minded women 

 gives comfort. I 'd lived so long away from 'em 

 I 'd near forgot. Scripter is true. No man can 

 either live or die to himself, and I 've done the 

 one and come pretty near doin' t' other. No, 

 so long as man is born o' woman, he 's calkerlated 

 to hev some folks around, I reckon; and if he 

 don't, things don't work out jest right. 



" So minister's wife, she 's goin' ter write, namin' 

 good pay and fix it up, an' by the time the hick- 



