Part 15 (1/2)
”I believe I will send a line to Brother Abner now,” Aunt Nancy suddenly said. ”It is time he learned what has happened; and since we have no pressing work on hand, you can mind the baby. It isn't as easy for me to write letters as it used to be. I need a long while in which to compose my thoughts.”
Then the little woman set about the task, and it could be seen it was a hard one by the manner in which she began.
Watching through the open window, Jack saw her bring pens, paper, and ink from her chamber to the kitchen, and then nibble at the end of her penholder as if to derive inspiration from that source.
Had it been some weighty doc.u.ment of state she could not have been more particular, and fully two hours were spent before the labor was completed.
”Took me a long while, didn't it?” she asked on coming into the yard once more. ”I believe I've told Abner the whole story, and we'll soon know if the baby's parents are yet alive.”
”Shall I carry it to the post-office?”
”Mercy! no. It is in Treat's store, and I couldn't think of letting you take that long walk again to-day.”
”It won't hurt me a bit.”
”You must stay here quietly with me, and to-morrow perhaps you shall go. There is plenty of time, and who knows if Abner is home now; he's a master hand at gadding about, which accounts for his being so poor. I've always told him that 'a rolling stone gathers no moss,' but he laughs it off by saying he doesn't want to be moss-grown.”
CHAPTER X.
SICKNESS.
Now that the important letter had been written, Aunt Nancy was in no hurry to mail it.
She acted very much as if believing the children would be lost to her immediately after Abner learned the news, and it was simply a case of ”deferring the evil day.”
During the afternoon Jack further endeared himself to the little woman's heart by patching up the door of the shed in such a manner that it could not be opened readily, and fastening it with an old padlock he found in the barn.
”That is just what I have been wanting for a long time,” Aunt Nancy exclaimed in surprise when he called her to see the result of his labors. ”How strange I can't do that as well as you!”
”That's because you're a woman,” Jack replied, not a little delighted with the praise bestowed upon him.
”It may be; but I'm so very much older, it seems as if I should be able to do such things properly, and yet I can't even drive a nail.”
”There'll be no need of your doin' it while I'm 'round.”
”And I hope you and Louis will stay a long time; but I suppose it isn't right to say so, for although there isn't any chance his mother can be alive after the s.h.i.+p exploded, he has probably relatives who want to see him.”
During the remainder of the day, Jack a.s.sisted the little woman with the housework, and at sunset the two sat in the favorite place under the old oak, until Louis became unusually fretful.
After trying in vain to soothe him, Aunt Nancy insisted they should retire, saying as she went toward the house,--
”I am afraid he doesn't feel very well. Are you sure he didn't play in the sun while I was away?”
”I kept him in the shade as much as I could. Do you think he can be sick?”
”Not enough for us to worry about, Jack dear. Children are apt to fuss when everything don't go just right. After I undress him, we'll read the Book, and then you shall go to bed.”
The fact that Louis was not in his usual good spirits and temper worried Jack considerably, despite the little woman's cheery words, and when he went to his tiny room it was impossible for him to sleep immediately.