Part 32 (1/2)
The majority of the party were of the same opinion, and from that time forth it was believed, at least by those who were present when the deacon spoke, that Jack was a boy who would fight under the slightest provocation.
Not until the bell had rung as a signal that the evening services were about to begin did Jack and Aunt Nancy cease their labors.
The other occupants of the tent had already departed, and the little woman and her a.s.sistant were so tired it seemed almost too great an exertion to walk to the auditorium.
”Why not go to bed?” Jack asked. ”I'll take care of Louis until he gets sleepy, an' then bring him to you.”
”No, it would be wrong to remain here when so many truths will be presented, simply because I chance to be tired.”
”Then we'll all go”; and Jack lifted Louis in his arms.
Aunt Nancy enjoyed the services so much that Jack was very glad she had come; but as for himself he believed the time would have been quite as profitably spent in sleeping.
On the following morning at daybreak Deacon Downs aroused the hunchback with a harshly spoken command to build the fire and awaken Aunt Nancy when it was burning.
”Are you goin' to make her do all the work?” Jack asked as he started to his feet.
”Don't be impudent!” the deacon said sternly, raising his cane threateningly. ”Learn to do as you are bidden, and in silence.”
Jack made no reply, but felt that the little woman whom he loved so dearly was being imposed upon.
As for Aunt Nancy, she appeared to have no such idea.
Jack awakened her as he had been told, and she arose from the bed of straw on which she had lain without undressing, uttering no word of protest.
”I would have let you sleep till noon, but the deacon told me to, an'
was kinder mad when I asked if you'd got to do all the work,” Jack said, his tones proving there was yet anger in his heart.
”You shouldn't have said anything about it, my dear, for it is a pleasure to me.”
”You try to think it is, but I know it's nothin' more than hard work, while the others are enjoying a long nap.”
”We won't say any more about it, Jack dear. Don't you think you could get me some water?”
”Of course I can”; and Jack labored with a will, relieving the tired-looking little woman whenever it was possible.
The second day at camp meeting was spent by these two in much the same manner as the first, as regards work, and Louis received very little attention.
Jack, in obedience to Aunt Nancy's request, looked again for Mr. Pratt, but with no better success than before; and after dinner he washed the dishes in order that the little woman might attend the afternoon services.
It was a decided relief to him when the day came on which they were to return home.
He knew Aunt Nancy had worked too hard, and the bustle and confusion tired him almost as much as the labor.
Gladly he helped gather up the empty baskets, and when the three were on the cars being whirled rapidly toward home, the little woman said with a sigh of relief,--
”What a comfort it will be to find ourselves on the farm once more, Jack dear! I believe I am getting too old to go to such places, and a week's rest wouldn't be too much to make me feel like myself again.”
”If you had gone alone, without tryin' to run a boardin'-house for them who didn't care whether you had any fun or not, it would have been different.”