Caleb choked down his own irritation.
"There, there, Hannah," he said, "don't talk about dyin' when you're
just gettin' ready to live. We won't fret about the minister business.
If worst comes to worst I'll give in to a Baptist, I suppose. One reason
I did figger on goin' to a Methodist was that, I bein' of that faith, I
thought maybe he'd do the job a little cheaper for us."
"Cheaper? What do you mean? Was you cal'latin' to make a BARGAIN with
him?"
"No, no, course not. But there ain't any sense in heavin' money away on
a parson more'n on anybody else."
"Caleb Hammond, how much do you intend givin' that minister?"
Mr. Hammond stirred uneasily on the seat of the carryall.
"Oh, I don't know," he answered evasively.
"Yes, you do know, too. How much?"
"I don't know. Two or three dollars, maybe."
"TWO or three dollars! My soul and body! Is two dollars all you're
willin' to give up to get MARRIED? Is THAT all the ceremony's worth to
you? Two dollars! My soul!"
"Oh, let up! I don't care. I'll--I'll--" after a desperate wrestle with
his sense of economy. "I'll give him whatever you say--in reason. Eh!
. . . What's that foolhead horse stoppin' for now? What in the tunket's
the matter with him?"
The matter was simply that in his hasty harnessing Mr. Hammond had but
partially buckled one of the girths, and the horse was now half-way out
of the shafts, with the larger part of the harness well up towards his
ears. Caleb groaningly climbed down from the seat, rummaged out and lit
the lantern, which he had been thoughtful enough to put under the seat
before starting, and proceeded to repair damages.
Pages:
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287