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was locked。 We ran to the carriage…gate； that was locked too。
Just then I noticed a placard on the fence； it was not printed； but
the lettering was large； apparently made with ink and a brush。 It
read：
TO BE SOLD
For TAXES。
We stood and looked at each other。 Euphemia turned pale。
〃What does this mean？〃 said I。 〃Has our landlord〃
I could say no more。 The dreadful thought arose that the place
might pass away from us。 We were not yet ready to buy it。 But I
did not put the thought in words。 There was a field next to our
lot； and I got over the fence and helped Euphemia over。 Then we
climbed our side…fence。 This was more difficult； but we
accomplished it without thinking much about its difficulties； our
hearts were too full of painful apprehensions。 I hurried to the
front door； it was locked。 All the lower windows were shut。 We
went around to the kitchen。 What surprised us more than anything
else was the absence of Lord Edward。 Had HE been sold？
Before we reached the back part of the house； Euphemia said she
felt faint and must sit down。 I led her to a tree near by； under
which I had made a rustic chair。 The chair was gone。 She sat on
the grass and I ran to the pump for some water。 I looked for the
bright tin dipper which always hung by the pump。 It was not there。
But I had a traveling…cup in my pocket； and as I was taking it out
I looked around me。 There was an air of bareness over everything。
I did not know what it all meant； but I know that my hand trembled
as I took hold of the pump…handle and began to pump。
At the first sound of the pump…handle I heard a deep bark in the
direction of the barn； and then furiously around the corner came
Lord Edward。 Before I had filled the cup he was bounding about me。
I believe the glad welcome of the dog did more to revive Euphemia
than the water。 He was delighted to see us； and in a moment up
came Pomona； running from the barn。 Her face was radiant； too。 We
felt relieved。 Here were two friends who looked as if they were
neither sold nor ruined。
Pomona quickly saw that we were ill at ease； and before I could put
a question to her； she divined the cause。 Her countenance fell。
〃You know；〃 said she； 〃you said you wasn't comin' till to…morrow。
If you only HAD come thenI was goin' to have everything just
exactly rightan' now you had to climb in〃
And the poor girl looked as if she might cry； which would have been
a wonderful thing for Pomona to do。
〃Tell me one thing；〃 said I。 〃What aboutthose taxes？〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 she cried。 〃Don't think another minute
about that。 I'll tell you all about it soon。 But come in first；
and I'll get you some lunch in a minute。〃
We were somewhat relieved by Pomona's statement that it was 〃all
right〃 in regard to the tax…poster； but we were very anxious to
know all about the matter。 Pomona； however； gave us little chance
to ask her any questions。 As soon as she had made ready our lunch；
she asked us； as a particular favor； to give her three…quarters of
an hour to herself； and then； said she； 〃I'll have everything
looking just as if it was to…morrow。〃
We respected her feelings； for； of course； it was a great
disappointment to her to be taken thus unawares； and we remained in
the dining…room until she appeared； and announced that she was
ready for us to go about。 We availed ourselves quickly of the
privilege； and Euphemia hurried to the chicken…yard； while I bent
my steps toward the garden and barn。 As I went out I noticed that
the rustic chair was in its place； and passing the pump I looked
for the dipper。 It was there。 I asked Pomona about the chair； but
she did not answer as quickly as was her habit。
〃Would you rather；〃 said she； 〃hear it all together； when you come
in； or have it in little bits； head and tail； all of a jumble？〃
I called to Euphemia and asked her what she thought； and she was so
anxious to get to her chickens that she said she would much rather
wait and hear it all together。 We found everything in perfect
order；the garden was even free from weeds； a thing I had not
expected。 If it had not been for that cloud on the front fence； I
should have been happy enough。 Pomona had said it was all right；
but she could not have paid the taxeshowever； I would wait； and I
went to the barn。
When Euphemia came in from the poultry…yard； she called me and said
she was in a hurry to hear Pomona's account of things。 So I went
in； and we sat on the side porch； where it was shady； while Pomona；
producing some sheets of foolscap paper； took her seat on the upper
step。
〃I wrote down the things of any account what happened；〃 said she；
〃as you told me to； and while I was about it； I thought I'd make it
like a novel。 It would be jus' as true； and p'r'aps more amusin'。
I suppose you don't mind？〃
No； we didn't mind。 So she went on。
〃I haven't got no name for my novel。 I intended to think one out
to…night。 I wrote this all of nights。 And I don't read the first
chapters； for they tell about my birth and my parentage and my
early adventures。 I'll just come down to what happened to me while
you was away； because you'll be more anxious to hear about that。
All that's written here is true； jus' the same as if I told it to
you； but I've put it into novel language because it seems to come
easier to me。〃
And then； in a voice somewhat different from her ordinary tones； as
if the 〃novel language〃 demanded it； she began to read：
〃Chapter Five。 The Lonely house and the Faithful friend。 Thus was
I left alone。 None but two dogs to keep me com…pa…ny。 I milk…ed
the lowing kine and water…ed and fed the steed； and then； after my
fru…gal repast； I clos…ed the man…si…on； shutting out all re…
collections of the past and also foresights into the future。 That
night was a me…mor…able one。 I slept soundly until the break of
morn； but had the events transpired which afterward occur…red； what
would have hap…pen…ed to me no tongue can tell。 Early the next day
nothing hap…pened。 Soon after breakfast； the vener…able John came
to bor…row some ker…osene oil and a half a pound of sugar； but his
attempt was foil…ed。 I knew too well the in…sid…ious foe。 In the
very out…set of his vil…li…an…y I sent him home with a empty can。
For two long days I wander…ed amid the ver…dant pathways of the
gar…den and to the barn； whenever and anon my du…ty call…ed me； nor
did I ere neg…lect the fowlery。 No cloud o'er…spread this happy
pe…ri…od of my life。 But the cloud was ri…sing in the horizon
although I saw it not。
〃It was about twenty…five minutes after eleven； on the morning of a
Thursday； that I sat pondering in my mind the ques…ti…on what to do
with the butter and the veg…et…ables。 Here was butter； and here
was green corn and lima…beans and trophy tomats； far more than I
ere could use。 And here was a horse； idly cropping the fol…i…age
in the field； for as my employer had advis…ed and order…ed I had
put the steed to grass。 And here was a wagon； none too new； which
had it the top taken off； or even the curtains roll…ed up； would do
for a li…cen…ced vender。 With the truck and butter； and ma