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〃Hurry on down to the next jam； Raish； and let it alone；〃
cried the men。 〃Mebbe it'll git washed off in the night； and anyhow
you can't budge it with no kind of a tool we've got here。〃
Then from the shore came a boy's voice calling； 〃There's a baby
up to your house！〃 And the men repeated in stentorian tones；
〃Baby up to your house； Raish！ Leggo the log； you're wanted！〃
〃Boy or girl？〃 shouted the young father。
〃Girl！〃 came back the answer above the roar of the river。
Whereupon Raish Dunnell steadied himself with his pick
and taking a hatchet from his belt； cut a rude letter 〃L〃
on the side of the stranded log。
〃L's for Lucindy；〃 he laughed。 〃Now you log if you git's fur as Saco；
drop in to my wife's folks and tell 'em the baby's name。〃
There had not been such a freshet for years before； and there had
never been one since； so； as the quiet seasons went by； 〃Lucindy's log〃
was left in peace； the columbines blooming all about it； the harebells
hanging their heads of delicate blue among the rocks that held it in place；
the birds building their nests in the knot…holes of its withered side。
Seventy years had passed； and on each birthday；
from the time when she was only 〃Raish Dunnell's little Lou；〃
to the years when she was Lucinda Bascom； wife and mother；
she had wandered down by the river side； and gazed；
a little superstitiously perhaps； on the log that had
been marked with an 〃L〃 on the morning she was born。
It had stood the wear and tear of the elements bravely；
but now it was beginning； like Lucinda； to show its age。
Its back was bent； like hers； its face was seamed and wrinkled；
like her own； and the village lovers who looked at it from
the opposite bank wondered if； after all； it would hold out
as long as 〃old Mis' Bascom。〃
She held out bravely； old Mrs。 Bascom； though she was
〃all skin； bones； and tongue；〃 as the neighbors said； for nobody
needed to go into the Bascoms' to brighten up aunt Lucinda a bit；
or take her the news； one went in to get a bit of brightness；
and to hear the news。
〃I should get lonesome； I s'pose；〃 she was wont to say； 〃if it wa'n't
for the way this house is set； and this chair； and this winder； 'n' all。
Men folks used to build some o' the houses up in a lane； or turn 'em back
or side to the road； so the women folks couldn't see anythin' to keep their
minds off their churnin' or dish…washin'； but Aaron Dunnell hed somethin'
else to think about； 'n' that was himself； first； last； and all the time。
His store was down to bottom of the hill； 'n' when he come up to his meals；
he used to set where he could see the door； 'n' if any cust'mer come；
he could call to 'em to wait a spell till he got through eatin'。 Land！
I can hear him now； yellin' to 'em； with his mouth full of victuals！
They hed to wait till he got good 'n' ready； too。 There wa'n't so much
comp'tition in business then as there is now； or he'd 'a' hed to give up
eatin' or hire a clerk。 。 。 。 I've always felt to be thankful that the house
was on this rise o' ground。 The teams hev to slow up on 'count o'
the hill； 'n' it gives me consid'ble chance to see folks 'n' what they've
got in the back of the wagon； 'n' one thing 'n' other。 。 。 。 The
neighbors is continually comin' in here to talk about things that's goin'
on in the village。 I like to hear 'em； but land！ they can't tell me
nothing'！ They often say； ‘For massy sakes； Lucindy Bascom； how d'
you know that？' ‘Why；' says I to them； ‘I don't ask no questions；
'n' folks don't tell me no lies； I just set in my winder； 'n' put two
'n' two together；that's all I do。' I ain't never ben in a playhouse；
but I don't suppose the play…actors git down off the platform on t'
the main floor to explain to the folks what they've ben doin'； do they？
I expect； if folks can't understand their draymas when the're actin'
of 'em out； they have to go ignorant； don't they？ Well； what do I want
with explainin'； when everythin' is acted out right in the road？〃
There was quite a gathering of neighbors at the Bascoms'
on this particular July afternoon。 No invitations had been sent out；
and none were needed。 A common excitement had made it vital
that people should drop in somewhere； and speculate about certain
interesting matters well known to be going on in the community；
but going on in such an underhand and secretive fashion that it
well…nigh destroyed one's faith in human nature。
The sitting…room door was open into the entry； so that
whatever breeze there was might come in； and an unusual
glimpse of the new foreroom rug was afforded the spectators。
Everything was as neat as wax； for Diadema was a housekeeper
of the type fast passing away。 The great coal stove was enveloped
in its usual summer wrapper of purple calico； which； tied neatly
about its ebony neck and portly waist； gave it the appearance
of a buxom colored lady presiding over the assembly。
The kerosene lamps stood in a row on the high； narrow mantelpiece；
each chimney protected from the flies by a brown paper bag
inverted over its head。 Two plaster Samuels praying under
the pink mosquito netting adorned the ends of the shelf。
There were screens at all the windows； and Diadema fidgeted
nervously when a visitor came in the mosquito netting door；
for fear a fly should sneak in with her。
On the wall were certificates of membership in the Missionary Society；
a picture of Maidens welcoming Washington in the Streets of Alexandria；
in a frame of cucumber seeds； and an interesting document setting forth
the claims of the Dunnell family as old settlers long before the separation
of Maine from Massachusetts；the fact bein' established by an obituary
notice reading； 〃In Saco； December 1791； Dorcas； daughter of Abiathar Dunnell；
two months old of Fits unbaptized。〃
〃He may be goin' to marry Eunice； and he may not；〃 observed Almira Berry；
〃though what she wants of Reuben Hobson is more 'n I can make out。
I never see a widower straighten up as he has this last year。
I guess he's been lookin' round pretty lively； but couldn't find anybody
that was fool enough to give him any encouragement。〃
〃Mebbe she wants to get married；〃 said Hannah Sophia；
in a tone that spoke volumes。 〃When Parson Perkins come
to this parish； one of his first calls was on Eunice Emery。
He always talked like the book o' Revelation； so says he；
‘have you got your weddin' garment on； Miss Emery？' says he。
‘No；' says she； ‘but I ben tryin' to these twenty years。'
She was always full of her jokes； Eunice was！〃
〃The Emerys was always a humorous family；〃
remarked Diadema； as she annihilated a fly with a newspaper。
〃Old Silas Emery was an awful humorous man。 He used to live
up on the island； and there come a freshet one year；
and he said he got his sofy 'n' chairs off； anyhow！〃 That was
just his jokin'。 He hadn't a sign of a sofy in the house；
't was his wife Sophy he meant； she that was Sophy Swett。
Then another