III
JATHROP LATHROP'S COW
Jathrop Lathrop was just the style and build of young man to be easilypersuaded into taking a kicking cow in full payment of a good debt.Jathrop having taken the cow, it naturally fell to the lot of hismother to milk her. The reader can quickly divine what event formedthe third of these easily to be foreseen developments of the mosteventful day in the life of the cow's new proprietor. The kicking cowkicked Jathrop Lathrop's mother, not out of any especial antipathytowards that most innocuous lady, but just because it was of a kickingnature and Mrs. Lathrop was temptingly kickable. The sad part of thematter was that Mrs. Lathrop was not only kickable but breakable aswell. It followed that at twelve o'clock that noon Miss Clegg,returning from a hasty trip to the city, was greeted at the depot bythe sad tidings, and it was not until various of the town folk hadfinished their versions of the disaster that she was at last allowedto hasten to the bedside of her dear friend, whom she found not onlyin great bodily distress but also already cast in plaster.
Miss Clegg's attitude as she stood in the doorway was one of blendedcommiseration and disgust.
"Well, I never would 'a' believed it o' Jathrop!" she burst forth atlast.
"'T wa'n't Jathrop," Mrs. Lathrop protested feebly; "it was the--"
"I know, but the cow never come of her own free will, 'n' it strikesme 't Jathrop's the one to blame. I never was so done up in my life 'sI was when I hear this about you. You kin believe me or not jus' 'syou please, Mrs. Lathrop, but I was so nigh to struck dead 't Istopped short with one leg on the station 'n' the other on the train.It was Johnny 's dodged out o' the ticket-office to tell me the minutethe train stopped, 'n' I d'n' know but I'd be there yet--f'r I wasclean struck all in a heap--only a man jus' behind jammed me with acase o' beer 't he was bringin' home. To think 's I see you goin' tothe barn jus' 's I was lookin' f'r a place to hide my keys aforeleavin', 'n' then to think 's them was your last legs 'n' you usin''em 's innocent 's a grasshopper on a May mornin'!--I tell you I wasso used up I thought some o' askin' to be druv up here, but Johnnydidn't have no time to give pertickilers 'cause the telegraph begin towork jus' at that very minute 'n' he had to dodge back to see whatthey wanted to tick him about, so I see 't the wisest thing was towalk up 'n' find out f'r myself. Besides, you c'n understand 't if youwas beyond hope I'd be nothin' but foolish to pay a quarter to get toyou in a hurry, 'n' I never was one to be foolish nor yet to wastequarters, 'n' so I come along through town, 'n' as a consequence Iguess 't I know 's much 's you know yourself now."
Mrs. Lathrop looking duly inquisitive for details of her own accident,Miss Clegg advanced forthwith upon a seat and occupied it beforebeginning.
"I see Mrs. Macy first, 'n' she told me all as to how it happened. Shesays you turned two back somersaults 'n' just missed squashin' thecat, 'n' 't young Dr. Brown told her 't if he hadn't been so busyplantin' his garden to-day he certainly would 'a' felt 't it 'd 'a'been nothin' but right to diagnose you all over. Mrs. Macy says sheain't none too over-pleased 't the way he spoke, for, to her order o'thinkin', you had a pretty serious kick 'n' you'd ought to realize it.She wanted me to ask you 'f he had you hang to the head-board while hegive your leg a good hard jerk, 'cause she says 't that's the onlyreal safe way to make all the bones come back into place; she says 'fyou ain't shattered you're bound to come straight pervided the doctorjerks hard enough. She says they did her lame leg that way over thirtyyears ago, 'n' she says 't, sittin' down 'n' side by side, she'd betanything 't the minister 'n' all the deacons couldn't pick out onefrom t' other. She says all her trouble comes when she walks. Nights'n' rockin' she'd never know she was lame herself."
Mrs. Lathrop looked slightly distressed.
"Gran'ma Mullins come up while we was talkin', 'n' she's terribleupset over you. She never had no lameness, she says; her trouble 'sall in her ribs,--them ribs 't go from under your arms down. But shewants to know if you was put in plaster, 'n' she said f'r me to askright off."
"Yes; I--" replied Mrs. Lathrop.
"Oh!" Susan's face darkened. "I declare, that's too bad. 'N' young Dr.Brown 's gone now too. I see him 'n' Amelia drivin' out towards theSperrits' while I was in the square. Well, if it's on, it's on, 'n'the Lord be with you, Mrs. Lathrop, f'r 'f Gran'ma Mullins says truth,no one else c'n help you now. You see, she told Mrs. Macy 'n' me whatplaster is. It's eatin', that's what it is. Plaster 'll eat anythin'right up, hide, hair, 'n' all. She says don't you know how, when yousmell a dead rat in the wall, you throw some plaster in on him, 'n'after a while you don't smell no more rat 'cause there ain't no morerat there to smell; the plaster 's eat him all up. She says you maylaugh 'f you feel so inclined, but there ain't no such big differencebetween your leg 'n' a dead rat but what it'll pay you to mark herwords. She says 'f it don't do no more 'n eat the skin off it'll stillbe pretty hard for you to lay there without no skin 'n' feel theplaster goin' in more 'n' more. She says 't we all wish him well, 'n'yet no one in their right mind c'n deny as young Dr. Brown is n't oldDr. Carter, 'n' no amount o' well wishin' c'n ever make him so. Shesays 'f she was you she 'd never rest till old Dr. Carter 'd lookedinto that leg, f'r a leg is a leg, 'n' it says in the Bible 't if youlose your salt what 'll you salt with."
Mrs. Lathrop's distress deepened visibly.
"I tell you I was more 'n a little troubled over her words. Gran'maMullins ain't one to make up nothin', 'n' I know myself 't that 'strue about the plaster. I 've eat up rats that way time 'n'again,--mice too, f'r that matter. It 'd be an awful thing f'r you tolay there peaceful 'n' happy till it come time f'r him to unwrap yourleg 'n' then when he unwrapped have him find no leg in the centre.Nothin' 't he could say would help any--there you 'd be one leg goneforever. 'F it was your foot, it 'd all be different, f'r you couldhop around right spry with a false foot, but I d'n' know what goodyour foot 'll do you with the leg in between gone. I never hear o' noreal foot on a false leg, 'n' 'f I was you, I certainly wouldn't wantto lay wonderin' 'f I still had two legs f'r six weeks."
"Six weeks!" cried Mrs. Lathrop, with a start that collapsed at onceinto a groan; "must I lay--"
"Gran'ma Mullins says," pursued Susan, "'t the reason she knows somuch about it all is 't she had a cousin with a broken leg once. Itwa'n't no cow 's kicked him, jus' he was give to meditatin', 'n' whilemeditatin' durin' house-cleanin' he stepped down the wrong side o' thestep-ladder. She says the doctor didn't so much 's dream o' plasterin'him up, he put splints on him, 'n' he come out fine, but she says hewas suthin' jus' awful to take care of. They thought they couldn'tstand it the first weeks he was so terrible cross, but then his bonesbegin to knit, 'n' she says she hopes she may fall dead then 'n' there'f she ever hear anythin' to equal that leg-knittin'. She said theywas livin' so far out 't they could feel to leave him 'n' go to churchSunday, 'n' she says when they was comin' back they could hear himknittin' a good half-mile away."
"Dear, dear--" commented Mrs. Lathrop, giving a heave of unrest.
"Can you feel your leg now?" Susan inquired.
"Yes; I--"
"Then it 's all right so far, but, my! you mus' n't begin gettin'restless this soon. You ain't been kicked six hours yet, 'n' you 'vegot to lay that same way f'r six weeks. After a while it'll be prettybad, I expeck, but you ain't got nothin' to complain of to-day. I seethe minister just after I left Mrs. Macy, 'n' he said you must say toyourself, 'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof' 'n' get alongthe best you can. I c'd see he was some put out over your gettin' acow, f'r he c'd n't but understand 't with a cow over the fence I wasn't goin' to be takin' milk from over the crick. He said 't your bein'kicked was a judgment 'n' the sins o' the parents should be visited onthe children even unto the third 'n' fourth generation. I did n't knowwhose sins he was meanin', the cow's or Jathrop's, but I did n't ask.I guess we 'd ought to make allowances f'r the minister,--he ain'tseemed to ever be able to bear up under them twins. He was pushin' 'emin the carriage to-day 'n' drawin' little Jane after him in a expresswagon. I asked him how his wife was, 'n' h
e said she's doin' nicely,only she can't decide what to name the baby. He walked with me apiece; it seemed to do him good to speak out frank 'n' open, 'n' Iguess he sees more 'n' more what a mistake he's made; he couldn't butsee it, I sh'd suppose, f'r his wife 's had four children in threeyears, 'n' I didn't even adopt one. It's that four-in-three-yearsbusiness 't seems to 'a' used him up the most. He says he never evenhad a idea 't it could be done. He says his first wife was sodifferent, 'n' he says it's just been shock after shock, 'n' twoshocks when the twins come. Little Jane caught her dress in a wheelwhile we was talkin', 'n' we had to turn her 'n' the express-wagonboth upside down 't once afore we could unwind it, 'n' while we wasdoin' that, one o' the twins fell out o' the carriage. The ministersays he don't thank no man to talk race-suicide when he's aroun'; hesays his blood runs cold to think what his family 'll be at his silverweddin'. I tell you, Mrs. Lathrop, I will own 't I've always felt somesore at the minister on a'count o' his not marryin' me, but 'f I everdesired any species o' revenge I certainly 'd be hard to please 'f Ididn't get it to-day when I see him with twins ahead 'n' little Janebehind 'n' nine at home."
Mrs. Lathrop sighed.
"That reminds me o' what I come over to ask you," said Susan. "Haveyou had any dinner?"
"No; I--"
"Then I'll fix you some when I cook mine. I c'n call Jathrop 'n' havehim bring it over when it's ready. I see him in the yard when I comeby; he was peekin' in at the cow. I ain't never had no great opiniono' Jathrop, but I guess he c'n carry a tray. 'N' now afore I leaveyou, Mrs. Lathrop, I will say jus' once more 's my advice is f'r youto keep a sharp eye on your leg, 'n' if it feels anyway like you can'tfeel nothin' I'd have that plaster off in a jiffy. How's it put on?Round 'n' roun'?"
"He's sent for the windin'," said Mrs. Lathrop weakly; "it's jus' gotsome plaster 'n' a long piece o' tore sheet."
Susan moved towards the door.
"It beats me what ever made you go near the hind end o' that cow for,"she remarked, pausing on the threshold. "Don't you know as it 's thehind end 's always does the kickin'? The front end can't donothin'--'nless it gores. Does she gore?"
"Oh, I d'n' know," wailed poor Mrs. Lathrop.
"I 'm goin'," said Miss Clegg, turning her back as she spoke. "Youjus' lay still now 'n' think o' pleasant things. Nothin' else can'thappen to you 'nless the house catches fire."
Then she went out and away.
* * * * *
It was late in the afternoon that Susan entered next door on hersecond visitation of mercy.
"Did you like your dinner?" she inquired, as she brought a rocker towhere it would command a fine view of the bed and its occupant.
"Dinner! I ain't had no--"
Miss Clegg screamed.
"Ain't had no dinner! Why, I give it to Jathrop with my own hands.Everythin' hot, 'n' the whole tucked up nice in the cloth 't I putover the bird-cage nights. I made the tea awful strong so 's to keepup your strength, 'n' there was a scramble o' eggs, 'n' one was fresh,I _know_. Whatever c'n he have done with it, do you suppose?"
"Maybe he ate--" Mrs. Lathrop began.
Her friend chopped her off with a second scream.
"Ate it!--Jathrop Lathrop!--Do you mean to tell me 't I've beenstewin' myself to feed Jathrop Lathrop! 'N' that good egg too. 'N' allmy tea. I declare, but I am aggravated. The fire 's out now 'n'everythin' 's put away or I'd go 'n' cook you suthin' else, but I'dnever trust that young man to carry it over."
"I ain't hun--" said Mrs. Lathrop.
"It's certainly your good luck 'f you ain't. But to think o' himhavin' the face to eat up your dinner! But he's got the face franythin'. 'F it wasn't f'r hurtin' your feelin's, Mrs. Lathrop, I'djus' up 'n' tell you 't, to my order o' thinkin', Jathrop always didlook more like a frog 'n he did like his own father, 'n' I'll take myBible oath 't I've told Mrs. Macy that a hunderd times. She says 't heain't active enough to remind her o' no frog, but she always owns up't his eyes 'n' mouth is like one. 'F I was talkin' to any one butyou, I'd say, spot him with green 'n' he could make you a nice livin'alongside o' the dog-faced boy in a Dime Museum,--'n' never need tomove. As a family, you ain't very lively anyhow, 'n' I ain't muchsurprised 't the cow 's gettin' out o' patience. She's been trampin'aroun' 'n' mooin' a lot this last hour. The minister was walkin' bywith six o' the childern, 'n' the childern come 'n' asked 'f theycould see the cow 't kicked you. I didn't see no good reason why not,so we boosted 'em all up so 's they'd have a good view o' her throughthe little window. The minister quoted 'Wild bulls o' Bashan' 'n''Muzzle not the ox 't treadeth out the corn,' 'n' I felt like askin'him 'f he didn't know a cow when he see one. She looked cross enoughfor any Bible talk, though, 'n' Rachel Rebecca was awful scared 'n'they all begin to cry. I took 'em into my kitchen 'n' give 'em a cookyapiece, 'n' that smoothed 'em out. The minister was real pleased; hequoted 'Even as ye did it unto the least o' these, ye did it unto me,'so I took the hint 'n' give him a cooky too. They was goin' up to Mrs.Brown's to tea. I must say she 's pretty good to have six o' 'em allto once."
Mrs. Lathrop twisted wearily.
"C'n you feel your leg?" her friend asked anxiously.
"Yes, I c'n feel--"
"Mrs. Macy was up this afternoon. She says she 's more 'n' moreworried over you. She says it is n't as she don't wish young Dr. Brownwell, 'n' she 's intendin' to call him in sometime herself when sheknows jus' what 's the matter with her 'n' jus' what she 'd ought totake for it, but she says 't in your circumstances there ain't a miteo' doubt but what you 'd ought to have old Dr. Carter 's fast 's hecould be raked over here from Meadville. She says legs is scarcebirds, 'n' you can't go lavishin' one on every young man 's is anxiousto build up a practice on you. She says how do you know 's it 's aclean break 's you've got there anyhow? Maybe it 's a fracture. Afracture 's when the bone splinters all to pieces 'n' fans out everyway inside o' your leg. O' course young Dr. Brown ain't got beyondclean breaks yet, 'n' if you're splintered in place o' bein' clean youdon't want him to learn the difference at your cost. If you lose yourleg, Mrs. Lathrop, it certainly will be a awful thing for you. A womancan't ever say 's she was a brakeman or in the war, 'n' them 's theonly good excuses 's can be give. Then, too, if you have a wooden leg'n' the wind catches you at it, it'll take you in a way 's 'll makeyou look more like a scarecrow 'n a Christian. Mrs. Macy says 't shewas speakin' to Mr. Kimball about you, 'n' he was nigh to serious f'ronce in his life. She says he says 't they take the hair off o'horse-hides with plaster 'n' that wooden legs is very hard to getcomfortable. I s'pose the long 'n' short of it would be 't I'd have tocome over every mornin' 'n' hook it on to you,--'f it was left toJathrop he'd probably have you half o' the time with your toespointin' back 'n' your heel in front. C'n you feel it now?"
"Yes; I--"
"Then it's still there, but, Lord! how that cow does kick 'n' pull 'n'moo! Why don't Jathrop do suthin' to her? She'd ought to be tended to.When you come right square down to it, she ain't no more to blame f'rkickin' you 'n' he is f'r lookin' like a frog. They was each made so.But even then she'd ought to be milked jus' the same, 'n' Jathrop 'dought to be settin' at it."
"I don't want--"
"It's got to be him or me or the butcher, 'n' I must say I don't seeno good 'n' sufficient reason why it should be me. I didn't haveJathrop, nor yet the cow, 'n' I don't see why I sh'd lay myself opento bein' snapped off any where, jus' because your son 's half afool--the head half."
Mrs. Lathrop groaned.
"Now there ain't no use in _that_" said Susan firmly; "lots o' thingsmight be worse 'n they are. She might 'a' broken both your legs, orshe may break both his when he tries to milk her to-night. You mustlook on the bright side, Mrs. Lathrop, 'n' not twist aroun' like you'dbeen in bed four weeks 'n' only had two more ahead o' you. The wholesix is ahead now, 'n' instid o' wrigglin' 'n' sighin', you'd ought tothink how good it is as I'm here to take care o' you. I must say 't,to my order o' thinkin', your leg is goin' to be pretty nigh 's hardon me 's on you. 'F I can't trust Jathrop to s
o much 's carry a trayafter I've been to all the bother o' cookin' it, it stands to reason's I must be kitin' with 'em all day long. I'm very friendly with you,Mrs. Lathrop, 'n' whether single or two-legged I'd never but wish youwell; still, I _am_ a rich woman, 'n' bein' a rich woman, it does seemkind o' hard for me to have to slave back 'n' forth over the fence forsix weeks; but, such bein' the case, it strikes me 't, of us two, youcertainly ain't the one 's 'd ought to be doin' the groanin'."
Mrs. Lathrop appeared contrite and dumb.
"I guess I'll go 'n' get supper now," said her visitor, rising; "whenit's got I'll bring you over some. I ain't goin' to trust Jathrop withnothin' again, I know. To think o' his eatin' your dinner! I must say,Mrs. Lathrop, 't if you was cut out to be a mother, it certainly seemsa pity 't you never got beyond Jathrop, for no one 's ever see himcould believe it of you. However, I don't suppose 's any one in theirsenses could blame you f'r stoppin' right off short when you see whatyou 'd gone 'n' done the first time."
Mrs. Lathrop made no attempt to reply. Miss Clegg left the room, andreturned not until she came with the supper.
"I did n't see Jathrop nowhere," she announced as she entered, "butthe cow 's goin' on jus' awful."
"Jathrop 's gone for the--"
"Well, I _am_ glad. The butcher 's the only one 's 'd ought to go nearher. I persume I c'd 'a' milked her, 'n' 'f she 'd been my cow I w'd'a' milked her, but bein' 's she wa'n't mine I did n't see no good 'n'sufficient reason why I sh'd so much 's take a interest in her. I willown 't I did sorter ache to see her kick Jathrop into kingdom come,but the chances are 't he'd 'a' come out alive, 'n' so it would n't'a' paid in the end. I 'll be glad to hear her stop mooin', though. Iwas sick o' the noise afore she begun, 'n' she 's kep' right on eversince."
Mrs. Lathrop ate a little and drank a little, looking blandlynon-committal as she did so. Miss Clegg rocked vigorously.
"I can't get that plaster out o' my head," she continued presently. "Iwonder if it won't give you rheumatism anyhow. Deacon White gotrheumatism from movin' into a house where the plaster was damp, 'n' itstands to reason it'd be worse yet if it's tied right tight to you. Imust say 't I agree with Mrs. Macy; I think you'd ought to have oldDr. Carter. O' course it'll cost suthin' to have him over fromMeadville, but it'll cost you a sight more to have a wooden leg upfrom the city. There ain't no sense in tryin' to save money over akick, Mrs. Lathrop, 'n' what's the good o' your economizin' all theseyears 'f you can't indulge yourself a little when you want to? That'swhat Mr. Shores said to me--jus' them very self-same words--when hewanted to sell me that fancy green 'n' yellow parasol 's he had up f'rEaster. I didn't want no parasol, though; it had a pointed-nose dogf'r a handle, 'n' I didn't fancy myself goin' to church hangin' on toa dog's nose, even 'f it was silver-plated. I ain't no great admirero' green 'n' yellow, neither, 'n' so I told him flat 'n' plain 't Iwa'n't through my economizin' years yet. He sold the parasol to Mrs.Jilkins, 'n' she let it down on her thumb 'n' come nigh to breakin'her thumb. She says she won't carry no parasol 's she can't shut downwithout riskin' her thumb 'n' she 's goin' to give it to her nieceover to Meadville. She says her niece is awful womans-rightsy, 'n' canswing dumb-bells 'n' look over backward 't her own heels, 'n' thatparasol 'll be nothin' but child's play to her. I ain't no sympathywith such views myself--I never was one as believed overmuch inwomans' rights. My idea is to let the men have the rights, 'n' thenthey're satisfied to let you do 's you please. 'S far 's myobserva--Lord have mercy on us!"
The cause of the abrupt termination of Miss Clegg's speech was asudden crashing back of the house, followed by a rush and a swish atthe side. The friendly visitor made one jump for the window, took onelook out, and was off and away. The door slammed before Mrs. Lathropgot her mouth open to ask what was the matter. She called, but noanswer came. Then she waited, and waited some more, and finally grewweary in her waiting and fell asleep.
She slept long and dreamlessly. It was well after seven when the noiseof footsteps awakened her.
It was Susan. Having left the tray behind in her mad flight of thenight before, she had come over with the teapot in one hand and aplate of toast in the other. But it was not the breakfast whichattracted Mrs. Lathrop's attention, it was the expression of herneighbor's face. Tidings of vast importance were deeply imprintedthere, and when Miss Clegg set the teapot down and said, "Well, Mrs.Lathrop!" there was that within the tone of her voice which seemed tocause the very air to quiver in anticipation.
"Is anything the--"
"Matter?" Susan put down the toast and drew herself up to her fullheight as she spoke. "Yes, Mrs. Lathrop, a good deal is the matter.You ain't seen Jathrop, have you?"
"No; where--"
"He's gone!"
"Gone?"
"Gone. Mr. Weskin give him to understand as he'd better go somewhere'n' he got on a train 'n' did it. If he hadn't, he might 'a' beenlynched."
"Lynched!" screamed the mother, sitting suddenly up. A direfulcracking resounded under the bed-clothes as she did so, but in theexcitement of the moment its possible evil portent went unnoticed.
"Lynched," repeated Susan; "that's what I said, 'n' bein' 's I wasbrought up to speak the truth 'n' fear no man, you c'n depend upon itsbein' so. But you must eat your breakfast, Mrs. Lathrop,--you mustn'tgo without eatin' or you'll lose your strength 'n' then blood poison'll set in. 'N' that reminds me 't Mr. Weskin asked me yesterday ifyou'd made your will. Have you?"
"No; but I want to know about--"
"He says you'd ought to right off. He says there 's no tellin' whereanythin' 'll end 'n' it 's wise to be prepared for the worst. He saidhe knowed a man as walked on a tack 'n' jus' called it a tack, 'n'first they had to cut off the tack 'n' then the toe 'n' then the foot,'n' they kept on slicin' him higher 'n' higher till he died without nowill a _tall_. I said you wasn't no tack but a cow, but he said it wasall one, 'n' I guess it is 's far 's the lawyers go. I expeck it'd beonly a poor lawyer 's couldn't argue a tack into a cow--'n' out of heragain, too, f'r that matter--'n' Mr. Weskin ain't no poor--"
"But about Ja--"
"--Lawyer. He's 's fine 's they make. O' course a good deal o' thetime no one knows what he means, but that ain't nothin' ag'in' him,f'r I think with a lawyer you ginerally don't. It's a part o' theirbusiness not to let no one know what they mean, f'r 'f law was simpleno one 'd ever get fooled."
'N' Jath--"
"He's gone. You c'n make your mind easy about him, f'r he got away allsafe. Hiram Mullins chased him clear to the station 'n' nigh tocatched him, but there was a train jus' movin' out, 'n' Jathropshinned up the little fire-escape on the back o' the calaboose 'n' wasoff. 'N' now 't he is gone, Mrs. Lathrop, I'm goin' to right out plain'n' tell you to your face 's it's a good thing f'r you 's he _is_gone, 'n' you want to thank Heaven 's sent him to you 't that trainwas so handy to take him away ag'in."
"But what--" asked Mrs. Lathrop feebly.
"It was the cow," said Susan. "Don't you remember how I run lastnight? I hear a noise, 'n' my first thought was 's it was Jathrop ormebbe the butcher, but I got to the window jus' in time to see a tailmake the turn o' the gate, 'n' the seein' the tail showed right off 'sit warn't Jathrop nor yet the butcher. Seems 't Jathrop, not seein' noring to tie her to, tied her to a spoke in the hay-rack 'n' in hermooin' she broke it. Seems't then she squose out into the chicken-coop'n' then busted right through the wire nettin' 'n' set off. She runlike wild fire, they say. She headed right f'r town 'n' down the mainstreet. She come into the square lickety-split, 'n' the town committeewas in the middle of it examinin' the band-stand where Judge Fitchsays 't it shakes when he has to stamp 'n' pound in his speeches. Shecome on the committee so sudden 't they did n't even know what it was.She knocked Deacon White over on his back, 'n' threw Mr. Shores sohard ag'in' the waterin'-trough 't all his suspender tins come outbefore 'n' behind. Gran'ma Mullins was comin' across with six newteacups done up in each hand. Ed was comin' along after her with thesaucers, but she'd told Mr. Kimball right out to his face as she wouldn't trust Ed w
ith nothin' as had handles 'n' so she'd carry them cupshome herself. The cow hit her cornering, 'n' them cups 'n' her falseteeth went all over the square. Some o' 'em hit Deacon White in theface where he lay gaspin', but the cow never stopped. She jus' flew.Mr. Fisher was hurryin' along to join the rest o' the committee 't thebandstand, 'n' he met her next. She lowered her head 'n' jus' gougedMr. Fisher's three-quarters around him 'n' tore right on. She took thecrick road, 'n' Polly Allen 'n' Sam Duruy was out walkin' 'n' see herpass. They say greased lightenin' was donkeys to the way she went. Theminister 'n' the six childern was jus' comin' home from Mrs. Brown's,'n' the five childern at home was all come runnin' to meet them. Thecow charged right into the middle o' the bunch, 'n' the minister 'n'all them eleven childern is laid out f'r one spell.
"Well, 'n' even _then_ she did n't stop. Seemed like ploughin' throughthe minister's family only give her fresh strength. She kept rightstraight on down the crick road, 'n' jus' by the ditch she come on Mr.'n' Mrs. Jilkins. They was comin' up to town to spend the night withthe Whites, 'n' they had the green 'n' yellow parasol all done up tosend to Mrs. Jilkins' niece along with 'em. The cow was 's unexpectedto them as to every one else, 'n' she hit the parasol right square inthe middle. It broke, 'n' the wires all bust out 'n' punched Mr.Jilkins full o' holes afore he had time to point it at his wife. Shegot her share anyhow, though, f'r that dog's nose handle caught herright aroun' her leg 'n' throwed her head foremost into the ditch.
"'N' the cow did n't stop then! She rushed right along, 'n' on thefirst bridge was Mrs. Macy. She was standin' wonderin' what was to payup the road, 'n' then she see it was a cow. Well, Mrs. Lathrop, youknow what Mrs. Macy is on cows. I hear her say one day as she 'drather have a mouse run up her skirts any day 'n a cow. She told me 'tshe often go 'way round by Cherry Pond sooner 'n be alone with one inthe road, 'n' such bein' the case, you can't suppose but what she wasmortal scared. Her story is 's she only had time to see its horns 'n'the wildness of its eyes afore she never _will_ know what did possessher. She never see a cow that near in all her life before, 'n' shesays 'f that 's the way they look face to, she ain't surprised 'tfolks sit a little back when milkin'. It was nigh to on to her, 'n'you know yourself 't the bridge is narrow 'n' Mrs. Macy ain't. Well,Mrs. Lathrop, you c'n believe me or not jus' 's you please, 'cause it'll be Mrs. Macy 's you 'll be doubtin' anyhow, but this is what shesays happened. The bridge is _here_, you know," Susan laid off theplan on her knee, "'n' the road is _here_. The cow was runnin' likemad along _here_, 'n' Mrs. Macy was white 'n' tremblin' so 't thewhole bridge shook under her, right atop of it. She says to her dyin'day she 'll never see how she done it, but she jus' grabbed herskirts, spread 'em out wide 'n' said 'Shoo!' 's loud 's she could. Herstory is 't the cow stopped, like she was struck dumb that second;then she reared up 's pretty a rear 's Mrs. Macy 'll ever ask to see,'n' then she fell sideways into the mill-race. The water was on full'n' she went right down 'n' into the mill-wheel, 'n' some of hercaught in it 'n' she could n't budge. It squinched her right up, 'n'she kicked some, 'n' mooed some, 'n' bust the wheel some, 'n' died.
"But Mrs. Macy wa'n't wastin' no time or words on the cow. She waswalkin' 's fast 's she could along to where the nearest noise wascomin' from.
"First she found Mr. Jilkins sittin' on a stump pickin' parasol out o'himself 'n' swearin' in a way 's Mrs. Macy hopes to be sparedhereafter. While she was jus' bridge side o' him, Mrs. Jilkins comescramblin' up out o' the ditch madder 'n sixty-five hornets. Seems she'd got most to the top twice, 'n' it was so slippery 't she'd slidclean back to the bottom again. Mrs. Macy says the Lord forgive herall her sins forever 'n' ever, 'f she ever see such a sight afore. Shetried to wring her out in spots, but she was way beyond wringin'.Besides, Mrs. Macy says she ain't been a widow so long but what shesee 't a glance 't they 'd be better 'n' happier without no thirdparty by, 'n' so she left 'em 'n' went on to where the minister 'n'his family was feebly tryin' to put themselves together again. PollyAllen 'n' Sam was there helpin' 'em, 'n' Mrs. Allen was up on theporch with the minister's wife. Seems 't was her first sittin' up, 'n'they 'd got her out in a rocker to see him come home jus' in time tosee him run over. She took on awful 'cause she thought 't he waskilled, sure, 'n' then when she found 't he was n't, the shock doneher up completely. They had to put her straight back in bed, 'n' thenthey put the minister 'n his broken nose in with her 'n' went to workon the rest o' 'em. Sam Duruy got young Dr. Brown there 's quick 's hecould, 'n' young Dr. Brown took off his coat 'n' rolled up his sleeves'n' jus' went for 'em. He got the bandagin' 's was ordered for yourleg, 'n' used it right up on the minister's family. He sent for allShores' flaxseed 'n' all Kimball's cotton, 'n' then if he did n'tpitch in! I was there by that time, 'n' we set Polly to fryin'poultices, 'n' Mrs. Macy 'n' me slapped 'em on hot. Sam was sent withthe horse to get the doctor's darnin'-needles 'n' thread, 'n' youngDr. Brown told him to drive by the station 'n' tell Johnny totelegraph to Meadville f'r old Dr. Carter to come over 'n' help him 'sfast as he could.
"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, I wish 't you could 'a' been there to see us. Thewater jus' streamed off Mrs. Macy 'n' me, 'n' I bet them poultices washot, for no one never asked f'r a nother o' their own free will. YoungDr. Brown soon had to take off his vest, 'n' roll up his sleevesc'nsiderably more high, 'n' I will say 't beavers was nothin' to theway he worked. When he had the last one sewed off 'n' was ready to go,he looked like there was nothin' left 's he did n't know how to do. Hebrung me home in his buggy. I know it was pretty late, 'n' I never wasno great hand to approve o' buggy-ridin' after dark, but he's married'n' I thought 's no real harm could come o' it, so I up 'n' in. Mrs.Macy said she 'd stay all night 'n' sleep with 'Liza Em'ly 'n' RachelRebecca in the little half-bed. We come up along through town, 'n' Itell you I never see the square so gay any election night 's it waslast night. Not a store was closed, 'n' Mr. Kimball was sellin'soda-water 't four cents a glass, with a small sheet o' court plasterthrowed in at that. Dr. Brown stopped to go in back o' the fountain'n' mix suthin' 't they keep there for him, 'n' it was then 's I hearabout Jathrop.
"Seems 't along about 'n hour after the cow 'd run over everybody,Jathrop come moonin' back from where the butcher lives out Cherry Pondway. Seems 't the sight o' his calmness jus' sort o' set every one 'swasn't a wreck plum crazy. Seems 't when he asked what was up DeaconWhite shook his fist 't him 'n' said he was what 'd ought to beup--strung up, 'n' Hiram Mullins wanted to souse him in thewaterin'-trough. Seems 't Hiram was mad 'cause he paid for them teetho' Gran'ma Mullins, 'n' the teacups too. Well, it was pretty lively,'n' the first thing any one knew Mr. Weskin drawed Jathrop off to oneside to cross-examine him a little, 'n' Hiram see him start to run f'rthe station. Hiram didn't waste no words findin' fault 't LawyerWeskin's lettin' him go, but he went after him jus' jumpin'. He didn'tcatch him, though, 'n' so that's the end o' Jathrop."
Miss Clegg paused, and drew a long, refreshing breath.
"I guess you've had a nice breakfast," she said in a minute, "onlyyou'd ought to eat more."
"I didn't feel much--" said Mrs. Lathrop.
"Well, you 'd ought to. How's your leg? C'n you feel it this mornin'?"
"Oh, yes, I c'n--"
"Then it's all right so far. But I hear last night 's you c'n feel aleg even after it 's been cut off. Mrs. Macy says she heard of a man's suffers awful yet in a leg as he lost in a planin'-mill over thirtyyears ago."
"My Lord alive!" cried Mrs. Lathrop.
"So you see you ain't sure whether your leg 's still there or not.However, I 've got to go, leg or no leg. I told Mrs. Macy I 'd be atthe minister's at half-past eight to boil 'em all fresh 'n' I ain'tgot more 'n time to make it easy. I 'll be home to get you somedinner."
"I wish I knew where Ja--"
Susan stopped in the act of bending for the tray.
"Mrs. Lathrop!--Mrs. _Lathrop!_ Do you mean to say 's you don't know ablessin' when it 's throwed right square in your face like yesterday?Jathrop 's gone, 'n' he can't never come back, 'n' if you had ten legsyou 'd ought to y
ield the last one o' 'em up to Heaven without amurmur out o' sheer gratitude over his bein' took. Now you lay stillthere 'n' don't even think such foolishness, or the Lord may lose hispatience like the cow did hers, 'n' after feelin' 'n' seein' 'n'hearin' what a cow c'n do, I shouldn't feel noways inclined to rousethe Lord 'f I was you."
So saying, Susan took up her tray and left the room.
* * * * *
The morning was very long to the broken-legged one, who found herselfquite unable to sleep under such circumstances. Her mind did notexactly race about among the startling developments of the past fewhours, but it did dwell dubiously upon the more unfortunate phases ofpast, present, and (possible) future events.
She was glad beyond words when she heard Miss Clegg's step on thekitchen stoop about noon, and two minutes later Susan was occupyingthe rocker, and the repast which she had brought with her wasbeginning to occupy her friend.
"It 's jus' awful 's you can't get out," the visitor saidsympathetically; "you're missin' things 's you'll never have a chanceto see again--not 'f you live 's high 's Methusylem. The wholec'mmunity is in the square or else on the crick road. They've got theminister laid out on the sofa, like he was a president, 'n' PollyAllen 's right there every minute to open the door 'n' keep the lineamovin'! Every one wants to see the minister 'n' every one wants tosee the cow; so some goes for the minister first 'n' the cow later,'n' others looks 't the cow first 'n' takes the minister in on the wayback. They all stop one way or the other to look down at Mrs. Jilkins'clawin's on the side o' the ditch, 'n' they say the way she dug in thetime she finally made it's almost beyond belief. The minister saysit's nothin' but a joy to him to welcome his friends. He lays there'n' quotes 'All thy waves 'n' billows went right over me,' 'n' smilesunder his cotton, but Mr. Kimball says 'f he told the truth he'd say'Jathrop Lathrop's cow 's went right over me 'instid.
"I must say 's the minister seems to be survivin' better 'n his wife.She says she thought 't the baby was the last straw, 'n' now here wasa cow ten thousand times worse. She says bein' resigned is all right'f you c'n be alone 'n' sit down in peace, but she'd like to know howany one c'd resign themselves to a husband 'n' twelve childern allfreshly stepped on. I told her's the new baby hadn't been touched, butshe seemed beyond payin' attention to trifles like tellin' the truth.
"Young Dr. Brown 's awful anxious for some fresh cotton 'n' old Dr.Carter to get here from Meadville. He says he wants to dress HenryWard Beecher's ear 'f anybody c'n ever catch Henry Ward Beecher. 'LizaEm'ly 's goin' around huggin' herself 'n' groanin' to beat the band,but young Dr. Brown says he can't do nothin' for her because thereain't no way to get in behind a rib 'n' pry it out to place again. Iguess the truth o' the matter is 't he 's jus' plum tired out piecin''n' mendin'. It's been a big job sewin' up after Jathrop's cow toreround like that. They say 's he had all of a foot to over-'n'-overalong Mr. Fisher, 'n' Mr. Jilkins is jus' tufted like a sofa where hestopped up where he was skewered. Mrs. Jilkins is pretty hot yet overthe parasol's bein' bust 'cause she 'd wrote her niece 's she wasgoin' to give it to her 'n' her niece 's bought a hat with yellowbuttercups 'n' green leaves jus' to match it. But I'll tell you who'sin a sad way,--it 's poor Gran'ma Mullins. From the first second 'sthey got her right end up again she begin to ask suthin', 'n' ona'count o' her teeth bein' gone no one could make out what it was.Hiram didn't get no sleep all night with her sighin' 'n' mumblin', 'n'towards mornin' he made out 's she was wantin' to know 'f Mr. Kimball'd replace them cups 's the cow smashed. Hiram went right afterbreakfast 'n' asked, 'n' Mr. Kimball said not on Hiram's tin-type hewouldn't. He said Gran'ma Mullins was carryin' 'em herself sooner 'ntrust Ed, 'n' he wa'n't to blame f'r such wild animals 's mightnaturally fancy takin' after her. They tried to console her by lettin'her see her teeth get put in a mustard box to go to the city to bemended, but the worst of it is 's two of the teeth can't be found inthe square, 'n' Deacon White thinks he swallowed 'em when he laidthere gaspin' so wide open. He says he never knowed such queerfeelin's 's he had las' night. Mrs. Fisher was there, 'n' she said 'fDeacon White was bothered 's to how to act with them teeth he onlyneeded to go 'n' consult Mr. Fisher 'cause there 's nothin' in thewide world 's Mr. Fisher ain't sure 't he knows more about 'n any oneelse. She says Mr. Fisher ain't a bit suited 't the way young Dr.Brown brought his edges together, 'n' she says he says 't jus' as soon's he ain't so stiff 'n' sore about leanin' over he 's goin' to takeall them stitches out 'n' sew himself up the way 't he 'd ought to besewed."
Mrs. Lathrop turned a little in bed. Again the cracking noise might beheard, but neither one of the friends had mental leisure to notice it.
"Mr. Weskin stopped me on my way home," Susan continued, "'n' asked mewhat steps you was intendin' to take in regard to the lawsuits fordamages--"
"Damages!" cried Mrs. Lathrop in great fright.
"Yes, your cow's damages."
"_My_ cow! I did n't have nothin' to do with her except get kickedby--"
"I know, but Mr. Weskin explained all that to me. Jathrop 's gonenobody knows where, 'n' so you come next. 'F he's proved dead leavin'property it 'd be yours, 'n' if he leaves damage-suits you inherit 'emjus' the same."
"My heavens!"
"Mr. Weskin says that's how it is, 'n' he mus' know. I 've always hada great respeck for what Mr. Weskin knows ever since he went intocourt 'n' proved 's the mill 's the other side o' the crick from whereit is, jus' by havin' Hiram Mullins 'n' Sam Duruy stand up 'n' swearthe mill-race run 'round behind it. I never could see how he done it,but I never felt to blame myself none f'r that, 'cause it takesanother lawyer to see what a lawyer 's doin' anyhow. When a lawyersays anythin' 's so to me, I never take no time to disbelieve him'cause 'f he wa'n't able to prove the truth o' his own lyin' he 'dnever get to be in the law a _tall_. On the other hand, though, Idon't trust him none, even if I ain't a mite o' doubt as to what hesays. Believin' is cheap, you c'n believe the whole Bible 'n' it won'tcost a cent 'n' is suthin' to your credit; but trustin' live folks isalways expensive. 'F Lawyer Weskin says 's you c'n be sued, you 'repretty safe to feel it's so--the more so 's it was him 's sentJathrop off so slick. But I ain't so sure 't I 'd sit down 'n' let himsue me 'f I was you. He c'n sue, from now on, but it's for you toc'nsider whether he gets anythin' but fun out o' it or not. 'F you 'rewillin' to be sued, it's ownin' you know you 've done suthin', 'n' youain't done nothin'--it was the cow's did it to you. There ain'tnothin' to be gained f'r even the wicked by ownin' up to bein' wickedin court, 'n' they often get off by ownin' up to bein' innocent. Youcan't never lose nothin' by swearin' 's it wa'n't you, 'n' 's far asmy observation 's extended, a person 's starts out by tryin' to behonest 'n' sayin', 'Yes, I done it,' soon finds themselves with thewhole neighborhood laid at their door 'n' never no thanks for it,neither.
"Mr. Weskin says 't Deacon White says 't some one 's got to pay himf'r happenin' to swallow Gran'ma Mullins' teeth when he wa'n'tthinkin'. Well, 'f he's got a right to anythin', pretty nigh all thec'mmunity 's got a equal right. There 's Mr. Fisher with a slice outo' his side, 'n' them nine teacups o' Gran'ma Mullins'. There 's Mr.Jilkins goin' to set a price for every parasol punch he got, 'n' Mrs.Jilkins goin' to want a new parasol.
"'N' then it 'd be jus' like young Dr. Brown to perk up 'n' send you abill, instid o' bein' everlastin'ly grateful for all the teachin' heowes straight to you. He's had a chance to perform 'most every kind o'operation 'n' to use up the last drop o' all his old liniments jus' asa result o' that one cow. Then too he's had a chance to call old Dr.Carter over in consultation, 'n' in the ordinary run o' things hecould n't o' 'xpected to have nothin' to consult about f'r years 'n'years. He's a made young man 'n' all in one night, jus' owin' to you,'n' the last time he whipped his horse through the square to-day, Mr.Kimball said he looked so busy 't he supposed they 'd elect him ournext mayor.
"You was n't responsible f'r the cow's gettin', 'n' Jathrop was. It'sJathrop 's is to blame, 'n' if any one's to be sued it 'd ought to behim, 'n' he ain't got no property but
the cow, 'n' she's hung up dead'n' her own damage, so it's no use sum' him f'r anythin'. Folks 'sain't got nothin' don't never have any law troubles, 'n' Jathrop isgone off 'n' so he 's specially handy to blame for everythin'. 'S far's my observation 's 'xtended, it 's always folks a long ways off 'sit's wisest to lay all the faults to, 'n' 'f I was you--"
Mrs. Lathrop's eyes suddenly started out of her head.
"I can't feel my leg!" she cried.
Susan sprang to her feet.
"It's the plaster!" she exclaimed; then, starting towards the door, "I'll run 'n' get the axe 'n' hack you right out."
"No--no," screamed Mrs. Lathrop, "not the axe."
"Then I 'll bring up the teakettle 'n' pour boilin' water on it tillit softens 'n' comes off."
"No, I don't want--"
"Well, Mrs. Lathrop,"--Susan looked her disapproval,--"seems to me you're jus' a little fussy. I must say if you ain't willin' to have itbroke off or soaked off, I can't well see how it's goin' to be gotoff."
Mrs. Lathrop bunched herself somewhat, and a grating and powderingnoise resulted.
"I drew it right up!" she cried joyfully.
Susan's expression became enigmatic.
Mrs. Lathrop manoeuvred further.
"I straightened it out!" she announced further.
Miss Clegg approached the bed.
"I don't believe 's it was ever broke," she said in deep disgust.
"Dr. Brown said he wa'n't sure," the invalid continued, elongating andcontracting herself, caterpillar-like,' "he said 's he 'd wait thewindin'--"
"Mrs. Lathrop," said Susan suddenly, "I 've jus' thought! It's thisafternoon 's the butcher 'n' the man 's mends church spires 's comin'together to get the cow out o' the mill-wheel. The whole c'mmunity 'sgoin' down to look on, 'n' I can't see no good 'n' s'fficient reasonwhy you should n't go too. I 'll help you dress, 'n' we 'll scurryalong right now. 'F we meet Mr. Weskin 'n' he says lawsuit to you, youjus' up 'n' tell him 's you 're goin' to sue him for throwin' you headforemost into a fever on a'count o' not knowin' where your only son 'sbeen gone all night, 'n' 'f young Dr. Brown _ever_ has the face to somuch 's hint at a bill, you jus' out 'n' ask him 'f he knows a wholeleg when he sees one, 'n' if he don't answer, say 't you 've got twoin spite o' his plaster. There's always a way out o' anythin' 'f aperson only don't try to think it out, but jus' speaks up sharp 'n'decided. Come on 'n' get up now, 'n' I 'll help you hurry, 'n' yourleg won't miss nothin' after all."
Mrs. Lathrop got out of bed at once.