"
"And was she ever a little girl?" persisted Rachel.
"Why, certainly. Now eat your dinner, Rachel."
Rachel picked up her knife and fork. When the two boys saw that she was
ready to really begin on her meal, they set to on theirs.
"I'm awful hungry," announced Peletiah, when he had been working busily on
his plateful.
The parson burst out into a laugh, like a boy.
"Hush, husband," warned Mrs. Henderson; "I'm afraid Jerusha will hear."
"I can't help it, Almira." His eyes were brimming with amusement. "Our boys
are getting waked up already."
"I ain't asleep," declared Peletiah, looking up at his father in amazement;
"I'm eating my dinner."
"So am I," announced Ezekiel wisely, and putting out his plate for another
potato.
"So I see," said his father gravely. "Well, now we're all getting on very
well," he added, in great satisfaction, with a glance around the table.
"Good-bye; you must excuse me, wife; you know I must get over to the
funeral early."
"Is old Miss Bedlow dead, Ma?" asked Peletiah, pausing in the act of
getting some gravy to his mouth.
"Yes, dear. Take care, Peletiah, and pay attention to your dinner."
Peletiah set down the mouthful on his plate. "I hain't got to go, have I,
Ma?" he asked, in trepidation.
"No, dear; now go on with your dinner, and don't say 'hain't.'"
"I'm glad I haven't got to go," observed Peletiah, with a long sigh of
relief, and beginning on his dinner once more.
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