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Updated: June 3, 2025
He looked at it fearfully, holding it in his hand and glancing up again at Courtland half helplessly, as if he feared to open it. Then, with that set, stolid look of prodding ahead that characterized all Abner's movements he clumsily tore open the envelope. "Your mother is dying. Come at once," were the terse, cruel words that he read, signed with a neighbor's initials.
From some instinct, which he did not attempt to explain, it appeared more respectful to Reuben to sit idle for the rest of the day than to follow Abner's example and go out and finish his work.
The sun shone bright on the windows of Lumley's house, but she could hear the crying of Abner's wife, and of old Ezra and Eliza Lumley, when their children were stricken or shamed; when Abel Baragar drew tighter and tighter the chains of the mortgage, which at last made them tenants in the house once their own. Only eight years ago, and all this had happened.
"It is surely a mighty power indeed that makes a chatterbox like me to revel in silence." "How I love this dear old forest!" was Abner's exclamation presently. "Every tree, every stick and stone, every foot of ground, seems sacred. Do you not love it all, my darling?" "I do indeed," she acknowledged.
Heard so much talkin, callated suthin must a happened, an turned out ter see what it wuz. Fetched any news, hev ye Reub? Spit it aout. Guess it muss be pooty good, or the cap'n would'n be lookin so darned pleased." "The news I fetched is that the army in Stockbridge is going to attack you to-morrow at dawn." Abner's jaw fell.
"Cap'n," said Abner, "we'll hev ter go. We can't do the poor chap no good by stayin, an they can't do him no more harm." Then Perez rose up, and leaned on Abner's shoulder, looking down on the patient face of the dead. The first tears gathered in his eyes, and trickled down, and he said: "I never was fair to Reub. I never allowed enough for his losin Jemima.
One woman, a cross between a beggar and a dealer in second-hand dresses, had four sons, all of whom were pickpockets, but she herself was said to be of spotless honesty. She never allowed them to enter Abner's Court, though every time one of them was in prison she would visit him and bring him food Nor were professional beggars barred from the Court as tenants.
"Bein' 's it's Sattidy night, 'most likely he'll come." "Hope Abner's feelin' friendly, then," said Pliny with an anticipatory twinkle in his shrewd little gray eyes which gave direct contradiction to his words. "If Abner hain't feelin' jest cheerful them boys'll be wrastlin' all over town and pushin' down houses." "They hain't never fit yet," said Scattergood.
He frankly admired the strength and the stature of the only man in the room who was taller and more robust than himself, as well as the intent sobriety of his glance and the laconic gravity of his speech. "An admirable young fellow!" he had exclaimed to Edith Whyland, upon Abner's leaving them to cross over to Medora. "Oh yes, yes!" she had returned with conviction. "So serious."
Ed, Abner's gittin' mighty feeble! He jest about kin drag himself along he's had another stroke lately, they tell me. He had to hold on to that there treebox down yonder, steadyin' himself after he crossed back over to this side. Lord knows what he was doin' draggin' down-town on a Sunday mornin' force of habit, I reckin.
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