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He was well acquainted with the storekeeper, a middle-aged man of genial countenance. "Here's a list of things I want, Ezry," he explained, as he handed over the paper. "Guess ye kin make out the writin'." The storekeeper adjusted his spectacles and studied the paper for a few minutes. Then he looked keenly at his customer, while his eyes twinkled.
A shrill voice calling his name brought "Satisfied" Longman to his feet, and he hobbled away toward the shack. "'Pears like 'Satisfied' ain't got much strength any more," said Skinner. "He ain't been worth much of anythin' sence I got back." "Him an' Ma Longman've failed a lot sence Myry an' Ezry died," agreed Jake. "An' no wonder!
The last man of all the crowd accustomed to seek the country store at noontime was closing the church door behind him as she spoke. "Here, Ezry," she called after him, "you hurry up, or you won't git there afore cockcrow to-morrer, an' I wouldn't have that letter miss for a good deal." Mrs. Robbins was slight, and hung on wires, so said her neighbors.
"You bet," assented Ezry Longman. "But why weren't she there to-day?" "Don't know," answered Jake. "She were home, I guess. She 'lows as how her Daddy comes home to-morry ... I 'lows as how he don't." "I 'lows it, too," grunted Ben Letts. They walked on in silence for some time, the wind crooning its endless tune through the telegraph wires.
Then Helen, jest for meanness, says: 'Ezry, I s'pose you ain't willin' to have your fav'rite sister go down-cellar with you an' catch her death o' cold? But Mary, who hez been showin' Hiram Peabody the phot'graph album for more 'n an hour, comes to the rescue an' makes Laura take the candle, and she shows Laura how to hold it so it won't go out. "The cellar is warm an' dark.
When I told of Lute's forgetfulness in the matter of gasolene the lightkeeper thumped the table. "There, by godfreys!" he exclaimed. "I could see it comin'! That feller's for all the world like a cook I had once aboard the Ezry H. Jones. That cook was the biggest numskull that ever drawed the breath of life. Always forgettin' somethin', he was, and always at the most inconvenient time.
Then, aft'r a while, when Mary and Helen bring in the cookies, nutcakes, cider, an' apples, Mother says: 'I don't believe we're goin' to hev enough apples to go round; Ezry, I guess I'll have to get you to go down cellar for some more. Then I says: 'All right, Mother, I'll go, providin' some one 'll go along an' hold the candle. An' when I say this I look right at Laura, an' she blushes.
Then, aft'r a while, when Mary an' Helen bring in the cookies, nut-cakes, cider, an' apples, Mother says: 'I don't b'lieve we're goin' to hev enough apples to go round; Ezry, I guess I'll have to get you to go down-cellar for some more. Then I says: 'All right, Mother, I'll go, providin' some one'll go along an' hold the candle. An' when I say this I look right at Laura and she blushes.
"Sartin, sartin," interrupted Israel, quietly choking him off, "but less stick tew what we wuz a sayin, Ezry. Things be a goin tew fur, ye see, Perez. We tuk part with the poor folks w'en they wuz bein 'bused, but I declar' for't 't looks though we'd hefter take part with the silk stockins pootty soon, at the rate things be agoin. It's a reg'lar see-saw.
"I haven't that, nor that, nor that," he commented. "Well, fer goodness' sakes what have ye got, Ezry? Tell me quick, fer I can't stay here all the mornin'." "Nor that, nor that, nor that," the storekeeper continued. "Ah, I have that," and his face brightened. "Yes, I've got a tooth-brush, or I did have one a year ago. Let me see."
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