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Updated: May 10, 2025
He turned in under the willows and clinked musically into Mattie's yard. At least, the rattle of the tin-wagon sounded musically to Mattie. Meanwhile, Selena watched from her window and raged. Amberley people shrugged their shoulders when gossip noised the matter abroad.
"I didn't suppose you'd know me, Mattie," said Jedediah, still holding her hand foolishly. "I knew you the minute I set eyes on you," returned Mattie. "You're some fatter and older like myself but you're Jed still. Where have you been all these years?" "Pretty near everywhere, Mattie pretty near everywhere. And ye see what it's come to here I be driving a tin-wagon for Boone Brothers.
Only the tin-wagon takes rags, and they pay in tinware, and that's no good to a boy that wants to go to the circus. And as for bottles well, sir, you wash out a whole, whole lot of bottles, a whole big lot of 'em, a wash-basket full, and tote 'em down to Mr. Case's drug and book-store, as much as ever you and your brother can wag, and see what he gives you. It's simply scandalous.
Jed vowed he would never creep and crawl at the feet of the Adamses, and he went west forthwith, determined, as aforesaid, to make his fortune and hurl Selena's scorn back in her face. And now he had come home, driving a tin-wagon. Mattie smiled to think of it. She bore Jed no ill will for his failure.
"Who was that pedlar that was here this afternoon, Mattie?" she demanded as soon as she arrived. Mattie smiled. "Jed Crane," she said. "He's home from the West and driving a tin-wagon for the Boones." Selena gave a little gasp. She sat down on the lowest step and untied her bonnet strings. "Mattie Adams! And you kept him hanging about the whole afternoon." "Why not?" said Mattie wickedly.
I besought him not to make himself uncomfortable on my account; that I was not yet so famous that I could not ride over the country on a tin-wagon, without feeling it a sacrifice of dignity.
So it was, in a measure, with Jedediah; poor, unknown to fame, afflicted with a double chin and bald spot, reduced to driving a tin-wagon for a living, he yet had his romance and he was still romantic. As Jedediah rode through Amberley he looked about him with interest. He knew it well, although it was fifteen years since he had seen it.
But only the few remaining garden flowers were witness to the lovers' indiscretion, and they kept their own counsel after the manner of flowers, so Selena's feelings were mercifully spared this further outrage. That evening Jed drove slowly away through the twilight, mounted for the last time on the tin-wagon. He was so happy that he bore no grudge against even Selena Ford.
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