He
wants to eat with the others; he says he feels like a prisoner cooped
up in one room. We have a spare room on the ground floor that old
Silas Putnam used to sleep in. I'm only afraid of one thing--'twill
be too much care for Huldah. If I could get some one to help her with
the work, she'd be glad and willing to look after Uncle Ike." "We
must find some way out of it," said Quincy, as they parted.
His next visit was to the home of Arthur Scates. He found the young
man in bed and in a very weak condition.
"He's had two o' them bleedin' spells," said his grandmother, "an'
las' night I thought sure he was a goner. But I giv him some speerits
of ammony and he perked up a little. Yer see, Mr. Sawyer, we're poor,
an' it's no use tryin' to cover it up, an' I can't give Arthur the
kind of vittles he ought to have. He wants nourishin' things an'"--
The old lady's feelings overcame her and she began to cry. "I'm
ashamed of myself, but I can't help it. He's my only son's boy, and
he's an orphan, an' wuss. I'm sixty years old, but I can do a day's
work with any of the young ones, but I can't leave him alone. I
should have a conniption fit if I did."
Quincy thought it advisable to allow the old lady to have her say out
before replying.
"Mrs. Scates, I think there are brighter days coming for you."
"The Lord knows I have prayed hard enough for 'em.
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