| I. | A DIFFERENCE IN HEARTS |
| II. | REBECCA'S POINT OF VIEW |
| III. | WISDOM'S WAYS |
| IV. | THE SAVING OF THE COLORS |
| V. | THE STATE O' MAINE GIRL |
"I DON' know as I cal'lated to be the makin' of any child," Miranda hadsaid as she folded Aurelia's letter and laid it in the light-standdrawer. "I s'posed of course Aurelia would send us the one we askedfor, but it's just like her to palm off that wild young one on somebodyelse."
"You remember we said that Rebecca, or even Jenny might come, in caseHannah could n't," interposed Jane.
"I know we did, but we hadn't any notion it would turn out that way,"grumbled Miranda.
"She was a mite of a thing when we saw her three years ago," venturedJane; "she's had time to improve."
"And time to grow worse!"
"Won't it be kind of a privilege to put her on the right track?" askedJane timidly.
"I don' know about the privilege part; it'll be considerable work, Iguess. If her mother hasn't got her on the right track by now, shewon't take to it herself all of a sudden."
This depressed and depressing frame of mind had lasted until theeventful day dawned on which Rebecca was to arrive.
"If she makes as much work after she comes as she has before, we mightas well give up hope of ever gettin' any rest," sighed Miranda as shehung the dish towels on the barberry bushes at the side door.
"But we should have had to clean house, Rebecca or no Rebecca," urgedJane; "and I can't see why you've scrubbed and washed and baked as youhave for that one child, nor why you've about bought out Watson's stockof dry goods."
"I know Aurelia if you don't," responded Miranda. "I've seen her house,and I've seen that batch o' children, wearin' one another's clothes andnever carin' whether they had 'em on right side out or not; I know whatthey've had to live and dress on, and so do you. That child will likeas not come here with a bundle o' things borrowed from the rest o' thefamily. She'll have Hannah's shoes and John's undershirts and Mark'ssocks most likely. I suppose she never had a thimble on her finger inher life, but she'll know the feelin' o' one before she's been heremany days. I've bought a piece of unbleached muslin and a piece o'brown gin