A Daughter of the Land

"It won't do either. But this is awful. I can see how the boys

feel, and really, Mother, this is no more fair to them than things

always have been for the girls. By the way, what are they doing?"

"Same as the boys, acting out their natures. Mary is openly

rejoicing. So is Nancy Ellen. Hannah and Bertha at least can see

the boys' side. The others say one thing before the boys and

another among themselves. In the end the girls will have their

shares and nobody can blame them. I don't myself, but I think Pa

will rise from his grave when those farms are torn up."

"Don't worry," said Kate. "He will have learned by now that

graves are merely incidental, and that he has no option on real

estate where he is. Leave him to his harp, and tell me what you

want done."

"I want you to see that it was all accidental. I want you to take

care of me. I want you should think out the FAIR thing for all of

us to DO. I want you to keep sane and cool-headed and shame the

others into behaving themselves. And I want you to smash down

hard on their everlasting, 'why didn't you do this?' and 'why

didn't you do that?' I reckon I've been told five hundred times

a-ready that I shouldn't a-give him the deeds. Josie say it, an'

then she sings it. NOT GIVE THEM TO HIM! How could I help giving

them to him? He'd a-got up and got them himself if I hadn't -- "

"You have cut out something of a job for me," said Kate, "but I'll

do my best. Anyway, I can take care of you. Come on into the

house now, and let me clean you up, and then I'll talk the rest of

them into reason, if you stand back of me, and let them see I'm

acting for you."

"You go ahead," said Mrs. Bates. "I'll back whatever you say.

But keep them off of me! Keep them off of me!"

After Kate had bathed her mother, helped her into fresh clothes,

and brushed her hair, she coaxed her to lie down, and by

diplomatic talk and stroking her head, finally soothed her to

sleep. Then she went down and announced the fact, asked them all

to be quiet, and began making her way from group to group in an

effort to restore mental balance and sanity. After Kate had

invited all of them to go home and stay until time for the funeral

Sunday morning, and all of them had emphatically declined, and

eagerly had gone on straining the situation to the breaking point,

Kate gave up and began setting the table. When any of them tried

to talk or argue with her she said conclusively: "I shall not say

one word about this until Monday. Then we will talk things over,

and find where we stand, and what Mother wants. This would be

much easier for all of us, if you'd all go home and calm down, and

plan out what you think would be the fair and just thing to do."