A Daughter of the Land

"My goodness! I knew that," said Kate. "I am thinking so hard

I'm losing what little sense I had; but anyway, mere thinking is

doing me a world of good. I am beginning to feel a kind of rising

joy inside, and I can't imagine anything else that makes it."

Adam went to school, laughing. Kate did the washing and ironing,

and worked in the garden getting beds ready. Tuesday she was at

the same occupation, when about ten o'clock she dropped her spade

and straightened, a flash of perfect amazement crossing her face.

She stood immovable save for swaying forward in an attitude of

tense listening.

"Hoo! hoo!"

Kate ran across the yard and as she turned the corner of the house

she saw a one-horse spring wagon standing before the gate, while a

stiff, gaunt figure sat bolt upright on the seat, holding the

lines. Kate was at the wheel looking up with a face of delighted

amazement.

"Why, Mother!" she cried. "Why, Mother!"

"Go fetch a chair and help me down," said Mrs. Bates, "this seat

is getting tarnation hard."

Kate ran after a chair, and helped her mother to alight. Mrs.

Bates promptly took the chair, on the sidewalk.

"Just drop the thills," she said. "Lead him back and slip on the

halter. It's there with his feed."

Kate followed instructions, her heart beating wildly. Several

times she ventured a quick glance at her mother. How she had

aged! How lined and thin she was! But Oh, how blessed good it

was to see her! Mrs. Bates arose and they walked into the house,

where she looked keenly around, while her sharp eyes seemed to

appraise everything as she sat down and removed her bonnet.

"Go fetch me a drink," she said, "and take the horse one and then

I'll tell you why I came."

"I don't care why you came," said Kate, "but Oh, Mother, thank God

you are here!"

"Now, now, don't get het up!" cautioned Mrs. Bates. "Water, I

said."

Kate hurried to obey orders; then she sank on a chair and looked

at her mother. Mrs. Bates wiped her face and settled in the chair

comfortably.

"They's no use to waste words," she said. "Katie, you're the only

one in the family that has any sense, and sometimes you ain't got

enough so's you could notice it without a magnifyin' glass; but

even so, you're ahead of the rest of them. Katie, I'm sick an'

tired of the Neppleses and the Whistlers and being bossed by the

whole endurin' Bates tribe; sick and tired of it, so I just came

after you."

"Came after me?" repeated Kate stupidly.

"Yes, parrot, 'came after you,'" said Mrs. Bates. "I told you,

you'd no great amount of sense. I'm speakin' plain, ain't I? I

don't see much here to hold you. I want you should throw a few

traps, whatever you are beholden to, in the wagon - that's why I

brought it - and come on home and take care of me the rest of my

time. It won't be so long; I won't interfere much, nor be much

bother. I've kep' the place in order, but I'm about fashed. I

won't admit it to the rest of them; but I don't seem to mind

telling you, Katie, that I am almost winded. Will you come?"