"
"That's the only thing I ever had ag'inst John. He was as grand a man
as ever was, but he did set everything by such truck. Don't turn out
the old things, I say, no more 'n the old folks; but when it comes to
makin' a woman stan' quiddlin' round doin' work back side foremost,
that beats me."
"He'd have got me a stove in a minute," burst forth Amelia in haste,
"only he never knew I wanted it!"
"More fool you not to ha' said so!" commented aunt Ann, unwinding her
ball. "Well, I s'pose he would. John wa'n't like the common run o' men.
Great strong creatur' he was, but there was suthin' about him as soft
as a woman. His mother used to say his eyes'd fill full o' tears when
he broke up a settin' hen. He was a good husband to you,--a good
provider an' a good friend."
Amelia was putting down her bread for its last rising, and her face
flushed.
"Yes," she said gently, "he _was_ good."
"But there!" continued aunt Ann, dismissing all lighter considerations,
"I dunno's that's any reason why you should bake in a tin kitchen, nor
why you should need to heat up the brick oven every week, when 'twas
only done to please him, an' he ain't here to know. Now, 'Melia, le's
see what you could do. When you got the range in, 'twould alter this
kitchen all over.
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