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Warner, Anne, 1869-1913

"Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop"

Nothin' else can't
happen to you 'nless the house catches fire."
Then she went out and away.
* * * * *
It was late in the afternoon that Susan entered next door on her
second visitation of mercy.
"Did you like your dinner?" she inquired, as she brought a rocker to
where it would command a fine view of the bed and its occupant.
"Dinner! I ain't had no--"
Miss Clegg screamed.
"Ain't had no dinner! Why, I give it to Jathrop with my own hands.
Everythin' hot, 'n' the whole tucked up nice in the cloth 't I put
over the bird-cage nights. I made the tea awful strong so 's to keep
up your strength, 'n' there was a scramble o' eggs, 'n' one was fresh,
I _know_. Whatever c'n he have done with it, do you suppose?"
"Maybe he ate--" Mrs. Lathrop began.
Her friend chopped her off with a second scream.
"Ate it!--Jathrop Lathrop!--Do you mean to tell me 't I've been
stewin' myself to feed Jathrop Lathrop! 'N' that good egg too. 'N' all
my tea. I declare, but I am aggravated. The fire 's out now 'n'
everythin' 's put away or I'd go 'n' cook you suthin' else, but I'd
never trust that young man to carry it over.


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