Story of Waitstill Baxter | Page 7

is a terrible care for him, and like to spoil his life," said Patty.
"There are cares that swell the heart and make it bigger and warmer,
Patty, just as there are cares that shrivel it and leave it tired and cold.
Love lightens Ivory's afflictions but that is something you and I have to
do without, so it seems."
"I suppose little Rodman is some comfort to the Boyntons, even if he is
only ten." Patty suggested.
"No doubt. He's a good little fellow, and though it's rather hard for
Ivory to be burdened for these last five years with the support of a child
who's no nearer kin than a cousin, still he's of use, minding Mrs.
Boynton and the house when Ivory's away. The school-teacher says he
is wonderful at his books and likely to be a great credit to the Boyntons
some day or other."
"You've forgot to name our one great blessing, Waity, and I believe,
anyway, you're talking to keep my mind off the earrings!"
"You mean we've each other? No, Patty, I never forget that, day or
night. 'Tis that makes me willing to bear any burden father chooses to
put upon us.--Now the bread is set, but I don't believe I have the
courage to put a needle into your tender flesh, Patty; I really don't."
"Nonsense! I've got the waxed silk all ready and chosen the right-sized

needle and I'll promise not to jump or screech more than I can help.
We'll make a tiny lead-pencil dot right in the middle of the lobe, then
you place the needle on it, shut your eyes, and JAB HARD! I expect to
faint, but when I 'come to,' we can decide which of us will pull the
needle through to the other side. Probably it will be you, I'm such a
coward. If it hurts dreadfully, I'll have only one pierced to-day and take
the other to-morrow; and if it hurts very dreadfully, perhaps I'll go
through life with one ear-ring. Aunt Abby Cole will say it's just odd
enough to suit me!"
"You'll never go through life with one tongue at the rate you use it
now," chided Waitstill, "for it will never last you. Come, we'll take the
work-basket and go out in the barn where no one will see or hear us."
"Goody, goody! Come along!" and Patty clapped her hands in triumph.
"Have you got the pencil and the needle and the waxed silk? Then
bring the camphor bottle to revive me, and the coral pendants, too, just
to give me courage. Hurry up! It's ten o'clock. I was born at sun-rise, so
I'm 'going on' eighteen and can't waste any time!"

III
DEACON BAXTER'S WIVES
FOXWELL BAXTER was ordinarily called "Old Foxy" by the boys of
the district, and also, it is to be feared, by the men gathered for evening
conference at the various taverns, or at one of the rival village stores.
He had a small farm of fifteen or twenty acres, with a pasture, a wood
lot, and a hay-field, but the principal source of his income came from
trading. His sign bore the usual legend: "WEST INDIA GOODS AND
GROCERIES," and probably the most profitable articles in his stock
were rum, molasses, sugar, and tobacco; but there were chests of rice,
tea, coffee, and spices, barrels of pork in brine, as well as piles of
cotton and woolen cloth on the shelves above the counters. His shop
window, seldom dusted or set in order, held a few clay pipes, some

glass jars of peppermint or sassafras lozenges, black licorice,
stick-candy, and sugar gooseberries. These dainties were seldom
renewed, for it was only a very bold child, or one with an ungovernable
appetite for sweets, who would have spent his penny at Foxy Baxter's
store.
He was thought a sharp and shrewd trader, but his honesty was never
questioned; indeed, the only trait in his character that ever came up for
general discussion was his extraordinary, unbelievable, colossal
meanness. This so eclipsed every other passion in the man, and loomed
so bulkily and insistently in the foreground, that had he cherished a
second vice no one would have observed it, and if he really did possess
a casual virtue, it could scarcely have reared its head in such ugly
company.
It might be said, to defend the fair name of the Church, that Mr.
Baxter's deaconhood did not include very active service in the courts of
the Lord. He had "experienced religion" at fifteen and made profession
of his faith, but all well-brought-up boys and girls did the same in those
days; their parents saw to that! If change of conviction or backsliding
occurred later on, that was not their business! At the ripe age of