United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction; Villages -- Fiction
And then it was that Fanny Poster, who had been flitting about like a
very spirit of help and curiosity, flitted down the road to Grandma
Wentworth's. For Fanny felt that somebody had to do something and
Fanny knew that nobody could do it so efficiently as the strong, sweet,
gray-eyed Grandma Wentworth who, for all her sweetness, could yet
rebuke most sternly and fearlessly even while she helped and advised
wisely.
Green Valley had its generous share of philosophers and helpful spirits
but Grandma Wentworth towered above them all. And every soul in the
village, when in trouble, turned to her as naturally as flowers turn
their faces to the sun.
Her little vine-clad cottage sat just beyond the curve where the three
roads met at Old Roads Corners. Her back garden was full of the
choicest vegetables and sweetest-smelling herbs and there was a
heavenly array of flowers all about the front windows. The neighbors
said that Grandma Wentworth's house and garden looked just like her and
ministers usually sent their spiritually hopeless cases to her because
she dared and knew how to say the soul-necessary things that no
bread-and-butter-cautious minister can find the courage to say.
The path to Grandma's house was worn smooth by the feet of the many who
came for advice, encouragement and for sheer love of the woman who
lived in that little garden.
And so Fanny went flying to Grandma now, perfectly, childishly
confident that Grandma would and could fix up everything. She began to
talk as soon as she opened the door. But what she saw in Grandma's
kitchen sent the words tumbling down her throat.
For there sat little Alice, eating a late breakfast with Grandma. She
looked a little scared around the eyes but smiley round the mouth and
there was a gold ring on her left hand.
When Grandma caught sight of Fanny she smiled.
"Come right in, Fanny. I've been expecting you. But first let me make
you acquainted with Mrs. Tommy Winston. That rascal of a boy run away
with her last night as far as Spring Road, where Judge Edwards married
them. And then Tommy brought her here to me to spend the night while
he went and rented that funny little box of a house just back of that
stylish Mrs. Brownlee. And that's where the wedding supper's going to
be to-night. Of course you're invited. I'm going right now to see
Milly Sears about what we must cook up and bake. I was going over to
get you too to help out. The little house'll need overhauling but I
know I can depend on you, Fanny. Do your very best and there'll be--"
But by this time Fanny found her voice and began to tell about how
Sears was going on. But Grandma only smiled and said, "Yes, of course,
I know. But don't worry about that. I'll attend to Will Sears. You
two just skip along now to the house and start the wedding."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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