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him.

ā€œShe didnā€™t take no notice, she kepā€™ a nice respectful manner towards him, and when there come a pause she asked if he had any interest about the old Indian remains, and took down some queer stone gouges and hammers off of one of her shelves and showed them to him sameā€™s if he was a boy. He remarked that heā€™d like to walk over anā€™ see the shell-heap; so she went right to the door and pointed him the way. I see then that sheā€™d made her some kind oā€™ sandal-shoes out oā€™ the fine rushes to wear on her feet; she stepped light anā€™ nice in ā€™em as shoes.ā€

Mrs. Fosdick leaned back in her rocking-chair and gave a heavy sigh.

ā€œI didnā€™t move at first, but Iā€™d held out just as long as I could,ā€ said Mrs. Todd, whose voice trembled a little. ā€œWhen Joanna returned from the door, anā€™ I could see that manā€™s stupid back departinā€™ among the wild rose bushes, I just ran to her anā€™ caught her in my arms. I wasnā€™t so big as I be now, and she was older than me, but I hugged her tight, just as if she was a child. ā€˜Oh, Joanna dear,ā€™ I says, ā€˜wonā€™t you come ashore anā€™ live ā€™long oā€™ me at the Landinā€™, or go over to Green Island to motherā€™s when winter comes? Nobody shall trouble you anā€™ mother finds it hard beinā€™ alone. I canā€™t bear to leave you hereā€™ā ā€”and I burst right out crying. Iā€™d had my own trials, young as I was, anā€™ she knew it. Oh, I did entreat her; yes, I entreated Joanna.ā€

ā€œWhat did she say then?ā€ asked Mrs. Fosdick, much moved.

ā€œShe looked the same way, sad anā€™ remote through it all,ā€ said Mrs. Todd mournfully. ā€œShe took hold of my hand, and we sat down close together; ā€™twas as if she turned round anā€™ made a child of me. ā€˜I havenā€™t got no right to live with folks no more,ā€™ she said. ā€˜You must never ask me again, Almiry: Iā€™ve done the only thing I could do, and Iā€™ve made my choice. I feel a great comfort in your kindness, but I donā€™t deserve it. I have committed the unpardonable sin; you donā€™t understand,ā€™ says she humbly. ā€˜I was in great wrath and trouble, and my thoughts was so wicked towards God that I canā€™t expect ever to be forgiven. I have come to know what it is to have patience, but I have lost my hope. You must tell those that ask how ā€™tis with me,ā€™ she said, ā€˜anā€™ tell them I want to be alone.ā€™ I couldnā€™t speak; no, there waā€™nā€™t anything I could say, she seemed so above everything common. I was a good deal younger then than I be now, and I got Nathanā€™s little coral pin out oā€™ my pocket and put it into her hand; and when she saw it and I told her where it come from, her face did really light up for a minute, sort of bright anā€™ pleasant. ā€˜Nathan anā€™ I was always good friends; Iā€™m glad he donā€™t think hard of me,ā€™ says she. ā€˜I want you to have it, Almiry, anā€™ wear it for love oā€™ both oā€™ us,ā€™ and she handed it back to me. ā€˜You give my love to Nathanā ā€”heā€™s a dear good man,ā€™ she said; ā€˜anā€™ tell your mother, if I should be sick she mustnā€™t wish I could get well, but I want her to be the one to come.ā€™ Then she seemed to have said all she wanted to, as if she was done with the world, and we sat there a few minutes longer together. It was real sweet and quiet except for a good many birds and the sea rollinā€™ up on the beach; but at last she rose, anā€™ I did too, and she kissed me and held my hand in hers a minute, as if to say goodbye; then she turned and went right away out oā€™ the door and disappeared.

ā€œThe minister come back pretty soon, and I told him I was all ready, and we started down to the boā€™t. He had picked up some round stones and things and was carrying them in his pocket-handkerchief; anā€™ he sat down amidships without making any question, and let me take the rudder anā€™ work the boā€™t, anā€™ made no remarks for some time, until we sort of eased it off speaking of the weather, anā€™ subjects that arose as we skirted Black Island, where two or three families lived belonginā€™ to the parish. He preached next Sabbath as usual, somethinā€™ high soundinā€™ about the creation, and I couldnā€™t help thinkinā€™ he might never get no further; he seemed to know no remedies, but he had a great use of words.ā€

Mrs. Fosdick sighed again. ā€œHearinā€™ you tell about Joanna brings the time right back as if ā€™twas yesterday,ā€ she said. ā€œYes, she was one oā€™ them poor things that talked about the great sin; we donā€™t seem to hear nothing about the unpardonable sin now, but you may say ā€™twas not uncommon then.ā€

ā€œI expect that if it had been in these days, such a person would be plagued to death with idle folks,ā€ continued Mrs. Todd, after a long pause. ā€œAs it was, nobody trespassed on her; all the folks about the bay respected her anā€™ her feelings; but as time wore on, after you left here, one after another ventured to make occasion to put somethinā€™ ashore for her if they went that way. I know mother used to go to see her sometimes, and send William over now and then with something fresh anā€™ nice from the farm. There is a point on the sheltered side where you can lay a boat close to shore anā€™ land anything safe on the turf out oā€™ reach oā€™ the water. There were one or two others, old folks, that she would see, and now anā€™ then sheā€™d hail a passinā€™ boat anā€™ ask for

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