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Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith, 1856-1923

"Mother Carey's Chickens"

That sort of cousin is always right, whatever she
says. Mine was not named Ann; she was Emma, but the principle
is the same.
"Nancy!" asked Mrs. Carey, looking away from the letter again, "did you
say anything about your Cousin Ann?"
"Yes, some little thing or other; for it was her money that we couldn't
spend until we knew we could stay in the house. I didn't describe her,
of course, to Mr. Hamilton; I just told him she was very businesslike,
and yes, I remember now, I told him you said she was a very fine person;
that's about all. But you see how clever he is! he just has 'instinks,'
as Mr. Popham says, and you don't have to tell him much about anything."
If you are intending to bring the water from the well into the
house and put a large stove in the cellar to warm some of the
upper rooms; if you are papering and painting inside, and
keeping the place in good condition, you are preserving my
property and even adding to its value; so under the
circumstances I could not think of accepting any rent in
money.
"No rent! Not even the sixty dollars!" exclaimed Nancy.
"Look; that is precisely what he says."
"There never was such a dear since the world began!" cried Nancy
joyously. "Oh! do read on; there's a lot more, and the last may
contradict the first."
Shall I tell you what more the Careys may do for me, they who
have done so much already?
"So much!" quoted Nancy with dramatic emphasis.


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