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SundayKate arose early and had the house clean and

everything ready when the first carriage load drove into the

barnyard As she helped her ain

evidenced a rebellious spirit Nancy Ellen had slipped upstairs

and sewed fine white ruching in the neck and sleeves of her

mother's best dress, her only dress, in fact, aside from the

calicoes she worked in Kate combed her mother's hair and drew it

in loose waves across her temples As she produced the dress,

Mrs Bates drew back

"What did you stick theaws onto my dress for?" she

demanded

"I didn't," said Kate

"Oh, it was Nancy Ellen! Well, I don't see why she wanted tostock of me," said Mrs Bates

"She didn't!" said Kate "Everyone is wearing ruching now; she

wanted her mother to have what the best of them have"

"Humph!" said Mrs Bates "Well, I reckon I can stand it until

noon, but it's going to be a hot dose"

"Haven't you a thin black dress, Mother?" asked Kate

"No," said Mrs Bates, "I haven't; but you can make a pretty safe

bet that I will have one before I start anywhere again in such

weather as this"

"That's the proper spirit," said Kate "There comes Andrew Let