One morning about ten days after the departure of
Walter, the good people of Glenwood were greatly surprised
at the unusual confusion which seemed to pervade

[figure description] Page 095.[end figure description]

the homestead. The blinds were taken off, windows taken
out, carpets taken up, and where so lately physicians,
clergymen and death had officiated, were now seen carpenters,
masons and other workmen. Many were the
surmises as to the cause of all this; and one old lady, more
curious than the rest, determined upon a friendly call, to
ascertain, if possible, what was going on.

She found Mrs. Hamilton with her sleeves rolled up,
and her hair tucked under a black cap, consulting with a
carpenter about enlarging her bedroom and adding to it
a bathing room. Being received but coldly by the mistress
of the house, she descended to the basement, where
she was told by Aunt Polly that “the blinds were going
to be repainted, an addition built, the house turned wrong
side out, and Cain raised generally.”

“It's a burning shame,” said Aunt Polly, warmed up
by her subject and the hot oven into which she was thrusting
loaves of bread and pies. “It's a burning shame,—a
tearin' down and a goin' on this way, and marster not
cold in his grave. Miss Lenora, with all her badness, says
it's disgraceful, but he might ha' know'd it. I did. I
know'd it the fust time she came here a nussin'. I don't
see what got into him to have her. Polly Pepper, without
any larnin', never would ha' done such a thing,” continued
she, as the door closed upon her visitor, who was
anxious to carry the gossip back to the village.

It was even as Aunt Polly had said. Mrs. Hamilton, who
possessed a strong propensity for pulling down and building
up, and who would have made an excellent carpenter,
had long had an earnest desire for improving the homestead;
and now that there was no one to prevent her, she
went to work with a right good will, saying to Lenora,
who remonstrated with her upon the impropriety of her
conduct, that “she was merely carrying out dear Mr.

[figure description] Page 096.[end figure description]

Hamilton's plans,” who had proposed making these changes
before his death.

“Dear Mr. Hamilton!” repeated Lenora, “very dear
has he become to you, all at once. I think if you had always
manifested a little more affection for him and his,
they might not have been where they now are.”

“Seems to me you take a different text from what you
did some months ago,” said Mrs. Hamilton; “but perhaps
you don't remember the time?”

“I remember it well,” answered Lenora, “and quite
likely, with your training, I should do the same again.
We were poor, and I wished for a more elegant home. I
fancied that Margaret Hamilton was proud and had slighted
me, and I longed for revenge; but when I knew her,
I liked her better, and when I saw that she was not to be
trampled down by you or me, my hatred of her turned to
admiration. The silly man, who has paid the penalty of
his weakness, I always despised; but when I saw how fast
the gray hairs thickened on his head, and how care-worn
and bowed down he grew, I pitied him, for I knew that
his heart was breaking. Willie I truly, unselfishly loved;
and I am charitable enough to think that even you loved
him, but it was through your neglect that he died, and
for his death you will answer. Carrie was gentle and
trusting, but weak, like her father. I do not think you
killed her, for she was dying when we came here, but you
put the crowning act of wickedness to your life, when you
compelled a man, shattered in body and intellect, to write
a will which disinherited his only son; but on that point
you are baffled. To be sure, you've got the homestead,
and for decency's sake I think I'd wait awhile longer, ere
I commenced tearing down and building up.”

Lenora's words had no effect, whatever, upon her mother,
who still kept on with her plans, treating with silent

[figure description] Page 097.[end figure description]

contempt the remarks of the neighbors, or wishing, perhaps,
that they would attend to their own business, just as she
was attending to hers! Day after day the work went on.
Scaffoldings were raised—paper and plastering torn off—
boards were seasoning in the sun — shingles lying upon
the ground — ladders raised against the wall; and all this
while the two new graves showed not a single blade of
grass, and the earth upon them looked black and fresh as
it did when first it was placed there.

When, at last, the blinds were hung, the house cleaned,
and the carpets nailed down, Mrs. Hamilton, who had designed
doing it all the time, called together the servants,
whom she had always disliked on account of their preference
for Margaret, and told them to look for new places,
as their services were no longer needed there.

“You can make out your bills,” said she, at the same
time intimating that they hadn't one of them more than
earned their board, if indeed they had that! Polly Pepper
wasn't of a material to stand coolly by and hear such
language from one whom she considered far beneath her.
“Hadn't she as good a right there as anybody? Yes, indeed,
she had! Wasn't she there a full thirty year before
any of your low-lived trash came round a nussin?”

“Polly,” interposed Mrs. Hamilton, “leave the room,
instantly, you ungrateful thing'!”

“Ungrateful for what?” returned old Polly. “Haven't
I worked and slaved like an old nigger, as I am? and now
you call me ungrateful, and say I hain't half arnt my bread.
I'll sue you for slander, yes I will;” and the enraged Polly
left the room, muttering to herself, “half arnt my board!
Indeed! I'll bet I've made a hundred thousan' pies, to
say nothin' of the puddings. I not arn my board!”

When once again safe in what for so many years had
been her own peculiar province, she sat down to meditate.

[figure description] Page 098.[end figure description]

“I'd as good go without any fuss,” thought she, “but
my curse on the madam who sends me away!”

In the midst of her reverie, Lenora entered the kitchen,
and to her the old lady detailed her grievances, ending
with, “'Pears like she don't know nothin' at all about
etiquette, nor nothin' else.”

“Etiquette!” repeated Lenora. “You are mistaken,
Polly; mother would sit on a point of etiquette till she
wore the back breadth of her dress out. But it isn't that
which she lacks — it's decency. But, Polly,” said she,
changing the subject, “where do you intend to go, and
how?”

“To my brother Sam's,” said Polly. “He lives three
miles in the country, and I've sent Robin to the village for
a horse and wagon to carry my things.”

Here Mrs. Hamilton entered the kitchen, followed by a
strapping Irish girl, nearly six feet in height. Her hair,
flaming red, was twisted round a huge back comb; her
faded calico dress came far above her ancles; her brawny
arms were folded one over the other; and there was in
her appearance something altogether disagreeable and defiant.
Mrs. Hamilton introduced her as Ruth, her new
cook, saying she hoped she would know enough to keep
her place better than her predecessor had done.

Aunt Polly surveyed her rival from head to foot, and
then glancing aside to Lenora, muttered, “Low-lived, depend
on't.”

Robin now drove up with the wagon, and Mrs. Hamilton
and Lenora left the room, while Polly went to prepare
herself for her ride. Her sleeping apartment was in
the basement and communicated with the kitchen. This
was observed by the new cook, who had a strong dislike
of negroes, and who feared that she might be expected to
occupy the same bed.

[figure description] Page 099.[end figure description]

“An' faith,” said she, “is it where the like of ye have
burrowed that I am to turn in?”

“I don't understand no such low-flung stuff,” answered
Polly, “but if you mean are you to have this bedroom, I
suppose you are.”

Here Polly had occasion to go up stairs for something,
and on her return, she found that Ruth, during her absence,
had set fire to a large linen rag, which she held on
a shovel and was carrying about the bedroom, as if to
purify it from every atom of negro atmosphere which
might remain. Polly was quick-wittted, and instantly
comprehending the truth, she struck the shovel from the
hands of Ruth, exclaiming, “You spalpeen, is it because
my skin ain't a dingy yaller and all freckled like yourn?
Lord, look at your carrot-topped cocoanut, and then tell
me if wool ain't a heap the most genteel.”

In a moment a portion of the boasted wool was lying
on the floor, or being shaken from the thick, red fingers
of the cook, while Irish blood was flowing freely from
the nose, which Polly, in her vengeful wrath, had wrung.
Further hostilities were prevented by Robin, who screamed
that he couldn't wait any longer, and shaking her fist
fiercely at the red-head, Polly departed.

That day Lucy and Rachel also left, and their places
were supplied by two raw hands, one of whom, before the
close of the second day, tumbled up stairs with the large
soup tureen, breaking it in fragments and scalding the foot
of Mrs. Hamilton, who was in the rear, and who, having
waited an hour for dinner, had descended to the kitchen
to know why it was not forthcoming, saying that Polly
had never been so behind the time.

The other one, on being asked if she understood chamber
work, had replied, “Indade, and it's been my business
all my life.” She was accordingly sent to make the

p598-105 [figure description] Page 100.[end figure description]

beds and empty the slop. Thinking it an easy way to dispose
of the latter, she had thrown it from the window,
deluging the head and shoulders of her mistress, who was
bending down to examine a rose-bush which had been recently
set out. Lenora was in ecstasies, and when at
noon her mother received a sprinkling of red-hot soup, she
gravely asked her “which she relished most, cold or warm
baths!”