Peters will
better herself much."
"I don't blame her, for one!" came in no uncertain tones from the left-wing
pews, and the Widow Buzzell rose from her knees and approached the group by
the pulpit. "If there's anything duller than cookin' three meals a day for
yourself, and settin' down and eatin' 'em by yourself, and then gettin' up and
clearin' 'em away after yourself, I'd like to know it! I should n't want any
good-lookin', pleasant-spoken man to offer himself to me without he expected
to be snapped up, that's all! But if you've made out to get one husband in
York County, you can thank the Lord and not expect any more favors. I used to
think Tom was poor comp'ny and complain I could n't have any conversation with
him, but land, I could talk at him, and there's considerable comfort in that.
And I could pick up after him! Now every room in my house is clean, and every
closet and bureau drawer, too; I can't start drawin' in another rug, for I've
got all the rugs I can step foot on. I dried so many apples last year I shan't
need to cut up any this season. My jelly and preserves ain't out, and there I
am; and there most of us are, in this village, without a man to take steps for
and trot 'round after! There's just three husbands among the fifteen women
scrubbin' here now, and the rest of us is all old maids and widders.
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