Chapter 13—Cosey Corner

Vacationwasover,theboyswentbacktoschool,andpoorMacwasleftlamenting.Hewasoutofthedarkenedroomnow,andpromotedtobluegoggles,throughwhichhetookagloomyviewoflife,asmighthavebeenexpectedfortherewasnothinghecoulddobutwanderabout,andtrytoamusehimselfwithoutusinghiseyes.Anyonewhohaseverbeencondemnedtothatsortofidlenessknowshowirksomeitis,andcanunderstandthestateofmindwhichcausedMactosaytoRoseinadesperatetoneoneday, “Lookhere,ifyoudon'tinventsomenewemploymentoramusementforme,Ishallknockmyselfontheheadassureasyoulive.” RoseflewtoUncleAlecforadvice,andheorderedbothpatientandnursetothemountainsforamonth,withAuntJessieandJamieasescort.Pokeyandhermotherjoinedtheparty,andonebrightSeptembermorningsixveryhappy-lookingpeoplewereaboardtheexpresstrainforPortlandtwosmilingmammas,ladenwithluncheonbasketsandwrapsaprettyyounggirlwithabagofbooksonherarmatallthinladwithhishatoverhiseyesandtwosmallchildren,whosatwiththeirshortlegsstraightoutbeforethem,andtheirchubbyfacesbeamingwiththefirstspeechlessdelightof“trulytravelling.” Anespeciallysplendidsunsetseemedtohavebeenpreparedtowelcomethemwhen,afteralongday'sjourney,theydroveintoawide,greendoor-yard,whereawhitecolt,aredcow,twocats,fourkittens,manyhens,andadozenpeople,oldandyoung,weregailydisportingthemselves.Everyonenoddedandsmiledinthefriendliestmanner,andalivelyoldladykissedthenew-comersallround,asshesaidheartily, “Well,now,I'mpropergladtoseeyou!Comerightinandrest,andwe'llhaveteainlessthannotime,foryoumustbetired.Lizzie,youshowthefolksupstairsKitty,youflyroundandhelpfatherinwiththetrunksandJennyandIwillhavethetableallreadybythetimeyoucomedown.Blessthedears,theywanttogoseethepussies,andsotheyshall!” Thethreeprettydaughtersdid“flyround,”andeveryonefeltathomeatonce,allweresohospitableandkind.AuntJessiehadrapturesoverthehome-madecarpets,quiltsandquaintfurnitureRosecouldnotkeepawayfromthewindows,foreachframedalovelypictureandthelittlefolksmadefr