"
For many nights before the raising, when she went to her bed, she
said to herself after she had finished her prayers: "It can't be
true that I'm chosen for the State of Maine! It just can't be
true! Nobody could be good enough, but oh, I'll try to be as good
as I can! To be going to Wareham Seminary next week and to be the
State of Maine too! Oh! I must pray hard to God to keep me meek
and humble!"
The flag was to be raised on a Tuesday, and on the previous
Sunday it became known to the children that Clara Belle Simpson
was coming back from Acreville, coming to live with Mrs. Fogg and
take care of the baby. Clara Belle was one of Miss Dearborn's
original flock, and if she were left wholly out of the
festivities she would be the only girl of suitable age to be thus
slighted; it seemed clear to the juvenile mind, therefore, that
neither she nor her descendants would ever recover from such a
blow. But, under all the circumstances, would she be allowed to
join in the procession? Even Rebecca, the optimistic, feared not,
and the committee confirmed her fears by saying that Abner
Simpson's daughter certainly could not take any prominent part in
the ceremony, but that they hoped Mrs. Fogg would allow her to
witness it.
When Abner Simpson, urged by the town authorities, took his wife
and seven children away from Riverboro to Acreville, just over
the border in the next county, Riverboro went to bed leaving its
barn and shed doors unfastened, and drew long breaths of
gratitude to Providence.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55