MaryE.WilkinsFreeman

(1852-1930)

MaryE.WilkinsFreeman

1ShewasborninRandolph,Massachusetts,andattendedMountHolyokeCollegeinSouthHadley,Massachusetts,from1870–1871.Freeman'sparentswereorthodoxCongregationalists,causinghertohaveaverystrictchildhood.Religiousconstraintsplayakeyroleinsomeofherworks.ShepassedthegreaterpartofherlifeinMassachusettsandVermont.Freemanherselfmarriedlateinlife,weddingDr.CharlesFreemanwhenshewasforty-nine.Afteraninitialperiodofharmony,themarriageendedinseparationwhenshehadherhusbandinstitutionalizedforalcoholism.

ShewasborninRandolph,Mass2AchievementsIn1926shewasawardedtheWilliamDeanHowellsGoldMedalforFictionbytheAmericanAcademyofLetters,andlaterthatyearshewasinductedintotheprestigiousNationalInstituteforArtsandLetters.ShediedinMetuchenandwasinterredinHillsideCemeteryinScotchPlains,NewJersey.AchievementsIn1926shewasaw3PrimaryWorks

AHumbleRomanceandOtherStories.1887.ANewEnglandNunandOtherStories.1891.Pembroke.1894.Silence,andOtherStories.1898.TheRevoltofMotherandOtherStories.1974.PrimaryWorks

AHumbleRomance4ThefeatureofherworksNarratedinafirmandobjectivemannerwithoccasionalsubtleundertonesofhumorandirony,Freeman’sstoriesweredeftcharacterstudiesofsomehowexceptionalpeoplewho,trappedbypovertyorotherhandicapsinsterile,restrictivecircumstances,reactinvariouswaysagainsttheirsituations.HeruseofNewEnglandvillageandcountrysidesettingsanddialectsplacedherstoriesinthe

localcolor

movement,andherworktherebyenjoyedanaddedvogue;nevertheless,sheavoidedthesentimentalitythencurrentinpopularliterature.ThefeatureofherworksNarr5WhileFreeman'ssuccessfulcareeraffordedherfinancialsecurityandagreatdealofautonomy,herbestfictionfocusesontheplightofwomenwhoselivesareboundedbypovertyandthesocialconstraintsimposedonthembytheirstrictreligiousbeliefsandtheirpositionaswomen.FascinatedbytheimpactoftraditionalPuritanvaluesofsubmissiveness,frugality,andself-denialonNewEnglandculture,FreemanoftenportrayedcharacterswhocreateobstaclestotheirownhappinessbytheirstrictadherencetoCalvinistmorality.WhileFreeman'ssuccessfulcar6Inotherstories,however,sheexploredtherebellionsandtriumphsofseeminglymeekwomen,depictingtheirstrategiesforgainingandmaintainingcontrolovertheirdomesticsituationswithhumorandsensitivity.Sheprovidedunflinchingportraitsofboththedifficultiesof"spinsterhood"andtheoftenoppressivepowerdynamicsthatstructurednineteenth-centurymarriage.Inotherstories,however,she7ANewEnglandNunANewEnglandNun8

HistoricalContextReligionandEconomicsMaryWilkinsFreemanwrotemostofherbest-knownshortstoriesinthe1880sand1890s.TheyprovideauniquesnapshotofaparticulartimeandplaceinAmericanhistory.Thesmalltownsofpost-CivilWarNewEnglandwereoftendesolateplaces.Thewaritself,combinedwithurbanization,industrialization,andwestwardexpansion,hadtakenmostoftheyoungable-bodiedmenoutoftheregion.

HistoricalContextReligionan9Theremainingpopulationwaslargelyfemaleandelderly.WomenlikeLouisaEllis,whowaitedmanyyearsforhusbands,brothers,fathersandboyfriendstoreturnfromtheWestorotherplacestheyhadgonetoseekjobs,werenotuncommon.Theareawassufferingfromeconomicdepressionandmanywereforcedtoleavetosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Thereweremanywidowsfromthewar,too,oftenlivinghand-to-mouthandtryingtokeepupappearances.Theremainingpopulationwa10CharactersThemaincharacterinthestoryisLouisaEllis.Theplotfocusesonherdesireforremainingaloneandmaintainingherlifestyle.

Thischaracterisclassifiedasaroundone,moreindividualizedandbelongingtotheeverydayworld.Louisacanbedefinedasanindependentandorganizedwoman.CharactersThemaincharacter11ThesecondarycharactersareJoeDagget,LilyDyer,Joe'smotherandthecommunity.Theyallareclassifiedasflatcharacters,constructedbyadominanttrait.ThesecondarycharactersareJ12PlotANewEnglandNun"isastoryabouttheheroinewholearnedtoliveasolitarylife,despiteherengagementoffifteenyearstoafortunehunter.FreemanbeginsthenovelwithLouisaEllissewinginhersittingroom.Thelatenessoftheafternooncauseshertoperformchoresthroughoutthehouse.Sheismeticulousassheprepareshertea,cooksameal,feedsthedog,andtidiesthehouse.SheispreparingforJoe'sreturn.JoeDaggetisherfiancéoffifteenyears,fourteenofwhichhehasspentseekingfortune.PlotANewEnglandNun"isast13Asshewaits,shethinksaboutthesolitarywaysshehasadoptedduringtheyearsspentwithJoe.Freemanintroducestwocharacterswhodon'treallyknoweachother.Everytimetheycometogether,themeetingisawkwardandforced.Joe'spresenceinterruptsLouisa'speacefulsolitude.Hebringsimbalance.Bytheendofthestory,LouisadiscoversthatJoeisinlovewithsomeoneelseandshecallsofftheengagement.Althoughsheweepsattheloss,sheisgratefultotheideathatshedoesn'thavetogiveupherpersonaldomaintoamarriagewithJoe.

Asshewaits,shethinksabout14NarrationHeterodiegeticnarratorwhodoesknowthestoryandthoughtsofallthecharacters,andtellsastorydifferenttoherown.

Neutralomniscience--3rdpersonnarratorwhohasvoiceandknowseverythingaboutcharacters'lives,dreams,thoughtsandintentions.Thereisnodirectauthorialintrusion:thenarratorjusttellsthestoryandthereasoningofhercharacters'mind,anddoesnotgiveherownopinionaboutthematter.NarrationHeterodiegeticnarra15SymbolsLouisa'spet:theyaresymbolsofLouisa'scaptivity.Louisa'spets,likeher,arelivinglivesthataredifferentfromthewaytheywouldexistnaturally.Thus,asthedogischainedandthecanaryiscaged,Louisaisconfinedatherhomevoluntarily,andrejectshernaturalinclinationstomotherhood.SymbolsLouisa'spet:theyare16SymbolsTheyellowcanary:

ItsymbolizesthewayhowLouisaisseenbyJoe,thewomanisconsideredtomeameredecorativeobjectwiththeonlyfunctionofbeingwifeandmother.Moreover,thecanary'swildflutteringwhenJoeappearsreflectsLouisa'sanxietyoverchange.ForLouisaJoesupposesathreattohersecurityandserenity.SymbolsTheyellowcanary:

It17ThedogCaesar

representsthewayinwhichLouisaseesherself.CaesarhasbeenchainedforthesameperiodoftimethatJoehasbeenaway.ThisfactleadsustointerpretthatbothCaesarandLouisaaretiedtosomethingbecauseofamistakethattheycommitted.Caesarbitaneighbor,soitspunishmentconsistsonremainchained;Louisawasengaged,soshehadtobetiedtothispromiseandrenouncetoherindependence.ThedogCaesar

representsthe18Theauthoralsoemphasizesthehermit-likeexistencethatCaesarenduresundertheworriedeyeofLouisa(whoisalsoanhermit).Thefearshefeelsoftakingthedogoutislinkedtoherfearfortheunknown.Thus,shepreferstostayathomeinsteadofgoingtoastrangehouseandchanginghercustoms.Louisa'shome:

itislinkedtotheideaofharmony,orderandserenity.Thehouserepresentstheknown.Theauthoralsoemphasizesthe19Discussion1.Whatisthestructureofthisshortstory?2.WhydoesLouisawearthreeapronsatthesametime?Andwhatdoesthatindicate?3.Whatdetailswillforeshadowtheendingofthisshortstory?Discussion1.Whatisthestruc20

tiredfarmersItwaslateintheafternoon,andthelightwaswaning.Therewasadifferenceinthelookofthetreeshadowsoutintheyard.Somewhereinthedistancecowswerelowingandalittlebellwastinkling;nowandthenafarm-wagontiltedby,andthedustflew;someblue-shirtedlaborerswithshovelsovertheirshouldersploddedpast;littleswarmsoffliesweredancingupanddownbeforethepeoples'facesinthesoftair.Thereseemedtobeagentlestirarisingovereverythingforthemeresakeofsubsidence--averypremonitionofrestandhushandnight.tiredfarmersItwaslatein21ThissoftdiurnalcommotionwasoverLouisaEllisalso.Shehadbeenpeacefullysewingathersitting-roomwindowalltheafternoon.Nowshequiltedherneedlecarefullyintoherwork,whichshefoldedprecisely,andlaidinabasketwithherthimbleandthreadandscissors.LouisaElliscouldnotrememberthateverinherlifeshehadmislaidoneoftheselittlefeminineappurtenances,whichhadbecome,fromlonguseandconstantassociation,averypartofherpersonality.LouisaEllisThissoftdiurnalcommotionwa22WhatisLouisadoinginhergarden?Louisatiedagreenapronroundherwaist,andgotoutaflatstrawhatwithagreenribbon.Thenshewentintothegardenwithalittlebluecrockerybowl,topicksomecurrantsforhertea.Afterthecurrantswerepickedshesatonthebackdoor-stepandstemmedthem,collectingthestemscarefullyinherapron,andafterwardsthrowingthemintothehen-coop.Shelookedsharplyatthegrassbesidethesteptoseeifanyhadfallenthere.WhatisLouisadoinginherga23"Ceasar!"shecalled."Ceasar!Ceasar!"Therewasalittlerush,andtheclankofachain,andalargeyellow-and-whitedogappearedatthedoorofhistinyhut,whichwashalfhiddenamongthetallgrassesandflowers.Louisapattedhimandgavehimthecorn-cakes.Thenshereturnedtothehouseandwashedthetea-things,polishingthechinacarefully.Thetwilighthaddeepened;thechorusofthefrogsfloatedinattheopenwindowwonderfullyloudandshrill,andonceinawhilealongsharpdronefromatree-toadpiercedit.Louisatookoffhergreenginghamapron,disclosingashorteroneofpinkandwhiteprint.Shelightedherlamp,andsatdownagainwithhersewing."Ceasar!"shecalled."Ceasar!24C?sarwasaveritablehermitofadog.

Louisa’sfavoritedog“C?sar’.C?sarwasaveritablehermito25JoeDaggetInabouthalfanhourJoeDaggetcame.Sheheardhisheavysteponthewalk,androseandtookoffherpink-and-whiteapron.Underthatwasstillanother--whitelinenwithalittlecambricedgingonthebottom;thatwasLouisa'scompanyapron.Sheneverworeitwithouthercalicosewingapronoveritunlessshehadaguest.Shehadbarelyfoldedthepinkandwhiteonewithmethodicalhasteandlaiditinatable-drawerwhenthedooropenedandJoeDaggetentered.JoeDaggetInabouthalfanhou26YellowcanaryHeseemedtofillupthewholeroom.Alittleyellowcanarythathadbeenasleepinhisgreencageatthesouthwindowwokeupandflutteredwildly,beatinghislittleyellowwingsagainstthewires.HealwaysdidsowhenJoeDaggetcameintotheroom."Good-evening,"saidLouisa.Sheextendedherhandwithakindofsolemncordiality.YellowcanaryHeseemedtofill27Sheplacedachairforhim,andtheysatfacingeachother,withthetablebetweenthem.Hesatbolt-upright,toeingouthisheavyfeetsquarely,glancingwithagood-humoreduneasinessaroundtheroom.Shesatgentlyerect,foldingherslenderhandsinherwhite-linenlap."Beenapleasantday,"remarkedDagget.Louisa’sBehavior

Sheplacedachairforhim,an28DialoguebetweenLouisaandJoeHewasnotveryyoung,buttherewasaboyishlookabouthislargeface.Louisawasnotquiteasoldashe,herfacewasfairerandsmoother,butshegavepeopletheimpressionofbeingolder.

"Isupposeshe'sagooddealofhelptoyourmother,"shesaid,further."Iguesssheis;Idon'tknowhowmother'dgetalongwithouther,"saidDagget,withasortofembarrassedwarmth."Shelookslikearealcapablegirl.She'spretty-lookingtoo,"remarkedLouisa."Yes,sheisprettyfairlooking."DialoguebetweenLouisaandJo29JoeescapedfromherhouseWhenJoeDaggetwasoutsidehedrewinthesweeteveningairwithasigh,andfeltmuchasaninnocentandperfectlywell-intentionedbearmightafterhisexitfromachinashop.Louisa,onherpart,feltmuchasthekind-hearted,long-sufferingownerofthechinashopmighthavedoneaftertheexitofthebear.JoeescapedfromherhouseWhen30LilyDyerAppears

"That'sLilyDyer,"thoughtLouisatoherself.Thevoiceembodieditselfinhermind.Shesawagirltallandfull-figured,withafirm,fairface,lookingfairerandfirmerinthemoonlight,herstrongyellowhairbraidedinacloseknot.Agirlfullofacalmrusticstrengthandbloom,withamasterfulwaywhichmighthavebeseemedaprincess.LilyDyerwasafavoritewiththevillagefolk;shehadjustthequalitiestoarousetheadmiration.Shewasgoodandhandsomeandsmart.Louisahadoftenheardherpraisessounded.LilyDyerAppears"That'sLily31afullmoonthatnightTherewasafullmoonthatnight.Aboutnineo'clockLouisastrolleddowntheroadalittleway.Therewereharvest-fieldsoneitherhand,borderedbylowstonewalls.Luxuriantclumpsofbushesgrewbesidethewall,andtrees--wildcherryandoldapple-trees--atintervals.PresentlyLouisasatdownonthewallandlookedaboutherwithmildlysorrowfulreflectiveness.Tallshrubsofblueberryandmeadow-sweet,allwoventogetherandtangledwithblackberryvinesandhorsebriers,shutherinoneitherside.Shehadalittleclearspacebetweenthem.afullmoonthatnightTherewa32LouisabecameanunShegazedaheadthroughalongreachoffuturedaysstrungtogetherlikepearlsinarosary,everyoneliketheothers,andallsmoothandflawlessandinnocent,andherheartwentupinthankfulness.Outsidewasthefervidsummerafternoon;theairwasfilledwiththesoundsofthebusyharvestofmenandbirdsandbees;therewerehalloos,metallicclatterings,sweetcalls,andlonghummings.Louisasat,prayerfullynumberingherdays,likeanuncloisterednun.LouisabecameanunShegazeda33MaryE.WilkinsFreeman

(1852-1930)

MaryE.WilkinsFreeman

34ShewasborninRandolph,Massachusetts,andattendedMountHolyokeCollegeinSouthHadley,Massachusetts,from1870–1871.Freeman'sparentswereorthodoxCongregationalists,causinghertohaveaverystrictchildhood.Religiousconstraintsplayakeyroleinsomeofherworks.ShepassedthegreaterpartofherlifeinMassachusettsandVermont.Freemanherselfmarriedlateinlife,weddingDr.CharlesFreemanwhenshewasforty-nine.Afteraninitialperiodofharmony,themarriageendedinseparationwhenshehadherhusbandinstitutionalizedforalcoholism.

ShewasborninRandolph,Mass35AchievementsIn1926shewasawardedtheWilliamDeanHowellsGoldMedalforFictionbytheAmericanAcademyofLetters,andlaterthatyearshewasinductedintotheprestigiousNationalInstituteforArtsandLetters.ShediedinMetuchenandwasinterredinHillsideCemeteryinScotchPlains,NewJersey.AchievementsIn1926shewasaw36PrimaryWorks

AHumbleRomanceandOtherStories.1887.ANewEnglandNunandOtherStories.1891.Pembroke.1894.Silence,andOtherStories.1898.TheRevoltofMotherandOtherStories.1974.PrimaryWorks

AHumbleRomance37ThefeatureofherworksNarratedinafirmandobjectivemannerwithoccasionalsubtleundertonesofhumorandirony,Freeman’sstoriesweredeftcharacterstudiesofsomehowexceptionalpeoplewho,trappedbypovertyorotherhandicapsinsterile,restrictivecircumstances,reactinvariouswaysagainsttheirsituations.HeruseofNewEnglandvillageandcountrysidesettingsanddialectsplacedherstoriesinthe

localcolor

movement,andherworktherebyenjoyedanaddedvogue;nevertheless,sheavoidedthesentimentalitythencurrentinpopularliterature.ThefeatureofherworksNarr38WhileFreeman'ssuccessfulcareeraffordedherfinancialsecurityandagreatdealofautonomy,herbestfictionfocusesontheplightofwomenwhoselivesareboundedbypovertyandthesocialconstraintsimposedonthembytheirstrictreligiousbeliefsandtheirpositionaswomen.FascinatedbytheimpactoftraditionalPuritanvaluesofsubmissiveness,frugality,andself-denialonNewEnglandculture,FreemanoftenportrayedcharacterswhocreateobstaclestotheirownhappinessbytheirstrictadherencetoCalvinistmorality.WhileFreeman'ssuccessfulcar39Inotherstories,however,sheexploredtherebellionsandtriumphsofseeminglymeekwomen,depictingtheirstrategiesforgainingandmaintainingcontrolovertheirdomesticsituationswithhumorandsensitivity.Sheprovidedunflinchingportraitsofboththedifficultiesof"spinsterhood"andtheoftenoppressivepowerdynamicsthatstructurednineteenth-centurymarriage.Inotherstories,however,she40ANewEnglandNunANewEnglandNun41

HistoricalContextReligionandEconomicsMaryWilkinsFreemanwrotemostofherbest-knownshortstoriesinthe1880sand1890s.TheyprovideauniquesnapshotofaparticulartimeandplaceinAmericanhistory.Thesmalltownsofpost-CivilWarNewEnglandwereoftendesolateplaces.Thewaritself,combinedwithurbanization,industrialization,andwestwardexpansion,hadtakenmostoftheyoungable-bodiedmenoutoftheregion.

HistoricalContextReligionan42Theremainingpopulationwaslargelyfemaleandelderly.WomenlikeLouisaEllis,whowaitedmanyyearsforhusbands,brothers,fathersandboyfriendstoreturnfromtheWestorotherplacestheyhadgonetoseekjobs,werenotuncommon.Theareawassufferingfromeconomicdepressionandmanywereforcedtoleavetosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Thereweremanywidowsfromthewar,too,oftenlivinghand-to-mouthandtryingtokeepupappearances.Theremainingpopulationwa43CharactersThemaincharacterinthestoryisLouisaEllis.Theplotfocusesonherdesireforremainingaloneandmaintainingherlifestyle.

Thischaracterisclassifiedasaroundone,moreindividualizedandbelongingtotheeverydayworld.Louisacanbedefinedasanindependentandorganizedwoman.CharactersThemaincharacter44ThesecondarycharactersareJoeDagget,LilyDyer,Joe'smotherandthecommunity.Theyallareclassifiedasflatcharacters,constructedbyadominanttrait.ThesecondarycharactersareJ45PlotANewEnglandNun"isastoryabouttheheroinewholearnedtoliveasolitarylife,despiteherengagementoffifteenyearstoafortunehunter.FreemanbeginsthenovelwithLouisaEllissewinginhersittingroom.Thelatenessoftheafternooncauseshertoperformchoresthroughoutthehouse.Sheismeticulousassheprepareshertea,cooksameal,feedsthedog,andtidiesthehouse.SheispreparingforJoe'sreturn.JoeDaggetisherfiancéoffifteenyears,fourteenofwhichhehasspentseekingfortune.PlotANewEnglandNun"isast46Asshewaits,shethinksaboutthesolitarywaysshehasadoptedduringtheyearsspentwithJoe.Freemanintroducestwocharacterswhodon'treallyknoweachother.Everytimetheycometogether,themeetingisawkwardandforced.Joe'spresenceinterruptsLouisa'speacefulsolitude.Hebringsimbalance.Bytheendofthestory,LouisadiscoversthatJoeisinlovewithsomeoneelseandshecallsofftheengagement.Althoughsheweepsattheloss,sheisgratefultotheideathatshedoesn'thavetogiveupherpersonaldomaintoamarriagewithJoe.

Asshewaits,shethinksabout47NarrationHeterodiegeticnarratorwhodoesknowthestoryandthoughtsofallthecharacters,andtellsastorydifferenttoherown.

Neutralomniscience--3rdpersonnarratorwhohasvoiceandknowseverythingaboutcharacters'lives,dreams,thoughtsandintentions.Thereisnodirectauthorialintrusion:thenarratorjusttellsthestoryandthereasoningofhercharacters'mind,anddoesnotgiveherownopinionaboutthematter.NarrationHeterodiegeticnarra48SymbolsLouisa'spet:theyaresymbolsofLouisa'scaptivity.Louisa'spets,likeher,arelivinglivesthataredifferentfromthewaytheywouldexistnaturally.Thus,asthedogischainedandthecanaryiscaged,Louisaisconfinedatherhomevoluntarily,andrejectshernaturalinclinationstomotherhood.SymbolsLouisa'spet:theyare49SymbolsTheyellowcanary:

ItsymbolizesthewayhowLouisaisseenbyJoe,thewomanisconsideredtomeameredecorativeobjectwiththeonlyfunctionofbeingwifeandmother.Moreover,thecanary'swildflutteringwhenJoeappearsreflectsLouisa'sanxietyoverchange.ForLouisaJoesupposesathreattohersecurityandserenity.SymbolsTheyellowcanary:

It50ThedogCaesar

representsthewayinwhichLouisaseesherself.CaesarhasbeenchainedforthesameperiodoftimethatJoehasbeenaway.ThisfactleadsustointerpretthatbothCaesarandLouisaaretiedtosomethingbecauseofamistakethattheycommitted.Caesarbitaneighbor,soitspunishmentconsistsonremainchained;Louisawasengaged,soshehadtobetiedtothispromiseandrenouncetoherindependence.ThedogCaesar

representsthe51Theauthoralsoemphasizesthehermit-likeexistencethatCaesarenduresundertheworriedeyeofLouisa(whoisalsoanhermit).Thefearshefeelsoftakingthedogoutislinkedtoherfearfortheunknown.Thus,shepreferstostayathomeinsteadofgoingtoastrangehouseandchanginghercustoms.Louisa'shome:

itislinkedtotheideaofharmony,orderandserenity.Thehouserepresentstheknown.Theauthoralsoemphasizesthe52Discussion1.Whatisthestructureofthisshortstory?2.WhydoesLouisawearthreeapronsatthesametime?Andwhatdoesthatindicate?3.Whatdetailswillforeshadowtheendingofthisshortstory?Discussion1.Whatisthestruc53

tiredfarmersItwaslateintheafternoon,andthelightwaswaning.Therewasadifferenceinthelookofthetreeshadowsoutintheyard.Somewhereinthedistancecowswerelowingandalittlebellwastinkling;nowandthenafarm-wagontiltedby,andthedustflew;someblue-shirtedlaborerswithshovelsovertheirshouldersploddedpast;littleswarmsoffliesweredancingupanddownbeforethepeoples'facesinthesoftair.Thereseemedtobeagentlestirarisingovereverythingforthemeresakeofsubsidence--averypremonitionofrestandhushandnight.tiredfarmersItwaslatein54ThissoftdiurnalcommotionwasoverLouisaEllisalso.Shehadbeenpeacefullysewingathersitting-roomwindowalltheafternoon.Nowshequiltedherneedlecarefullyintoherwork,whichshefoldedprecisely,andlaidinabasketwithherthimbleandthreadandscissors.LouisaElliscouldnotrememberthateverinherlifeshehadmislaidoneoftheselittlefeminineappurtenances,whichhadbecome,fromlonguseandconstantassociation,averypartofherpersonality.LouisaEllisThissoftdiurnalcommotionwa55WhatisLouisadoinginhergarden?Louisatiedagreenapronroundherwaist,andgotoutaflatstrawhatwithagreenribbon.Thenshewentintothegardenwithalittlebluecrockerybowl,topicksomecurrantsforhertea.Afterthecurrantswerepickedshesatonthebackdoor-stepandstemmedthem,collectingthestemscarefullyinherapron,andafterwardsthrowingthemintothehen-coop.Shelookedsharplyatthegrassbesidethesteptoseeifanyhadfallenthere.WhatisLouisadoinginherga56"Ceasar!"shecalled."Ceasar!Ceasar!"Therewasalittlerush,andtheclankofachain,andalargeyellow-and-whitedogappearedatthedoorofhistinyhut,whichwashalfhiddenamongthetallgrassesandflowers.Louisapattedhimandgavehimthecorn-cakes.Thenshereturnedtothehouseandwashedthetea-things,polishingthechinacarefully.Thetwilighthaddeepened;thechorusofthefrogsfloatedinattheopenwindowwonderfullyloudandshrill,andonceinawhilealongsharpdronefromatree-toadpiercedit.Louisatookoffhergreenginghamapron,disclosingashorteroneofpinkandwhiteprint.Shelightedherlamp,andsatdownagainwithhersewing."Ceasar!"shecalled."Ceasar!57C?sarwasaveritablehermitofadog.

Louisa’sfavoritedog“C?sar’.C?sarwasaveritablehermito58JoeDaggetInabouthalfanhourJoeDaggetcame.Sheheardhisheavysteponthewalk,androseandtookoffherpink-and-whiteapron.Underthatwasstillanother--whitelinenwithalittlecambricedgingonthebottom;thatwasLouisa'scompanyapron.Sheneverworeitwithouthercalicosewingapronoveritunlessshehadaguest.Shehadbarelyfoldedthepinkandwhiteonewithmethodicalhasteandlaiditinatable-drawerwhenthedooropenedandJoeDaggetentered.JoeDaggetInabouthalfanhou59YellowcanaryHeseemedtofillupthewholeroom.Alittleyellowcanarythathadbeenasleepinhisgreencageatthesouthwindowwokeupandflutteredwildly,beatinghislittleyellowwingsagainstthewires.HealwaysdidsowhenJoeDaggetcameintotheroom."Good-evening,"saidLouisa.Sheextendedherhandwithakindofsolemncordiality.YellowcanaryHeseemedtofill60Sheplacedachairforhim,andtheysatfacingeachother,withthetablebetweenthem.Hesatbolt-upright,toeingouthisheavyfeetsquarely,glancingwithagood-humor