Аня из Авонлеи
XIV. A Danger Averted
We’recollectingold-fashionedfixingseverywhere.Mrs.SimonFletcherisgoingtolendushermother’sbraidedrugsandMrs.LeviBoultersomeoldchairsandAuntMaryShawwilllendushercupboardwiththeglassdoors.IsupposeMarillawillletushaveherbrasscandlesticks?Andwewantalltheolddisheswecanget.Mrs.Allanisspeciallysetonhavingarealbluewillowwareplatterifwecanfindone.Butnobodyseemstohaveone.Doyouknowwherewecouldgetone?”
“MissJosephineBarryhasone.I’llwriteandaskherifshe’lllenditfortheoccasion,”saidAnne.
“Well,Iwishyouwould.Iguesswe’llhavethesupperinaboutafortnight’stime.UncleAbeAndrewsisprophesyingrainandstormsforaboutthattime;andthat’saprettysuresignwe’llhavefineweather.”
Thesaid“UncleAbe,”itmaybementioned,wasatleastlikeotherprophetsinthathehadsmallhonorinhisowncountry.Hewas,infact,consideredinthelightofastandingjoke,forfewofhisweatherpredictionswereeverfulfilled.Mr.ElishaWright,wholaboredundertheimpressionthathewasalocalwit,usedtosaythatnobodyinAvonleaeverthoughtoflookingintheCharlottetowndailiesforweatherprobabilities.No;theyjustaskedUncleAbewhatitwasgoingtobetomorrowandexpectedtheopposite.Nothingdaunted,UncleAbekeptonprophesying.
“Wewanttohavethefairoverbeforetheelectioncomesoff,”continuedMrs.Lynde,“forthecandidateswillbesuretocomeandspendlotsofmoney.
