Аня з Авонлеї
XVI. The Substance of Things Hoped For
SimonFletcher’sgarret!”gaspedAnne,tooamazedeventolaugh.“DavyKeith,whateverputsuchanextraordinaryideaintoyourhead?”
“MiltyBoultersaysthat’swhereitis.ItwaslastSundayinSundaySchool.ThelessonwasaboutElijahandElisha,andIupandaskedMissRogersonwhereheavenwas.MissRogersonlookedawfuloffended.Shewascrossanyhow,becausewhenshe’daskeduswhatElijahleftElishawhenhewenttoheavenMiltyBoultersaid,‘Hisoldclo’es,’andusfellowsalllaughedbeforewethought.Iwishyoucouldthinkfirstanddothingsafterwards,‘causethenyouwouldn’tdothem.ButMiltydidn’tmeantobedisrespeckful.Hejustcouldn’tthinkofthenameofthething.MissRogersonsaidheavenwaswhereGodwasandIwasn’ttoaskquestionslikethat.Miltynudgedmeandsaidinawhisper,‘Heaven’sinUncleSimon’sgarretandI’llesplainaboutitontheroadhome.’Sowhenwewascominghomeheesplained.Milty’sagreathandatesplainingthings.Evenifhedon’tknowanythingaboutathinghe’llmakeupalotofstuffandsoyougetitesplainedallthesame.HismotherisMrs.Simon’ssisterandhewentwithhertothefuneralwhenhiscousin,JaneEllen,died.Theministersaidshe’dgonetoheaven,thoughMiltysaysshewaslyingrightbeforetheminthecoffin.Buthes’posedtheycarriedthecoffintothegarretafterwards.Well,whenMiltyandhismotherwentupstairsafteritwasallovertogetherbonnetheaskedherwhereheavenwasthatJaneEllenhadgoneto,andshepointedrighttotheceilingandsaid,‘Upthere.
