Аня з Авонлеї
I. An Irate Neighbor
Inthefirstplacehekepthouseforhimselfandhadpubliclystatedthathewantednofoolsofwomenaroundhisdiggings.FeminineAvonleatookitsrevengebythegruesometalesitrelatedabouthishouse-keepingandcooking.HehadhiredlittleJohnHenryCarterofWhiteSandsandJohnHenrystartedthestories.Foronething,therewasneveranystatedtimeformealsintheHarrisonestablishment.Mr.Harrison“gotabite”whenhefelthungry,andifJohnHenrywerearoundatthetime,hecameinforashare,butifhewerenot,hehadtowaituntilMr.Harrison’snexthungryspell.JohnHenrymournfullyaverredthathewouldhavestarvedtodeathifitwasn’tthathegothomeonSundaysandgotagoodfillingup,andthathismotheralwaysgavehimabasketof“grub”totakebackwithhimonMondaymornings.
Asforwashingdishes,Mr.HarrisonnevermadeanypretenceofdoingitunlessarainySundaycame.Thenhewenttoworkandwashedthemallatonceintherainwaterhogshead,andleftthemtodraindry.
Again,Mr.Harrisonwas“close.”WhenhewasaskedtosubscribetotheRev.Mr.Allan’ssalaryhesaidhe’dwaitandseehowmanydollars’worthofgoodhegotoutofhispreachingfirst...hedidn’tbelieveinbuyingapiginapoke.AndwhenMrs.Lyndewenttoaskforacontributiontomissions...andincidentallytoseetheinsideofthehouse...hetoldherthereweremoreheathensamongtheoldwomangossipsinAvonleathananywhereelseheknewof,andhe’dcheerfullycontributetoamissionforChristianizingthemifshe’dundertakeit.Mrs.
