,,XIX

  ,,D1CON ,,ISRAEL'S ,,SU3ESSOR

  ,X 0 A V SMALL MEET+1 AUNT ,MIR&A10
2GAN ,REBE3A1 8&! MIS.N>Y & 8 WIFE >E
LOVELY P1 & !Y >E -+ "H 6/AY ALL NI<T &
TM ) Y4 ,I HOPE Y WON'T M9D40

  8,-+ "H60 EXCLAIM$ ,MIR&A1 LETT+ H]
KNITT+ FALL 9 H] LAP1 & TAK+ H]
SPECTACLES (F1 Z %E ALW DID 9 MO;TS (
EXTREME EXCITE;T4 8,DID !Y 9VITE !MVS80

  8,NO10 ,REBE3A ANSW]$4 8,I _H 69VITE
!M = Y2 B ,I ?"\ Y'D L 6H S* 9T]E/+
-PANY4 ,X 0 ? WAY0--








  8,/OP YR EXPLA99'1 & TELL ME F/ :5
!Y'LL 2 "H4 ,"R AWAY80

  8,NO1 N = TWO H\RS--AB HALF PA/ FIVE40

  8,!N Y C EXPLA91 IF Y C1 :O GAVE Y ANY
AU?OR;Y 69VITE A PASSEL ( /RANG]S 6/OP
"H OV] NI<T1 :5 Y "K WE A9'T _H ANY
-PANY = TW5TY YE>S1 & DON'T 9T5D 6H ANY
= ANO!R TW5TY1--OR AT ANY RATE :ILE ,I'M
! H1D (! H\SE40

  8,DON'T BLAME H]1 ,MIR&A1 TILL Y'VE
HE>D H] /ORY10 SD ,JANE4 8,X 0 9 MY M9D
"R AL;G1 IF WE W5T 6! MEET+1 "S S* ?+
MI<T HAPP51 ON A3.T ( ,MR4 ,BUR* "K+
"F40

  8,! MEET+ 0 A SMALL "O10 2GAN ,REBE3A
8,I GAVE ALL YR MESSAGES1 & "EYBODY 0
4APPO9T$ Y CDN'T -E1 =! PRESID5T WASN'T
"!1 & ,MRS4 ,MAT!WS TOOK ! *AIR1 : 0 A
P;Y1 =! S1T WASN'T NE>LY BIG 5 = H]1 &
%E REM9D$ ME (A L9E 9 A HYMN WE SANG1
,8,WIDE Z ! H1!N N,NS >E1' & %E WORE T
K9D (A B1V] G>D5-HAT T ALW GETS ON "O
SIDE4 ,& ,MR4 ,BUR* TALK$ B1UTI;LLY AB !
,SYRIAN H1!N1 &! S++ W5T R1L WELL1 & "!
LOOK$ 6BE AB =TY C5TS 9 ! BASKET T 0
PASS$ ON \R SIDE4 ,& T WDN'T SAVE EV5 A
H1!N BABY1 WD X8 ,!N ,MR4 ,BUR* SD1 IF
ANY SI/] WD (F] 5T]TA9;T1 !Y WD PASS !
NI<T1 & H A P>LOR MEET+ 9 ,RIV]BORO TM1
) ,MRS4 ,BUR* 9 ,SYRIAN CO/UME1 & LOVELY
=EIGN ?+S 6%[4 ,!N HE WAIT$ & WAIT$1 &
NOBODY SD A ^W4 ,I 0 S MORTIFI$ ,I
DIDN'T "K :AT 6D4 ,& !N HE REP1T$ :AT HE
SD1 AN EXPLA9$ :Y HE WANT$ 6/AY1 & Y CD
SEE HE ?"\ X 0 8 DUTY4 ,J !N ,MRS4
,ROB9SON :ISP]$ 6ME & SD ! MIS.N>IES ALW
US$ 6G 6! BRICK H\SE :5 GR&"F 0 ALIVE1 &
T HE N"E WD LET !M SLEEP ANY": ELSE4 ,I
DIDN'T "K Y _H /OPP$ HAV+ !M4 2C NO
TRAVEL+ M9I/]S H BE5 "H1 EXCEPT J =A
,SUN"D MORN+1 S9CE ,I CAME 6,RIV]BORO4
,S ,I ?"\ ,I "\ 69VITE !M1 Z Y W]5'T "!
6D X = YRF1 & Y TOLD ME 6REPRES5T !
FAMILY40

  8,:AT DID Y D--G UP & 9TRODUCE
YRF Z FOLKS 0 GO9' \80

  8,NO2 ,I /OOD "R UP 9 MEET+4 ,I _H TO1
= ,MR4 ,BUR*'S FEEL+S 7 GETT+ HURT AT
NOBODY'S SP1K+4 ,S ,I SD1 ,8,MY AUNTS1
,MISS ,MIR&A & ,MISS ,JANE ,SAWY] WD 2
HAPPY 6H Y VISIT AT ! BRICK H\SE1 J Z !
MIS.N>IES ALW DID :5 _! "F 0 ALIVE1 & !Y
S5T _! RESPECTS 0ME4' ,!N ,I SAT D[N2 &
,MR4 ,BUR* PRAY$ = GR&"F1 & CALL$ HM A
MAN ( ,GOD1 & ?ANK$ \R ,H1V5LY ,"F T 8
_S 0 / ALIVE 9 8 DESC5DANTS 7T 0 Y71 & T
! GD OLD H\SE ": S _M (! BRE?R5 _H BE5
*E]$ & HELP$1 & F : S _M _H G"O \
/R5G!N$ =! FI<T1 0 / HOSPITABLY OP5 =!
/RANG] & WAYF>]40

  ,"S"TS1 :5 ! H1V5LY BODIES >E 9 J ! "R
3JUNC;N1 NATURE SEEMS 6BE ! MO/ P]FECT
>T4 ,! ^W OR ! DE$ -+ /RAI<T F ! HE>T1
)\T ANY ?"\ ( E6ECT1 SEEMS 9SPIR$4

  ,A C]TA9 GATEWAY 9 ,MIR&A ,SAWY]'S S\L
_H BE5 CLOS$ = YE>S2 N ALL AT ONCE _H X
BE5 D"O1 B GRADU,Y1 & )\T H] FULL K4 ,IF
,REBE3A _H PLOTT$ = "DS1 &)! UTMO/
CUNN+1 %E CD N H E6ECT$ AN 5TR.E 96T
=BI45 C.TRY1 & N[1 UN"KN 6BO? ( !M1 !
GATE SWUNG ON XS /IFF & RU/Y H+ES1 &!
FAVOR+ W9D ( OPPORTUN;Y OP5$ X WID] &
WID] Z "T W5T ON4 ,ALL ?+S _H "W$ TGR
AMAZ+LY = GD4 ,! MEMORY ( OLD "DS _H BE5
EVOK$1 &! DAILY LIFE (A PI\S & V5]AT$ "F
CALL$ 6M9D2 ! ,SAWY] "N _H BE5 PUBLICLY
DIGNIFI$ & PRAIS$2 ,REBE3A _H -PORT$ H]F
Z ! GR&DAU<T] ( ,D1CON ,ISRAEL ,SAWY]
%D1 & %[$ 3CLUSIVELY T %E 0 N 8ALL
,R&ALL10 Z _H BE5 SUPPOS$4 ,MIR&A 0 R
MOLLIFI$ 0& PL1S$ )! TURN ( EV5TS1 AL?
%E DID N 9T5D 6%[ X1 OR GIVE ANYBODY ANY
R1SON 6EXPECT T ? EXPRES.N ( HOSPITAL;Y
0 6S]VE =A PREC$5T ON ANY SUBSEQU5T
O3A.N4

  8,WELL1 ,I SEE Y DID ONLY :AT Y 0
OBLIG$ 6D1 ,REBE3A10 %E SD1 8& Y ^W$ YR
9VIT,N Z NICE Z ANYBODY CD H D"O4 ,I WI%
YR AUNT ,JANE & ME WASN'T BO? S WOR?.S )
^! COLDS2 B X ONLY %[S ! GD ( HAV9' A
CL1N H\SE1 ) E ROOM 9 ORD]1 :E!R OP5 OR
%UT1 & 5 VICTUALS COOK$ S 'T Y C'T 2
SURPRIS$ & 2LLD 0ANYBODY1 :AT"E HAPP5S4
,"! 0 HALF A DOZ5 "! T MI<T H 5T]TA9$ !
,BUR*ES Z EASY Z N1 IF !Y _HN'T 'A' BE5
TOO M1N OR LAZY4 ,:Y DIDN'T YR MIS.N>IES
-E "R AL;G ) Y80

  8,!Y _H 6G 6! /,N = _! VALISE & _!
*N40

  8,>E "! *N80 GROAN$ ,MIR&A4

  8,YES1 AUNT ,MIR&A1 ALL BORN "U
,SYRIAN SKIES40

  8,SYRIAN GR&"M60 EJACULAT$ ,MIR&A 7& X
0 N A FACT74 8,H[ _M80

  8,I DIDN'T ?9K 6ASK2 B ,I W GET TWO
ROOMS R1DY1 & IF "! >E ANY OV] ,I'LL
TAKE 'EM 96MY B$10 SD ,REBE3A1 SECRETLY
HOP+ T ? WD 2 ! CASE4 8,N[1 Z Y'RE BO?
HALF SICK1 CDN'T Y TRU/ ME J ONCE 6GET
R1DY =! -PANY8 ,Y C -E UP :5 ,I CALL4 ,W
Y80
  8,I 2LIEVE ,I W10 SI<$ ,MIR&A
RELUCTANTLY4 8,I'LL LAY D[N SIDE O'
,JANE 9 \R B$ROOM & SEE IF ,I C GET
/R5G? 6COOK SUPP]4 ,X'S HALF PA/ ?REE--
DON'T Y LET ME LAY A M9UTE PA/ FIVE4 ,I
KEP' A GD FIRE 9 ! KIT*5 /OVE4 ,I DON'T
"K1 ,I'M SURE1 :Y ,I %D H BAK$ A POT O'
B1NS 9 ! MI4LE (! WEEK1 B !Y'LL -E 9
H&Y4 ,"F US$ 6SAY "! 0 NO?+ T W5T "R 6!
SPOT ) RETURN$ MIS.N>IES L PORK 'N' B1NS
'N' BR[N BR1D4 ,FIX UP ! TWO S\? *AMB]S1
,REBE3A40

  ,REBE3A1 GIV5 A FREE H& =! ONLY "T 9
H] LIFE1 DA%$ UP/AIRS L A :IRLW9D4 ,E
ROOM 9 ! BRICK H\SE 0 Z N1T Z WAX1 & %E
_H ONLY 6PULL UP ! %ADES1 G OV] ! FLOORS
)A :ISK BROOM1 & DU/ ! FURNITURE4 ,!
AUNTS CD HE> H] SCURRY+ 6& FRO1 B1T+ UP
PILL[S & F1!R B$S1 FLAPP+ T[ELS1 J+L+
CROCK]Y1 S++ M1N:ILE 9 H] CLE> VOICE3--

  8,IN VA9 ) LAVI% K9D;S
,! GIFTS ( ,GOD >E /R[N2
,! H1!N 9 8 BL;S
,B[S D[N 6WOOD & /"O40

  ,%E _H GR[N 6BE A H&Y LL CR1TURE1 &
TASKS %E 0 CAPA# ( DO+ AT ALL %E DID L A
FLA%1 S T :5 %E CALL$ H] AUNTS AT FIVE
O'C 6PASS JUDG;T1 %E _H A3OMPLI%$
WOND]S4 ,"! 7 FRE% T[ELS ON BUR1US &
WA%/&S1 ! B$S 7 FAIR & SMOO?1 ! PIT*]S 7
FILL$1 & SOAP & MAT*ES 7 LAID \2
NEWSPAP]1 K9DL+1 & WOOD 7 9 ! BOXES1 &A
L>GE /ICK BURN$ SL[LY 9 EA* AIRTI<T
/OVE4 8,I ?"\ ,I'D BETT] J TAKE ! *ILL
(F10 %E EXPLA9$1 8Z !Y'RE "R F ,SYRIA2 &
T REM9DS ME1 ,I M/ LOOK X UP 9 !
GEOGRAPHY 2F !Y GET "H40

  ,"! 0 NO?+ 64APPROVE1 S ! TWO SI/]S
W5T D[N/AIRS 6MAKE "S SLI<T *ANGES 9 _!
DRESS4 ,Z !Y PASS$ ! P>LOR DOOR ,MIR&A
?"\ %E HE>D A CRACKLE & LOOK$ IN4 ,!
%ADES 7 UP1 "! 0 A *E];L BLAZE 9 ! OP5
/OVE 9 ! FRONT P>LOR1 &A FIRE LAID ON !
HE>? 9 ! BACK ROOM4 ,REBE3A'S [N LAMP1
H] SECOND ,*RI/MAS PRES5T F ,MR4 ,ALA491
/OOD ON A M>#-TOPP$ TA# 9 ! CORN]1 !
LI<T T CAME S(TLY "? XS ROSE-COLOR$ %ADE
TRANS=M+ ! /IFF & GLOOMY UGLI;S (! ROOM
96A PLACE ": "O CD SIT & LOVE "O'S
NEI<BOR4

  8,= MASSY'S SAKE1 ,REBE3A10 CALL$
,MISS ,MIR&A UP ! /AIRS1 8DID Y ?9K WE'D
BETT] OP5 ! P>LOR80

  ,REBE3A CAME \ ON ! L&+ BRAID+ H]
HAIR4

  8,WE DID ON ,?ANKSGIV+ & ,*RI/MAS1 &
,I ?"\ ? 0 AB Z GRT AN O3A.N10 %E SD4
8,I MOV$ ! WAX FL[]S (F ! MANTELPIECE S
!Y WDN'T MELT1 & PUT ! %ELLS1 ! CORAL1
&! GRE5 /U6$ BIRD ON TOP (! :AT-N1 S !
*N WDN'T ASK 6PLAY ) !M4 ,BRO!R
,MILLIK5'S -+ OV] 6SEE ,MR4 ,BUR* AB
BUSI;S1 & ,I %DN'T WOND] IF ,BRO!R &
,SI/] ,COBB HAPP5$ IN4 ,DON'T G D[N
CELL>1 ,I'LL 2 "! 9 A M9UTE 6D ! RUNN+40

  ,MIR&A & ,JANE EX*ANG$ GL.ES4

  8,A9'T %E ! B1T9'E/ CREETUR T "E 0
BORN 9T' ! _W60 EXCLAIM$ ,MIR&A2 8B %E C
TURN (F "W :5 %E'S GOT A M9D TO60

  ,AT QU>T] PA/ FIVE "EY?+ 0 R1DY1 &!
NEI<BORS1 ^? AT L1/ :O 7 )9 SI<T (!
BRICK H\SE 7A PROM95T OBJECT 9 ! L&SCAPE
:5 "! 7 NO L1VES ON ! TREES71 7 CURI\S
ALM 6DESP],N4 ,%ADES UP 9 BO? P>LORS6
,%ADES UP 9 ! TWO S\? B$ROOMS6 ,& FIRES
--IF HUMAN VI.N 0 6BE RELI$ ON--FIRES 9
AB E ROOM4 ,IF X _H N BE5 =! K9D (FICES
(A LADY :O _H BE5 AT ! MEET+1 & :O
*>ITABLY CALL$ 9 AT "O OR TWO H\SES &
EXPLA9$ ! R1SON ( ALL ? PREP>,N1 "! WD H
BE5 NO SLEEP 9 _M FAMILIES4

  ,! MIS.N>Y "PY >RIV$ PROMPTLY1 & "! 7
B TWO *N1 SEV5 OR EI<T HAV+ BE5 LEFT )!
BRE?R5 9 ,PORTL&1 6DIM9I% TRAVEL+
EXP5SES4 ,JANE ESCORT$ !M ALL UP/AIRS1
:ILE ,MIR&A WAT*$ ! COOK+ (! SUPP]2 B
,REBE3A PROMPTLY TOOK ! TWO LL GIRLS
AWAY F _! "M1 DIVE/$ !M ( _! WRAPS1
SMOO!D _! HAIR1 & BR"\ !M D[N 6! KIT*5
6SMELL ! B1NS4

  ,"! 0 A B.TI;L SUPP]1 &! PRES;E (! "Y
P RO2$ X ( ALL POSSI# /I6;S4 ,AUNT ,JANE
HELP$ CLE> ! TA# & PUT AWAY ! FOOD1 :ILE
,MIR&A 5T]TA9$ 9 ! P>LOR2 B ,REBE3A &!
9FANT ,BUR*ES WA%$ ! DI%ES & HELD HI<
C>NIVAL 9 ! KIT*51 DO+ ONLY TRIFL+
DAMAGE--BR1K+ A CUP & PLATE T _H BE5
CRACK$ 2F1 EMPTY+ A SILV] SPOON ) "S
DI%WAT] \ (! BACK DOOR 7AN ACT N"E
P]MITT$ AT ! BRICK H\SE71 & PUTT+ C(FEE
GR.DS 9 ! S9K4 ,ALL EVID;ES ( CRIME HAV+
BE5 REMOV$ 0,REBE3A1 & DAMAGES REPAIR$ 9
ALL POSSI# CASES1 ! ?REE 5T]$ ! P>LOR1
": ,MR4 & ,MRS4 ,COBB & ,D1CON & ,MRS4
,MILLIK5 _H ALR APPE>$4

  ,X 0 S* A PL1SANT EV5+6 ,O3A.N,Y !Y
LEFT ! H1!N 9 8 BL;S B[+ D[N 6WOOD &
/"O1 N = L;G1 B J 6GIVE !MVS 7& HM7 "T 5
6BR1!1 & !N ! ,BUR*ES TOLD /RANGE1
B1UTI;L1 M>VEL\S ?+S4 ,! TWO SMALL] *N
SANG TGR1 & ,REBE3A1 AT ! URG5T REQUE/ (
,MRS4 ,BUR*1 S1T$ H]F AT ! T9KL+ OLD
PIANO & GAVE 8,WILD ROV$ AN ,9DIAN GIRL1
B"R ,ALF>ATA0 ) 3SID]A# _S & /YLE4

  ,AT EI<T O'C %E CROSS$ ! ROOM1 H&$ A
PALM-L1F FAN 6H] AUNT ,MIR&A1 O/5SIBLY T
%E MI<T %ADE H] EYES F ! LAMPLI<T2 B X 0
A PIECE ( /RATEGY T GAVE H] AN
OPPORTUN;Y 6:ISP]1 8,H[ AB COOKIES80

  8,D Y ?9K X'S WOR? :ILE80 SIBILAT$
,MISS ,MIR&A 9 ANSW]4

  8,! ,P]K9SES ALW D40

  8,ALL "R4 ,Y "K ": !Y BE40

  ,REBE3A MOV$ QUIETLY T[>DS ! DOOR1 &!
"Y ,BUR*ES CAT>ACT$ AF H] Z IF !Y CD N
BE> A SECOND'S SEP>,N4 ,9 FIVE M9UTES !Y
RETURN$1 ! LL "OS BE>+ PLATES ( ?9
C>AWAY WAF]S1--HE>TS1 DIAMONDS1 &
CIRCLES DA9TILY SUG>$1 & FLECK$ ) C>AWAY
SE$ RAIS$ 9 ! G>D5 2H ! H\SE4 ,^! 7 A
SPECIALTY ( ,MISS ,JANE'S1 & ,REBE3A
C>RI$ A TRAY ) SIX T9Y CRY/AL GLASSES
FILL$ ) D&ELION W9E1 = : ,MISS ,MIR&A _H
BE5 FAM\S 9 YE>S G"O BY4 ,OLD ,D1CON
,ISRAEL _H ALW _H X PASS$1 & HE _H B"\ !
GLASSES HMF 9 ,BO/ON4 ,MIR&A ADMIR$ !M
GRTLY1 N ONLY = _! B1UTY B 2C !Y HELD S
LL4 ,2F _! ADV5T ! D&ELION W9E _H BE5
S]V$ 9 %]RY GLASSES4

  ,Z SOON Z ^! REFRE%;TS--COMMONLY
CALL$ A 8COL,N0 9 ,RIV]BORO--_H BE5
G5TEELLY P>TAK5 (1 ,REBE3A LOOK$ AT !
CLOCK1 ROSE F H] *AIR 9 ! *N'S CORN]1 &
SD *E];LLY1 8,-E6 "T = LL MIS.N>IES 6BE
9 B$60

  ,"EYBODY LAU<$ AT ?1 ! BIG MIS.N>IES
MO/ ( ALL1 Z ! "Y P %OOK H&S & 4APPE>$ )
,REBE3A4







