Harriet Prescott Spofford

“ I've stolen green apples myself in my time."
"You have, Elder? That's a comfort. P'r'aps Johnny'll come out all right, then. But you must keep your weather-eye open for him, Elder. Home 'ith me? Ef Mahaly Brooks can't walk home alone she'd better die here! You go along. You've got work afore ye."
But that evening, as the elder sat among his children and saw St. John, with little Peace in his arms and the other children about him like flies about a fallen plum while he told them a Bible story with many embellishments, the elder listened a moment. ”

“ The Lord might forgive ye fer hankerin' an' helpin' yerself, but a lie's jes' contradictin' Him to His face."
"That so?" said Johnny, a trifle startled, but with an impartial air.
"There ain't no circumstances can excuse a lie," said Miss Mahala.
"You don't say so," said Johnny.
"I'm afraid you're a bad boy, St. John Perry!" she repeated.
"Mebbe," said St. John.
"I didn't tell yer father when I found ye in my yarb-garden—"
"Them greens!"
"Them greens is property, an' you was takin' 'em. But now—you're his flesh an' blood—he may know how to deal 'ith you. I don't." ”

“ God forgive me—"
"Es ef there ever was a boy of any sperit that didn't steal green apples when he lived where they growed, sence the days of Adam and Eve!" exclaimed Miss Mahala. "But as for your Johnny, ef it's him you mean, why, he's as honest es you be, and is goin' ter live an upright life." ”

“ John, nor ever told ye anythin' about yarbs or apples, or ter look out fer Johnny, or that he was light-fingered. There! And I ain't ever fainted away in my life. I sh'd thought you would 'a' said I was light-headed!"
Miss Mahala was white under all her tan; but the Elder, in a maze, was not looking at her now.
"You've b'en dreamin'," she continued. "Some dreams is like live thin's. Or the Evil One's b'en a-whisperin' in your ear. You're tew busy, you're what they call overworked an' het up. You're jes' needin' me ter fix up some o' my spring bitters fer ye—"
"Miss Mahala! ”

“ Pharaoh came and purred round them; Johnny bent and smoothed the cat's head. Perhaps it seemed a profane touch to Miss Mahala; she took the cat and shut him in an inner room. Then she came back and resumed her seat.
"Oh, what a pretty day it is!" she sighed presently.
As that was self-evident, it perhaps required no answer. It received none.
"There's nothin' like the sky," said Miss Mahala, after another moment. "Nothin' so handsome. Cheerful, tew. What ef God had set out to make it green; wouldn't that 'a' b'en a dreary world! ”

“ You mind the night little Peace was born, and your mother sent fer you and told you she was yourn an' you'd gotter look out fer her all her life? A person that's doin' time behind four walls can't look out fer any one. ”

“ Pieces of silver have wrought great mischief in this world. On inquiry I found my St. John had given them. I was startled. We are not in the habit of having money." The elder was looking straight before him, speaking in a low and husky voice. "A conversation I once had with you suddenly recurred to me—oh, like a stab—and as it happened," he continued, "I met Deacon Asher, who mentioned to me the robbery of David's till at the Corners. A great loss to poor David. Miss Mahala," turning on her sharply, "where do you suppose St. ”

“ It is perfectly real in my recollection—"
"That's the way with them strong kind o' dreams."
"But I'm not a dreaming man."
"An' so all the more when ye do dream it seems reel. I dessay you'll say I hed on a green shawl—"
"You did." ”