* * * * *

Mr. Jenkins came in as I was writing.  He says that diaries are good things, and if you didn’t put in only your thoughts in a sentimental kind of way, they’d be useful for posterity.  I told him I didn’t write for posterity, but for Artemas, instead of a letter.  He was surprised I hadn’t written him about the fire, as the news might reach him exaggerated.  I could not help from laughing, for I don’t see how it could be made out much worse,—­the house burnt down, and the barn with the horse in it, and Cyrus’s crop of squashes.  Much as ever we got out alive, and I had to come to rooms—­two pair, back.  I did bring the diary out in my apron.

Mr. Jenkins spoke of the insurance, and maybe Artemas might have something to say about that; but we talked it all over the night before he went away, and he spoke of the insurance being out, and he didn’t think it worth while to renew; there never had been a fire, and it wasn’t likely there would be.

* * * * *

Mrs. Carruthers came in to inquire when was a good time to try out soap.  I told her I managed generally to do it when Artemas wasn’t at home, as he was not partial to the smell in the house.  But Mr. Carruthers never does go away, and she doesn’t believe he’d notice it.  I don’t know but I’d rather have my husband coming and going like Artemas, instead of sticking around not noticing, especially if he was Mr. Carruthers.

* * * * *

Clara Wylie has been with letters in her hands, and it seems she wrote to Larkin Prince all about our fire; how our boys dropped matches in the hay, and the fire spread to the house from the barn, and how we were waked up, and had to hurry out just as we were.  I don’t believe she told how the Wylies took us in that night, and found us these rooms at their aunt Marshall’s till Artemas comes home.  But it seems that Artemas has told Larkin it ain’t no kind of consequence, the house burning down, because he never liked it facing the depot, and he’ll be glad to build again, and has money enough for it, and can satisfy the neighbors if there’s a complaint that our boys burned down all that side of the street, with being careless with their matches.  And there was a note inclosed to me from Artemas.  He says he’d had a kind of depressed time, when things were going wrong, but matters began to look up when Larkin Prince came, who had just the information needed.  So it’s just as well I didn’t write about the fire.  I hope Artemas don’t talk too large about his earning so much; anyhow, I shall try to get along spending next to nothing, and earning what I can making buttonholes.

* * * * *

I’ve made over my ruby cashmere for Lavinia, and I’m sorry now that I had it dyed over so dark, the olive is kind of dull for her; but I can’t seem to lay my hand on anything else for her, and she must have something.  Lucky it was lying on the chair, close by the door, so I brought it off from the fire.