in a peak behind, fully six inches longer than anywhere else.  The poor child had no shoes.  The winter had tried the last pair to their utmost endurance and the “rheumatiz” had long since got the last dollar, so she came with her chubby little sunburned legs bare.  Her poor little scarred feet were clean, her toe-nails full of nicks almost into the quick, broken against rocks when she had been herding her sheep.  In the back of the wagon, flat on the bottom, sat Grandma and Grandpa, such bundles of coats and blankets I can’t describe.  After a great deal of trouble we got them unloaded and into the house.  Then Mrs. Louderer entertained them while Mrs. O’Shaughnessy and I prepared supper and got a bath ready for Cora Belle.  We had a T-bone steak, mashed potatoes, hominy, hot biscuits and butter, and stewed prunes.  Their long ride had made them hungry and I know they enjoyed their meal.

After supper Cora Belle and I washed the dishes while Mrs. O’Shaughnessy laid out the little clothes.  Cora Belle’s clothes were to be a surprise.  The postmistress here also keeps a small store and has ribbon, and when she heard of our plans from Mr. Stewart she sent up a couple of pairs of hair-ribbon for Cora Belle.  Soon Mrs. O’Shaughnessy called us, and Cora Belle and I went into the bedroom where she was.  I wish you could have seen that child!  Poor little neglected thing, she began to cry.  She said, “They ain’t for me, I know they ain’t.  Why, it ain’t my birthday, it’s Granny’s.”  Nevertheless, she had her arms full of them and was clutching them so tightly with her work-worn little hands that we couldn’t get them.  She sobbed so deeply that Grandma heard her and became alarmed.  She hobbled to the door and pounded with her poor twisted hands, calling all the while, “Cory, Cory Belle, what ails you?” She got so excited that I opened the door, but Cora Belle told her to go away.  She said, “They ain’t for you, Granny, and they ain’t for me either.” ...

People here observe Decoration Day faithfully, and Cora Belle had brought half a wagon-load of iris, which grows wild here.  Next morning we were all up early, but Cora Belle’s flowers had wilted and she had to gather more, but we all hurried and helped.  She said as she was going to see her mother she wanted to wear her prettiest dress, so Gale and Mrs. O’Shaughnessy helped her to get ready.  The cemetery is only about two miles away, so we were all down quite early.  We were obliged to hurry because others were coming to help sew.  Cora Belle went at once to the graves where her parents lie side by side, and began talking to her mother just as though she saw her.  “You didn’t know me, did you, Mother, with my pretty new things?  But I am your little girl, Mamma.  I am your little Cora Belle.”  After she had talked and had turned every way like a proud little bird, she went to work.  And, oh, how fast she worked!  Both graves were first completely covered with pine boughs.  It looked like sod, so closely were the little twigs