Motherwell felt bitterly grieved with Polly for
failing her just when she needed her the most; "after me
keepin' her and puttin' up with her all summer," she
said. She began to wonder where she could secure help.
Then she had an inspiration!
The Watsons still owed ten dollars on the caboose. The
eldest Watson girl was big enough to work. They would
get her. And get ten dollars' worth of work out of her
if they could.
The next Saturday night John Watson announced to his
family that old Sam Motherwell wanted Pearlie to go out
and work off the caboose debt.
Mrs. Watson cried, "God help us!" and threw her apron
over her head.
"Who'll keep the dandrew out of me hair?" Mary said
tearfully, "if Pearlie goes away?"
"Who'll make me remember to spit on me warts?" Bugsey
asked.
"Who'll keep house when ma goes to wash?" wee Tommy wailed
dismally.
Danny's grievance could not be expressed in words. He
buried his tousy head in Pearl's apron, and Pearl saw at
once that her whole house were about to be submerged in
tears, idle tears.
"Stop your bleatin', all of yez!" she commanded in her
most authoritative voice. "I will go!" she said, with
blazing eyes. "I will go, I will wipe the stain off me
house once and forever!" waving her arm dramatically
toward the caboose which formed the sleeping apartment
for the boys. "To die, to die for those we love is nobler
far than wear a crown!" Pearl had attended the Queen
Esther cantata the winter before.
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