He did not say a word all morning, but sat
with his rosary in his hands, praying, now
silently, now aloud. He never looked away
from his beads, nor lifted his hands except
to cross himself. Several times the poor boy
fell asleep where he sat, wakened with a start,
and began to pray again.

No wagon could be got to the Shimerdas'
until a road was broken, and that would be a
day's job. Grandfather came from the barn
on one of our big black horses, and Jake lifted
grandmother up behind him. She wore her
black hood and was bundled up in shawls.
Grandfather tucked his bushy white beard in-
side his overcoat. They looked very Biblical
as they set off, I thought. Jake and Ambrosch
followed them, riding the other black and my
pony, carrying bundles of clothes that we had
got together for Mrs. Shimerda. I watched
them go past the pond and over the hill by
the drifted cornfield. Then, for the first time,
I realized that I was alone in the house.

I felt a considerable extension of power and
authority, and was anxious to acquit myself
creditably. I carried in cobs and wood from
the long cellar, and filled both the stoves. I
remembered that in the hurry and excitement

[[114]]

p113 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p114w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p115

v?