human
There is nobody here to clean the right-wing pews, said Nancy Wentworth,
gpt
You're not making a very wise choice, Nancy, and the minister's wife smiled as she spoke.
human
The infant class of the Sunday-school sits there, you know, and I expect the paint has had extra wear and tear. Families don't seem to occupy those pews regularly nowadays.
gpt
I can remember when every seat in the whole church was filled, wings an' all, mused Mrs. Sargent, wringing out her wascloth in a reminiscent mood.
human
The one in front o' you, Nancy, was always called the 'deef pew' in the old times, and all the folks that was hard o' hearin' used to congregate there.
gpt
The next pew hasn't been occupied since I came here,
human
No, answered Mrs. Sargent, glad of any opportunity to retail neighbourhood news.
gpt
What ailed him?
human
I guess he was completely wore out takin' care of his health, returned Mrs. Sargent.
gpt
He had a splendid constitution from a boy, but he was always afraid it wouldn't last him.--The seat back o' 'Squire Bean's is the old Peabody pew--ain't that the Peabody pew you're scrubbin', Nancy?
human
I believe so, Nancy answered, never pausing in her labours.
gpt
It's so long since anybody sat there, it's hard to remember.
human
It is the Peabodys', I know it, because the aisle runs right up facin' it. I can see old Deacon Peabody settin' in this end same as if 'twas yesterday.
gpt
He had died before Jere and I came back here to live, said Mrs. Burbank.
human
The first I remember, Justin Peabody sat in the end seat; the sister that died, next, and in the corner, against the wall, Mrs. Peabody, with a crepe shawl and a palm-leaf fan. They were a handsome family. You used to sit with them sometimes, Nancy; Esther was great friends with you.
gpt
Yes, she was, Nancy replied, lifting the tattered cushion from its place and brushing it;
human
I shouldn't trouble myself to darn other people's cushions!
gpt
I don't know why, argued Maria Sharp.
human
I'm going to mend my Aunt Achsa's cushion, and we haven't spoken for years; but hers is the next pew to mine, and I'm going to have my part of the church look decent, even if she is too stingy to do her share. Besides, there aren't any Peabodys left to do their own darning, and Nancy was friends with Esther.
gpt
Yes, it's nothing more than right, Nancy replied, with a note of relief in her voice,
human
Though he don't belong to the scrubbin' sex, there is one Peabody alive, as you know, if you stop to think, Maria; for Justin's alive, and livin' out West somewheres. At least, he's as much alive as ever he was; he was as good as dead when he was twenty-one, but his mother was always too soft-hearted to bury him.
gpt
I know he's alive and doing business in Detroit, for I got his address a week or ten days ago, and wrote, asking him if he'd like to give a couple of dollars toward repairing the old church.
human
Hasn't he answered?