“Well, you see, since I have been hurt, you’ve called me ‘dear’ lots of times – and you didn’t before. I love to be called ‘dear’ – by folks that belong to you, I mean. Some of the Ladies’ Aiders did call me that; and of course that was pretty nice, but not so nice as if they had belonged to me, like you do. Oh, Aunt Polly, I’m so glad you belong to me!”
“I’m glad it isn’t smallpox that ails me, too,” she murmured contentedly. “That would be worse than freckles. And I’m glad ’tisn’t whooping cough – I’ve had that, and it’s horrid – and I’m glad ’tisn’t appendicitis nor measles, ’cause they’re
“Yes. I’d so much rather have broken legs like Mr. Pendleton’s than lifelong-invalids like Mrs. Snow, you know. Broken legs get well, and lifelong-invalids don’t.”