CHAPTER VIII.
The Shropshire and the Crusader "For, among the rich and gay, Fine, and grand, and decked in laces, None appear more glad then they, With happier hearts, or happier faces." Every one told mother for a week before the wedding that she would be sick when it was over, and sure enough she was.

She had been on her feet too much, and had so many things to think about, and there had been such a dreadful amount of work for her and Candace, even after all the neighbours helped, that she was sick in bed and we couldn't find a thing she could eat, until she was almost wild with hunger and father seemed as if he couldn't possibly bear it a day longer.
After Candace had tried everything she could think of, I went up and talked it over with Sarah Hood, and she came down, pretending she happened in, and she tried thickened milk, toast and mulled buttermilk; she kept trying for two days before she gave up.

Candace thought of new things, and Mrs.Freshett came and made all the sick dishes she knew, but mother couldn't even taste them; so we were pretty blue, and we nearly starved ourselves, for how could we sit and eat everything you could mention, and mother lying there, almost crying with hunger?
Saturday morning I was hanging around her room hoping maybe she could think of some least little thing I could do for her, even if no more than to bring a glass of water, or a late rose to lay on her pillow; it would be better than not being able to do anything at all.

After a while she opened her eyes and looked at me, and I scarcely knew her.
She smiled the bravest she could and said: "Sorry for mother, dear ?" I nodded.

I couldn't say much, and she tried harder than ever to be cheerful and asked: "What are you planning to do to-day ?" "If you can't think of one thing I can do for you, guess I'll go fishing," I said.
Her eyes grew brighter and she seemed half interested.
"Why, Little Sister," she said, "if you can catch some of those fish like you do sometimes, I believe I could eat one of them." I never had such a be-hanged time getting started.