One of the big boys used to help her after
Lottie died, but he hadn't much government, and the school didn't
do very well, and Luella might have had to give it up, for the
committee couldn't have shut their eyes to things much longer. The
boy that helped her was a real honest, innocent sort of fellow, and
he was a good scholar, too. Folks said he overstudied, and that
was the reason he was took crazy the year after Luella married, but
I don't know. And I don't know what made Erastus Miller go into
consumption of the blood the year after he was married: consumption
wa'n't in his family. He just grew weaker and weaker, and went
almost bent double when he tried to wait on Luella, and he spoke
feeble, like an old man. He worked terrible hard till the last
trying to save up a little to leave Luella. I've seen him out in
the worst storms on a wood-sled--he used to cut and sell wood--and
he was hunched up on top lookin' more dead than alive. Once I
couldn't stand it: I went over and helped him pitch some wood on
the cart--I was always strong in my arms. I wouldn't stop for all
he told me to, and I guess he was glad enough for the help.
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