Preface

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks

and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

LOVEY MARY

BY

ALICE HEGAN RICE

AUTHOR OF

"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch"

1903

TO

CALE YOUNG RICE WHO TAUGHT ME THE SECRET OF PLUCKING ROSES FROM A CABBAGE PATCH

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I A CACTUS-PLANT II A RUNAWAY COUPLE III THE HAZY HOUSEHOLD IV an ACCIDENT AND AN INCIDENT V THE DAWN OF A ROMANCE VI THE LOSING OF MR. STUBBINS VII NEIGHBORLY ADVICE VIII A DENOMINATIONAL GARDEN IX LABOR DAY X A TIMELY VISIT XI THE CHRISTMAS PLAY XII REACTION XIII AN HONORABLE RETREAT XIV THE CACTUS BLOOMS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"They met at the pump."….. Frontispiece

"'Now the Lord meant you to be plain.'"

"'Come here, Tom, and kiss your mother.'"

"''T ain't no street…; this here is the Cabbage Patch.'"

"She puffed her hair at the top and sides."

"'She took on mighty few airs fer a person in mournin'.'"

"She sat on the door-step, white and miserable."67

"Mrs. Wiggs took pictures from her walls and chairs from her parlor to beautify the house of Hazy."

"Mr. Stubbins, sitting in Mrs. Wiggs's most comfortable chair, with a large slice of pumpkin-pie in his hand."

"'Stick out yer tongue.'"

"Asia held out her hands, which were covered with warm red mitts."

"Master Robert Redding was right side up again, sobbing himself quiet in Lovey Mary's arms."

"'Have you ever acted any?'he asked."

"Europena stepped forward."

"Sang in a high, sweet voice,'I Need Thee Every Hour.'"

"'Haven't you got any place you could go to?'"

Susie Smithers at the keyhole

"Lovey Mary waved until she rounded a curve."

LOVEY MARY