Part Two - SIX

by Willa Cather

　　Captain Forrester's death, which occurred early in December, was"telegraphic news," the only State news that the discouraged townof Sweet Water had furnished for a long while. Flowers andtelegrams came from east and west, but it happened that none of theCaptain's closest friends could come to his funeral. Mr. Dalzellwas in California, the president of the Burlington railroad wastravelling in Europe. The others were far away or in uncertainhealth. Doctor Dennison and Judge Pommeroy were the only two ofhis intimates among the pallbearers.

　　On the morning of the funeral, when the Captain was already in hiscoffin, and the undertaker was in the parlour setting up chairs,Niel heard a knocking at the kitchen door. There he found AdolphBlum, carrying a large white box.

　　"Niel," he said, "will you please give these to Mrs. Forrester, andtell her they are from Rhein and me, for the Captain?"

　　Adolph was in his old working clothes, the only clothes he had,probably, with a knitted comforter about his neck. Niel knew hewouldn't come to the funeral, so he said:

　　"Won't you come in and see him, 'Dolph? He looks just likehimself."

　　Adolph hesitated, but he caught sight of the undertaker's man,through the parlour bay-window, and said, "No, thank you, Niel,"thrust his red hands into his jacket pockets, and walked away.

　　Niel took the flowers out of the box, a great armful of yellowroses, which must have cost the price of many a dead rabbit. Hecarried them upstairs, where Mrs. Forrester was lying down.

　　"These are from the Blum boys," he said. "Adolph just brought themto the kitchen door."

　　Mrs. Forrester looked at them, then turned away her head on thepillow, her lips trembling. It was the only time that day he sawher pale composure break.

　　The funeral was large. Old settlers and farmer folk came from allover the county to follow the pioneer's body to the grave. As Nieland his uncle were driving back from the cemetery with Mrs.Forrester, she spoke for the first time since they had left thehouse. "Judge Pommeroy," she said quietly, "I think I will haveMr. Forrester's sun-dial taken over and put above his grave. I canhave an inscription cut on the base. It seems more appropriate forhim than any stone we could buy. And I will plant some of his ownrose-bushes beside it."

　　When they got back to the house it was four o'clock, and sheinsisted upon making tea for them. "I would like it myself, and itis better to be doing something. Wait for me in the parlour. And,Niel, move the things back as we always have them."

　　The grey day was darkening, and as the three sat having their teain the bay-window, swift squalls of snow were falling over the widemeadows between the hill and the town, and the creaking of the bigcottonwoods about the house seemed to say that winter had come.