`` Those Booths are all a mite queer , '' said Captain Jim . `` Billy seemed the sanest of the lot till he got married and then this queer jealous streak cropped out in him . His brother Daniel , now , was always odd . '' `` Took tantrums every few days or so and would n't get out of bed , '' said Miss Cornelia with a relish . `` His wife would have to do all the barn work till he got over his spell . When he died people wrote her letters of condolence ; if I 'd written anything it would have been one of congratulation . Their father , old Abram Booth , was a disgusting old sot . He was drunk at his wife 's funeral , and kept reeling round and hiccuping ' I did n't dri -- i -- i -- nk much but I feel a -- a -- awfully que -- e -- e -- r. ' I gave him a good jab in the back with my umbrella when he came near me , and it sobered him up until they got the casket out of the house . Young Johnny Booth was to have been married yesterday , but he could n't be because he 's gone and got the mumps . Was n't that like a man ? '' `` How could he help getting the mumps , poor fellow ? '' `` I 'd poor fellow him , believe ME , if I was Kate Sterns . I do n't know how he could help getting the mumps , but I DO know the wedding supper was all prepared and everything will be spoiled before he 's well again . Such a waste ! He should have had the mumps when he was a boy . '' `` Come , come , Cornelia , do n't you think you 're a mite unreasonable ? '' Miss Cornelia disdained to reply and turned instead to Susan Baker , a grim-faced , kind-hearted elderly spinster of the Glen , who had been installed as maid-of-all-work at the little house for some weeks . Susan had been up to the Glen to make a sick call , and had just returned . `` How is poor old Aunt Mandy tonight ? '' asked Miss Cornelia .
XXXXX sighed .
Billy Cornelia Glen Susan casket condolence days maid-of-all-work sot spinster