He was a big , ruddy , prosperous-looking man -- an uncle to be proud of , Prissy thought wistfully , if only he were like other people 's uncles , or , indeed , like what he used to be himself . He was the only uncle Prissy had , and when she had been a little girl they had been great friends ; but that was before the quarrel , in which Prissy had had no share , to be sure , although Uncle Richard seemed to include her in his rancour . Richard Baker , so he informed Mr. Miller , was on his way to Navarre with a load of pork . `` I did n't intend going over until the afternoon , '' he said , `` but Joe Hemming sent word yesterday he would n't be buying pork after twelve today . So I have to tote my hogs over at once . I do n't care about doing business New Year 's morning . '' `` Should think New Year 's would be pretty much the same as any other day to you , '' said Mr. Miller , for Richard Baker was a bachelor , with only old Mrs. Janeway to keep house for him . `` Well , I always like a good dinner on New Year 's , '' said Richard Baker . `` It 's about the only way I can celebrate . Mrs. Janeway wanted to spend the day with her son 's family over at Oriental , so I was laying out to cook my own dinner . I got everything ready in the pantry last night , ` fore I got word about the pork . I wo n't get back from Navarre before one o'clock , so I reckon I 'll have to put up with a cold bite . '' After her Uncle Richard had driven away , Prissy walked thoughtfully home . She had planned to spend a nice , lazy holiday with the new book her father had given her at Christmas and a box of candy . She did not even mean to cook a dinner , for her father had had to go to town that morning to meet a friend and would be gone the whole day . There was nobody else to cook dinner for . Prissy 's mother had died when Prissy was a baby . She was her father 's housekeeper , and they had jolly times together . But as she walked home , she could not help thinking about Uncle Richard . He would certainly have cold New Year cheer , enough to chill the whole coming year .
She felt sorry XXXXX him , picturing him returning from Navarre , cold and hungry , to find a fireless house and an uncooked dinner in the pantry .
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