`` He was not poor . He was richer than any of you . It is you who stay at home and will not let your sons go who are poor -- poor and naked and mean and small -- pisen poor , and so are your sons , with all their prosperous farms and fat cattle and their souls no bigger than a flea 's -- if as big . '' `` I came here to comfort the afflicted and not to be insulted , '' said Mrs. Reese , taking her departure , unregretted by anyone . Then the fire went out of Susan and she retreated to her kitchen , laid her faithful old head on the table and wept bitterly for a time . Then she went to work and ironed Jims 's little rompers . Rilla scolded her gently for it when she herself came in to do it . `` I am not going to have you kill yourself working for any war-baby , '' Susan said obstinately . `` Oh , I wish I could just keep on working all the time , Susan , '' cried poor Rilla . `` And I wish I did n't have to go to sleep . It is hideous to go to sleep and forget it for a little while , and wake up and have it all rush over me anew the next morning . Do people ever get used to things like this , Susan ? And oh , Susan , I ca n't get away from what Mrs. Reese said . Did Walter suffer much -- he was always so sensitive to pain . Oh , Susan , if I knew that he did n't I think I could gather up a little courage and strength . '' This merciful knowledge was given to Rilla . A letter came from Walter 's commanding officer , telling them that he had been killed instantly by a bullet during a charge at Courcelette . The same day there was a letter for Rilla from Walter himself . Rilla carried it unopened to Rainbow Valley and read it there , in the spot where she had had her last talk with him . It is a strange thing to read a letter after the writer is dead -- a bitter-sweet thing , in which pain and comfort are strangely mingled .
For the first time since the blow had fallen Rilla felt -- a different thing from tremulous hope and faith -- that Walter , of the glorious gift and the splendid ideals , still lived , XXXXX just the same gift and just the same ideals .
at by during for if of on than to with