His wife died four years ago . If we had known that I do n't suppose we would have called him , for a widower is even worse in a congregation than a single man . But he was heard to speak of his children and we all supposed there was a mother , too . And when they came there was nobody but old Aunt Martha , as they call her . She 's a cousin of Mr. Meredith 's mother , I believe , and he took her in to save her from the poorhouse . She is seventy-five years old , half blind , and very deaf and very cranky . '' `` And a very poor cook , Mrs. Dr. dear . '' `` The worst possible manager for a manse , '' said Miss Cornelia bitterly . `` Mr. Meredith wo n't get any other housekeeper because he says it would hurt Aunt Martha 's feelings . Anne dearie , believe me , the state of that manse is something terrible . Everything is thick with dust and nothing is ever in its place . And we had painted and papered it all so nice before they came . '' `` There are four children , you say ? '' asked Anne , beginning to mother them already in her heart . `` Yes . They run up just like the steps of a stair . Gerald 's the oldest . He 's twelve and they call him Jerry . He 's a clever boy . Faith is eleven .
She is a regular tomboy but pretty XXXXX a picture , I must say . ''
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