They say it was by mistake . I hope it WAS a mistake . His wife is all rigged out in silk . Yez would n't think to look at her she was married in cotton -- and mighty thankful to get married in anything , it 's my opinion . There 's Timothy Patterson . He 's the meanest man alive -- meaner 'n Sam Kinnaird even . Timothy pays his children five cents apiece to go without their suppers , and then steals the cents out of their pockets after they 've gone to bed . It 's a fact . And when his old father died he would n't let his wife put his best shirt on him . He said his second best was plenty good to be buried in . That 's another fact . '' `` I ca n't stand much more of this , '' wailed Felicity . `` See here , Miss Bowen , you really ought n't to talk like that about people , '' expostulated Peter in a low tone , goaded thereto , despite his awe of Peg , by Felicity 's anguish . `` Bless you , boy , '' said Peg good-humouredly , `` the only difference between me and other folks is that I say these things out loud and they just think them . If I told yez all the things I know about the people in this congregation you 'd be amazed . Have a peppermint ? '' To our horror Peg produced a handful of peppermint lozenges from the pocket of her skirt and offered us one each . We did not dare refuse but we each held our lozenge very gingerly in our hands . `` Eat them , '' commanded Peg rather fiercely . `` Mother does n't allow us to eat candy in church , '' faltered Felicity .
`` Well , I 've seen just as fine ladies as your ma give their children XXXXX in church , '' said Peg loftily .
Bowen Felicity Mother Patterson Peg Peter Timothy lozenges peppermint yez