So the old woman shook her head, and muttered a few words, and
said she must go. She believed the coffee was bewitched. She
bundled up her packets of herbs, and took her trowel, and her
basket, and her stick, and went back to her root of sassafras, that
she had left half in the air and half out. And all she would take for
pay was five cents in currency.
Then the family were in despair, and all sat and thought a great
while. It was growing late in the day, and Mrs. Peterkin hadn't had
her cup of coffee. At last Elizabeth Eliza said, "They say that the
lady from Philadelphia, who is staying in town, is very wise.
Suppose I go and ask her what is best to be done." To this they all
agreed, it was a great thought, and off Elizabeth Eliza went.
She told the lady from Philadelphia the whole story,how her
mother had put salt in the coffee; how the chemist had been called
in; how he tried everything but could make it no better; and how
they went for the little old herb-woman, and how she had tried in
vain, for her mother couldn't drink the coffee. The lady from
Philadelphia listened very attentively, and then said, "Why doesn't
your mother make a fresh cup of coffee?" Elizabeth Eliza started
with surprise.
Solomon John shouted with joy; so did Agamemnon, who had just
finished his sum; so did the little boys, who had followed on.
"Why didn't we think of that?" said Elizabeth Eliza; and they all
went back to their mother, and she had her cup of coffee.
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