Abijah's Bubble
By Francis Hopkinson Smith
9 Nov, 2020
Brief Extract: Ezekiel Todd, her dry, tight-fisted, lean father, had named her, bawling it out so loud that the more suitable, certainly the more euphonious, “Evangeline,” proffered in a timid whisper by her faded and somewhat romantic mother, wa
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Brief Extract: Ezekiel Todd, her dry, tight-fisted, lean father, had named her, bawling it out so loud that the more suitable, certainly the more euphonious, “Evangeline,” proffered in a timid whisper by her faded and somewhat romantic mother, was completely smothered.
“I baptize thee, Evang—” began the minister, when Ezekiel's voice rose clear:
“Abijah, I tell ye, Parson—A-b-i-j-a-h—Abijah!” And Abijah it was.
The women were furious.
“Jes' like Zeke Todd. He's too ornery to live. I come mighty near speakin' right out, and hadn't been that Martha held on to me I would. Call her Abbie, for short, Mrs. Todd,” exclaimed Deacon Libby's wife, “and shame him.” Less