You couldn't see why they washed the bedding, and took the feathers from the pillows and steamed them in mosquito netting bags and dried them in the shade, when Sally's was to be a morning wedding, but they did.

I even had to take a bucket and gather from around the walls all the little heaps of rocks and shells that Uncle Abraham had sent mother from California, take them out and wash and wipe them, and stack them back, with the fanciest ones on top.

He sent her a ring made of gold he dug himself.
She always kept the ring in a bottle in her bureau, and she meant to wear it at the wedding, with her new silk dress.

I had a new dress too.

I don't know how they got everything done.