First Business Financial Services (FBIZ) declares $0.2275/share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. Forward yield 3.07% Payable Nov. 16; for shareholders

First Business Financial Services declares $0.2275 dividend

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — MADISON, Wis. (AP) — First Business Financial Services Inc. (FBIZ) on Thursday reported third-quarter earnings of $9.9 million. The Madison, Wisconsin-based bank said it had earnings of $1.17 per share.

First Business Financial Services: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

As consumer financial health in the U.S. deteriorates at a rapid pace, banks and credit unions have an opportunity to do so much more than simply holding customer money. More than ever, financial institutions (FIs) need to engage customers and members with  comprehensive and targeted services that actually help them grow their wealth and improve their financial security.

Financial wellness in the U.S. is plummeting. Here’s how banks and credit unions can step up to help

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) today published a joint consultation paper proposing a Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF) for phishing scams.

Banks and telcos to be held jointly responsible for phishing scams in Singapore

Singapore's financial institutions (FIs) and the telecommunication companies (telcos) may soon be required to dig into their pockets to pay affected phishing scam victims if they failed to hold their part of the bargain in online transactions.

Singapore mulls requiring FIs, telcos to pay phishing scam victims

The card network integrated its data-sharing technology into products from Zip, FIS and JPMorgan Chase as potential regulations loom on the horizon.

Mastercard adds open-banking partners as it preps for CFPB rules

Investors with an interest in Financial Transaction Services stocks have likely encountered both Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and DLocal (DLO). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?

FIS vs. DLO: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

"ebankIT and Entersekt have a common vision of future-proofing digital banking capabilities for banks and credit unions," added Renato Oliveira, CEO of ebankIT. "This partnership brings together two best-in-class providers under one advanced solution that offers unmatched digital capabilities and fraud protection to FIs around the world."

Entersekt and ebankIT Partner to Bring Integrated Context Aware™ Authentication to Banking and Credit Union Customers

The Nevis Financial Services Regulatory Commission’s (FSRC) 15th Annual Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism/Combating Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) Conference got underway at the Four Season Resort,

Nevis Financial Services Regulatory Commission Hosts 15th Annual AML/CFT/CPF Conference

FIS® (NYSE: FIS), a global leader in financial services technology, announced today a regular quarterly dividend of $0.52 per common share. The divide

FIS Announces Quarterly Dividend

Hey Hackers, AQUi9 has been nominated for HackerNoon's annual "Startups of the Year 2024" award, representing São Paulo, Brazil. Competing in the verticals of IT Services, Software Development, and Business Intelligence, our agtech specializes in innovative solutions for aquaculture and fish farming, transforming the agribusiness sector with precision technology. Please vote for us here: https://hackernoon.com/startups/south-america/south-america-sao-paulo-brazil?stup=66f318d46ea4677e23d9cb3b&embedable=true Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote. Meet AQUi9 At AQUi9, we believe in the power of precision technology to transform the agribusiness sector, starting with fish farming (pisciculture), one of the most promising industries in the production chain. We leverage IoT, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to create integrated solutions that optimize fish feeding management, improve water quality, and boost productivity. Our solutions help fish farmers make real-time data-driven decisions, ensuring greater management efficiency while reducing environmental impact. This paves the way for a more sustainable production model, which is crucial for the future of agribusiness. Give us your elevator pitch AQUi9 delivers innovative technology solutions to solve the core challenges of fish farming. With our IoT-powered sensors and AI-driven software, we help fish farmers optimize feeding practices, reduce waste, and increase production efficiency. Our tools make it easy for producers to monitor their water conditions, automate feeding schedules, and improve profitability with real-time insights. How AQUi9 achieved product-market fit Our product gained traction by addressing the main pain points of rural producers: the difficulty of controlling fish feeding and the need to boost productivity without increasing costs. We developed a system that integrates sensors for water temperature monitoring and digital platforms to automate feeding management, yielding direct, measurable results. Success indicators:

20% reduction in feed costs by avoiding overfeeding
25% increase in feeding efficiency, optimizing feed conversion
Over $500 USD savings per tank, increasing profitability for fish farmers The evolution of AQUi9 Our growth journey has involved constant adaptation. Listening to customer feedback allowed us to refine our solutions, making them more accessible and practical. As a result, we've expanded across various regions in Brazil, serving both small and large-scale producers and democratizing access to innovation. Milestones and achievements To date, we’ve achieved key milestones, such as:

Expansion across multiple regions in Brazil, supporting fish farms of all sizes
Successful implementation in model farms, such as PCFish in São Paulo
Enhancing sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and improving water resource management Lessons learned AQUi9’s biggest lesson has been recognizing that, in addition to offering cutting-edge technology, producers need solutions that are easy to implement and provide quick, tangible results. Our hands-on approach has allowed fish farmers to see the immediate benefits of digital transformation in their operations. What Startups of The Year means to us Participating in Startups of the Year 2024 is a great opportunity to showcase how AQUi9’s technology solutions are changing the future of agribusiness in Brazil. We hope this recognition helps us expand our network of partners and reach new markets, strengthening our mission to transform fish farming with innovation and sustainability. Conclusion AQUi9 is ready to revolutionize the aquaculture and agribusiness industries in Brazil. Vote for us and join the transformation! Vote for us today! Welcome to HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year 2024 interview series, spotlighting startups from around the world that are changing the way we live, one solution at a time. If you’ve been nominated, create a brand profile and answer these questions here.
Want to nominate a startup? Follow the steps here.Looking for inspiration? Check out how other startups responded to last year’s Startups of The Year interview questions and examples of company responses here, here, and here. Hey Hackers, Hey Hackers, AQUi9 has been nominated for HackerNoon's annual "Startups of the Year 2024" award, representing São Paulo , Brazil. Competing in the verticals of IT Services , Software Development , and Business Intelligence , our agtech specializes in innovative solutions for aquaculture and fish farming , transforming the agribusiness sector with precision technology. AQUi9 São Paulo IT Services Software Development Business Intelligence aquaculture fish farming agribusiness Please vote for us here: Please vote for us here: https://hackernoon.com/startups/south-america/south-america-sao-paulo-brazil?stup=66f318d46ea4677e23d9cb3b&embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/startups/south-america/south-america-sao-paulo-brazil?stup=66f318d46ea4677e23d9cb3b&embedable=true Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote. Meet AQUi9 AQUi9 At AQUi9 , we believe in the power of precision technology to transform the agribusiness sector, starting with fish farming (pisciculture), one of the most promising industries in the production chain. We leverage IoT , artificial intelligence , and data analytics to create integrated solutions that optimize fish feeding management , improve water quality , and boost productivity . AQUi9 precision technology fish farming IoT artificial intelligence data analytics fish feeding management water quality productivity Our solutions help fish farmers make real-time data-driven decisions , ensuring greater management efficiency while reducing environmental impact. This paves the way for a more sustainable production model, which is crucial for the future of agribusiness. real-time data-driven decisions sustainable production Give us your elevator pitch AQUi9 delivers innovative technology solutions to solve the core challenges of fish farming. With our IoT-powered sensors and AI-driven software , we help fish farmers optimize feeding practices, reduce waste, and increase production efficiency. Our tools make it easy for producers to monitor their water conditions, automate feeding schedules, and improve profitability with real-time insights . innovative technology IoT-powered sensors AI-driven software real-time insights How AQUi9 achieved product-market fit AQUi9 Our product gained traction by addressing the main pain points of rural producers: the difficulty of controlling fish feeding and the need to boost productivity without increasing costs. We developed a system that integrates sensors for water temperature monitoring and digital platforms to automate feeding management, yielding direct, measurable results. main pain points controlling fish feeding boost productivity sensors digital platforms Success indicators:

20% reduction in feed costs by avoiding overfeeding
25% increase in feeding efficiency, optimizing feed conversion
Over $500 USD savings per tank, increasing profitability for fish farmers Success indicators : 20% reduction in feed costs by avoiding overfeeding
25% increase in feeding efficiency, optimizing feed conversion
Over $500 USD savings per tank, increasing profitability for fish farmers Success indicators 20% reduction in feed costs by avoiding overfeeding 25% increase in feeding efficiency, optimizing feed conversion Over $500 USD savings per tank, increasing profitability for fish farmers 20% reduction in feed costs by avoiding overfeeding 20% reduction in feed costs 25% increase in feeding efficiency , optimizing feed conversion 25% increase in feeding efficiency Over $500 USD savings per tank , increasing profitability for fish farmers Over $500 USD savings per tank The evolution of AQUi9 AQUi9 Our growth journey has involved constant adaptation . Listening to customer feedback allowed us to refine our solutions, making them more accessible and practical. As a result, we've expanded across various regions in Brazil, serving both small and large-scale producers and democratizing access to innovation. constant adaptation small and large-scale producers Milestones and achievements To date, we’ve achieved key milestones, such as:

Expansion across multiple regions in Brazil, supporting fish farms of all sizes
Successful implementation in model farms, such as PCFish in São Paulo
Enhancing sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and improving water resource management To date, we’ve achieved key milestones, such as: Expansion across multiple regions in Brazil, supporting fish farms of all sizes
Successful implementation in model farms, such as PCFish in São Paulo
Enhancing sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and improving water resource management Expansion across multiple regions in Brazil, supporting fish farms of all sizes Successful implementation in model farms, such as PCFish in São Paulo Enhancing sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and improving water resource management Expansion across multiple regions in Brazil, supporting fish farms of all sizes Successful implementation in model farms, such as PCFish in São Paulo PCFish Enhancing sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and improving water resource management Lessons learned AQUi9’s biggest lesson has been recognizing that, in addition to offering cutting-edge technology , producers need solutions that are easy to implement and provide quick, tangible results . Our hands-on approach has allowed fish farmers to see the immediate benefits of digital transformation in their operations. cutting-edge technology easy to implement quick, tangible results What Startups of The Year means to us Participating in Startups of the Year 2024 is a great opportunity to showcase how AQUi9’s technology solutions are changing the future of agribusiness in Brazil. We hope this recognition helps us expand our network of partners and reach new markets , strengthening our mission to transform fish farming with innovation and sustainability. Startups of the Year 2024 agribusiness expand our network of partners reach new markets Conclusion AQUi9 is ready to revolutionize the aquaculture and agribusiness industries in Brazil. Vote for us and join the transformation! AQUi9 aquaculture agribusiness Vote for us today! Vote for us today ! Vote for us today Welcome to HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year 2024 interview series, spotlighting startups from around the world that are changing the way we live, one solution at a time. If you’ve been nominated, create a brand profile and answer these questions here. Want to nominate a startup? Follow the steps here. Looking for inspiration? Check out how other startups responded to last year’s Startups of The Year interview questions and examples of company responses here, here, and here. Welcome to HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year 2024 interview series, spotlighting startups from around the world that are changing the way we live, one solution at a time. If you’ve been nominated, create a brand profile and answer these questions here . Startups of The Year 2024 create a brand profile create a brand profile create a brand profile here here Want to nominate a startup? Follow the steps here . here here Looking for inspiration? Check out how other startups responded to last year’s Startups of The Year interview questions and examples of company responses here, here, and here. Looking for inspiration? Check out how other startups responded to last year’s Startups of The Year interview questions and examples of company responses here , here , and here . last year’s Startups of The Year interview questions last year’s Startups of The Year interview questions here here here here here here

Simplifying Fish Farming Management with AQUi9, Startups of the Year 2024 Nominee

PARAG AGRAWAL VIJAYA GADDE, and NED SEGAL v. Twitter Court Filing, retrieved on April 10, 2023, is part of . You can jump to any part in this filing . This is part 23 of 37. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here ARTICLE X - GENERAL MATTERS 10.1 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the board of directors may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any document or instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount. 10.2 FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors and may be changed by the board of directors. 10.3 SEAL The corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the board of directors. The corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced. 10.4 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term person includes a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and a natural person. Any reference in these bylaws to a section of the DGCL shall be deemed to refer to such section as amended from time to time and any successor provisions thereto. Continue Reading . Here About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case 2023-0409 retrieved on October 4, 2023, from is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. int.nyt.com

Twitter Sued By Former Executives: Details on Corporate Contracts, Fiscal Year, and More

Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883 by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . TESTING FISH OVA FOR IMPREGNATION. here TESTING FISH OVA FOR IMPREGNATION. The development of the eyes of game fishes (salmonoids), as is well known, is relatively far advanced before the fish culturist is positively assured that embryos are developing normally in the egg. A method, therefore, which would enable us to shorten this period of probation would not only be desirable, but be also of value under certain circumstances, since it is certainly annoying after having had them in water for four or five weeks, spending time and care over them, to eventually find, when the "eye spots" do not develop, that all our trouble was wasted and that no development at all took place. It is true one may, with proper preparations and with the help of the pocket lens or microscope, follow the development while there may be no external signs of the process evident. This method of making the test is, however, not adapted to the purposes of the practical fish culturist, who will have better success by the following method: If fertilized fish ova are placed in a 50 per cent. solution of wine vinegar [any ordinary vinegar will probably be found to answer just as well-- .] the embryo, even during the very first stages of development, will become apparent to the eye lying on the transparent yelk. The acetic acid contained in the mixture, one part water to one part wine vinegar, causes the material of the embryo proper to coagulate, while the yelk remains clear. Tr A short time after the ova are laid in this mixture, and during the first week after impregnation, a white circle at one pole of the egg should become apparent, and in the course of the second week a cylindrical white streak running from the edge of the circle toward its center should be evident. If these features are not developed by the test, the eggs have not been fertilized, and are, therefore, worthless. We will not complicate the application of the method by describing other details of the development, but would merely suggest that when a lot of ova are fertilized a small portion should be left unimpregnated. These could then be tested in comparison with the fertilized ova from day to day, using say three eggs at a time of each lot. The observant culturist could by this means construct for himself a scale of development covering the period embraced by his experiments. At a lower temperature the development is slower than at a higher one. The difference of appearance between fertilized and unfertilized ova treated by the method will demonstrate its utility. Whoever does not trust to the method for the evidence of death of the eggs until after five weeks subsequent to impregnation, must of course wait. Director Tiefenthaler, of Kölzen, has had the kindness to test the method practically, and finds it useful to fish culturists.-- . Prof. Nussbaum [A very little practice, it seems to the translator, would serve to enable any person of ordinary intelligence to apply this method, or several others which might be suggested. Other substances which would answer the same purpose would be dilute solutions of picric or chromic acid, of not more than one to one-half per cent., or one part to two hundred of water. Vinegar or acetic acid of the shops may also be used; the last to be diluted in the proportions of about one part in ten of water. The acids cited will coagulate and cause the germ disk to turn white or yellow in a few hours. Chromic is better than picric acid, as it coagulates the yelk also, but turns the latter much darker than the embryo or embryonic disk.-- .] Tr About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2005). Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8742/pg8742-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

TESTING FISH OVA FOR IMPREGNATION

HAMILTON K. FISKER AGAIN

Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889, by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . THE "HATCHERY" OF THE SUN-FISH. here THE "HATCHERY" OF THE SUN-FISH. I have thought that an example of the intelligence (instinct?) of a class of fish which has come under my observation during my excursions into the Adirondack region of New York State might possibly be of interest to your readers, especially as I am not aware that any one except myself has noticed it, or, at least, has given it publicity. The female sun-fish (called, I believe, in England, the roach or bream) makes a "hatchery" for her eggs in this wise. Selecting a spot near the banks of the numerous lakes in which this region abounds, and where the water is about 4 inches deep, and still, she builds, with her tail and snout, a circular embankment 3 inches in height and 2 thick. The circle, which is as perfect a one as could be formed with mathematical instruments, is usually a foot and a half in diameter; and at one side of this circular wall an opening is left by the fish of just sufficient width to admit her body, thus: The mother sun-fish, having now built or provided her "hatchery," deposits her spawn within the circular inclosure, and mounts guard at the entrance until the fry are hatched out and are sufficiently large to take charge of themselves. As the embankment, moreover, is built up to the surface of the water, no enemy can very easily obtain an entrance within the inclosure from the top; while there being only one entrance, the fish is able, with comparative ease, to keep out all intruders. I have, as I say, noticed this beautiful instinct of the sun-fish for the perpetuity of her species more particularly in the lakes of this region; but doubtless the same habit is common to these fish in other waters. William L. Stone. Jersey City Heights, N.J. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2004). Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16972/pg16972-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

THE "HATCHERY" OF THE SUN-FISH.

There had been a pretence of fishing, but no fish had been caught

MR. FISKER'S SUCCESS

The Four Fists

Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book here . A FISHY EPISODE CHAPTER VII. A FISHY EPISODE Rilla Blythe walked proudly, and perhaps a little primly, through the main “street” of the Glen and up the manse hill, carefully carrying a small basketful of early strawberries, which Susan had coaxed into lusciousness in one of the sunny nooks of Ingleside. Susan had charged Rilla to give the basket to nobody except Aunt Martha or Mr. Meredith, and Rilla, very proud of being entrusted with such an errand, was resolved to carry out her instructions to the letter. Susan had dressed her daintily in a white, starched, and embroidered dress, with sash of blue and beaded slippers. Her long ruddy curls were sleek and round, and Susan had let her put on her best hat, out of compliment to the manse. It was a somewhat elaborate affair, wherein Susan’s taste had had more to say than Anne’s, and Rilla’s small soul gloried in its splendours of silk and lace and flowers. She was very conscious of her hat, and I am afraid she strutted up the manse hill. The strut, or the hat, or both, got on the nerves of Mary Vance, who was swinging on the lawn gate. Mary’s temper was somewhat ruffled just then, into the bargain. Aunt Martha had refused to let her peel the potatoes and had ordered her out of the kitchen. “Yah! You’ll bring the potatoes to the table with strips of skin hanging to them and half boiled as usual! My, but it’ll be nice to go to your funeral,” shrieked Mary. She went out of the kitchen, giving the door such a bang that even Aunt Martha heard it, and Mr. Meredith in his study felt the vibration and thought absently that there must have been a slight earthquake shock. Then he went on with his sermon. Mary slipped from the gate and confronted the spick-and-span damsel of Ingleside. “What you got there?” she demanded, trying to take the basket. Rilla resisted. “It’th for Mithter Meredith,” she lisped. “Give it to me. I’ll give it to him,” said Mary. “No. Thuthan thaid that I wathn’t to give it to anybody but Mithter Mer’dith or Aunt Martha,” insisted Rilla. Mary eyed her sourly. “You think you’re something, don’t you, all dressed up like a doll! Look at me. My dress is all rags and I don’t care! I’d rather be ragged than a doll baby. Go home and tell them to put you in a glass case. Look at me—look at me—look at me!” Mary executed a wild dance around the dismayed and bewildered Rilla, flirting her ragged skirt and vociferating “Look at me—look at me” until poor Rilla was dizzy. But as the latter tried to edge away towards the gate Mary pounced on her again. “You give me that basket,” she ordered with a grimace. Mary was past mistress in the art of “making faces.” She could give her countenance a most grotesque and unearthly appearance out of which her strange, brilliant, white eyes gleamed with weird effect. “I won’t,” gasped Rilla, frightened but staunch. “You let me go, Mary Vanth.” Mary let go for a minute and looked around her. Just inside the gate was a small “flake,” on which a half a dozen large codfish were drying. One of Mr. Meredith’s parishioners had presented him with them one day, perhaps in lieu of the subscription he was supposed to pay to the stipend and never did. Mr. Meredith had thanked him and then forgotten all about the fish, which would have promptly spoiled had not the indefatigable Mary prepared them for drying and rigged up the “flake” herself on which to dry them. Mary had a diabolical inspiration. She flew to the “flake” and seized the largest fish there—a huge, flat thing, nearly as big as herself. With a whoop she swooped down on the terrified Rilla, brandishing her weird missile. Rilla’s courage gave way. To be lambasted with a dried codfish was such an unheard-of thing that Rilla could not face it. With a shriek she dropped her basket and fled. The beautiful berries, which Susan had so tenderly selected for the minister, rolled in a rosy torrent over the dusty road and were trodden on by the flying feet of pursuer and pursued. The basket and contents were no longer in Mary’s mind. She thought only of the delight of giving Rilla Blythe the scare of her life. She would teach her to come giving herself airs because of her fine clothes. Rilla flew down the hill and along the street. Terror lent wings to her feet, and she just managed to keep ahead of Mary, who was somewhat hampered by her own laughter, but who had breath enough to give occasional blood-curdling whoops as she ran, flourishing her codfish in the air. Through the Glen street they swept, while everybody ran to the windows and gates to see them. Mary felt she was making a tremendous sensation and enjoyed it. Rilla, blind with terror and spent of breath, felt that she could run no longer. In another instant that terrible girl would be on her with the codfish. At this point the poor mite stumbled and fell into the mud-puddle at the end of the street just as Miss Cornelia came out of Carter Flagg’s store. Miss Cornelia took the whole situation in at a glance. So did Mary. The latter stopped short in her mad career and before Miss Cornelia could speak she had whirled around and was running up as fast as she had run down. Miss Cornelia’s lips tightened ominously, but she knew it was no use to think of chasing her. So she picked up poor, sobbing, dishevelled Rilla instead and took her home. Rilla was heart-broken. Her dress and slippers and hat were ruined and her six year old pride had received terrible bruises. Susan, white with indignation, heard Miss Cornelia’s story of Mary Vance’s exploit. “Oh, the hussy—oh, the littly hussy!” she said, as she carried Rilla away for purification and comfort. “This thing has gone far enough, Anne dearie,” said Miss Cornelia resolutely. “Something must be done. Who is this creature who is staying at the manse and where does she come from?” “I understood she was a little girl from over-harbour who was visiting at the manse,” answered Anne, who saw the comical side of the codfish chase and secretly thought Rilla was rather vain and needed a lesson or two. “I know all the over-harbour families who come to our church and that imp doesn’t belong to any of them,” retorted Miss Cornelia. “She is almost in rags and when she goes to church she wears Faith Meredith’s old clothes. There’s some mystery here, and I’m going to investigate it, since it seems nobody else will. I believe she was at the bottom of their goings-on in Warren Mead’s spruce bush the other day. Did you hear of their frightening his mother into a fit?” “No. I knew Gilbert had been called to see her, but I did not hear what the trouble was.” “Well, you know she has a weak heart. And one day last week, when she was all alone on the veranda, she heard the most awful shrieks of ‘murder’ and ‘help’ coming from the bush—positively frightful sounds, Anne dearie. Her heart gave out at once. Warren heard them himself at the barn, and went straight to the bush to investigate, and there he found all the manse children sitting on a fallen tree and screaming ‘murder’ at the top of their lungs. They told him they were only in fun and didn’t think anyone would hear them. They were just playing Indian ambush. Warren went back to the house and found his poor mother unconscious on the veranda.” Susan, who had returned, sniffed contemptuously. “I think she was very far from being unconscious, Mrs. Marshall Elliott, and that you may tie to. I have been hearing of Amelia Warren’s weak heart for forty years. She had it when she was twenty. She enjoys making a fuss and having the doctor, and any excuse will do.” “I don’t think Gilbert thought her attack very serious,” said Anne. “Oh, that may very well be,” said Miss Cornelia. “But the matter has made an awful lot of talk and the Meads being Methodists makes it that much worse. What is going to become of those children? Sometimes I can’t sleep at nights for thinking about them, Anne dearie. I really do question if they get enough to eat, even, for their father is so lost in dreams that he doesn’t often remember he has a stomach, and that lazy old woman doesn’t bother cooking what she ought. They are just running wild and now that school is closing they’ll be worse than ever.” “They do have jolly times,” said Anne, laughing over the recollections of some Rainbow Valley happenings that had come to her ears. “And they are all brave and frank and loyal and truthful.” “That’s a true word, Anne dearie, and when you come to think of all the trouble in the church those two tattling, deceitful youngsters of the last minister’s made, I’m inclined to overlook a good deal in the Merediths.” “When all is said and done, Mrs. Dr. dear, they are very nice children,” said Susan. “They have got plenty of original sin in them and that I will admit, but maybe it is just as well, for if they had not they might spoil from over-sweetness. Only I do think it is not proper for them to play in a graveyard and that I will maintain.” “But they really play quite quietly there,” excused Anne. “They don’t run and yell as they do elsewhere. Such howls as drift up here from Rainbow Valley sometimes! Though I fancy my own small fry bear a valiant part in them. They had a sham battle there last night and had to ‘roar’ themselves, because they had no artillery to do it, so Jem says. Jem is passing through the stage where all boys hanker to be soldiers.” “Well, thank goodness, he’ll never be a soldier,” said Miss Cornelia. “I never approved of our boys going to that South African fracas. But it’s over, and not likely anything of the kind will ever happen again. I think the world is getting more sensible. As for the Merediths, I’ve said many a time and I say it again, if Mr. Meredith had a wife all would be well.” “He called twice at the Kirks’ last week, so I am told,” said Susan. “Well,” said Miss Cornelia thoughtfully, “as a rule, I don’t approve of a minister marrying in his congregation. It generally spoils him. But in this case it would do no harm, for every one likes Elizabeth Kirk and nobody else is hankering for the job of stepmothering those youngsters. Even the Hill girls balk at that. They haven’t been found laying traps for Mr. Meredith. Elizabeth would make him a good wife if he only thought so. But the trouble is, she really is homely and, Anne dearie, Mr. Meredith, abstracted as he is, has an eye for a good-looking woman, man-like. He isn’t so other-worldly when it comes to that, believe me.” “Elizabeth Kirk is a very nice person, but they do say that people have nearly frozen to death in her mother’s spare-room bed before now, Mrs. Dr. dear,” said Susan darkly. “If I felt I had any right to express an opinion concerning such a solemn matter as a minister’s marriage I would say that I think Elizabeth’s cousin Sarah, over-harbour, would make Mr. Meredith a better wife.” “Why, Sarah Kirk is a Methodist,” said Miss Cornelia, much as if Susan had suggested a Hottentot as a manse bride. “She would likely turn Presbyterian if she married Mr. Meredith,” retorted Susan. Miss Cornelia shook her head. Evidently with her it was, once a Methodist, always a Methodist. “Sarah Kirk is entirely out of the question,” she said positively. “And so is Emmeline Drew—though the Drews are all trying to make the match. They are literally throwing poor Emmeline at his head, and he hasn’t the least idea of it.” “Emmeline Drew has no gumption, I must allow,” said Susan. “She is the kind of woman, Mrs. Dr. dear, who would put a hot-water bottle in your bed on a dog-night and then have her feelings hurt because you were not grateful. And her mother was a very poor housekeeper. Did you ever hear the story of her dishcloth? She lost her dishcloth one day. But the next day she found it. Oh, yes, Mrs. Dr. dear, she found it, in the goose at the dinner-table, mixed up with the stuffing. Do you think a woman like that would do for a minister’s mother-in-law? I do not. But no doubt I would be better employed in mending little Jem’s trousers than in talking gossip about my neighbours. He tore them something scandalous last night in Rainbow Valley.” “Where is Walter?” asked Anne. “He is up to no good, I fear, Mrs. Dr. dear. He is in the attic writing something in an exercise book. And he has not done as well in arithmetic this term as he should, so the teacher tells me. Too well I know the reason why. He has been writing silly rhymes when he should have been doing his sums. I am afraid that boy is going to be a poet, Mrs. Dr. dear.” “He is a poet now, Susan.” “Well, you take it real calm, Mrs. Dr. dear. I suppose it is the best way, when a person has the strength. I had an uncle who began by being a poet and ended up by being a tramp. Our family were dreadfully ashamed of him.” “You don’t seem to think very highly of poets, Susan,” said Anne, laughing. “Who does, Mrs. Dr. dear?” asked Susan in genuine astonishment. “What about Milton and Shakespeare? And the poets of the Bible?” “They tell me Milton could not get along with his wife, and Shakespeare was no more than respectable by times. As for the Bible, of course things were different in those sacred days—although I never had a high opinion of King David, say what you will. I never knew any good to come of writing poetry, and I hope and pray that blessed boy will outgrow the tendency. If he does not—we must see what emulsion of cod-liver oil will do.” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. L. M. Montgomery (2004). Rainbow Valley. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/5343/pg5343-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org , located at https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html.

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