Great Regulars: The speaker recalls that she once spent

her time in the company of "visions," instead of real, flesh-and-blood people. She is, no doubt, referring to the authors whose works she read and translated. She found their company very pleasant and did not ever think to desire any other kind of relationship.

from Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Barrett Browning's Sonnet 26

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The speaker first focuses on the "old town's only store," which is doing a booming business this week, so big that it's never seen "sence it was opened, such a run o' trade before." All the ranchers in the vicinity have come into town to spend their "dinero."

And they will not return home until they have spent every cent.

from Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Brininstool's Christmas Week in Sagebrush

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Now, he, like many of the Spoon River deceased, can wax philosophical and indignant about how he was treated "in life."

Chase's indignity centers on the fact that after he died, his body was not allowed "burial/In holy ground." The priest would not accept the body of an immoral "drunkard" to foul the cemetery of the Catholic Church.

from Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Masters' Constance and Chase

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The speaker commands the young man to come inside out of the freezing weather. He further tells the soldier to "put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve." And finally, he tells the young man that he "should be home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

The soldier then glances around slightly and informs his would-be host, "It's really all right,/I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

from Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Michael Marks' A Soldier's Christmas

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