Year: 1865

mass of embodied comfort, Mr.. Puffer sa
mending a harness at one side of the pint
knot and dog, and Mrs. Puffer sat al the othel
knitting a new heel upon defective SOCK
There was an appropriateness in the accident
of sitting separated by the brindIe Bose fOl
the dog family had been, indeed. one of the
chief promoters of domestic sebism.
| Mistress Puffer, as it happened, dotted on
cats and detested dogs, while master approved
of dogs and despised cats. So it always fell
out the playful, purring kittens which mistress
possessed herself of, and loved with all her
heart, invariably disappeared suddenly and un-
| timely, like Bluebeard's wives; while a great
lazy glutton of dog perpetually fattened and
| grew insolent without let or hindranes, being
always eating, always underfoot, and always
barking distractedly at passing travellers.


The gro1p sat thus upon the evening Of
that fatsful day, making pleasant picture of
domestic happiness; but one, alas which was
not founded upon fact.


"I've been thinking whether or no Lawyer
Sabin wouldn't be as good hand as We can
get to help about dividing up the stuff" said
Mr.. Pufer, presently, trying to put waxed
end through an aWl hole.


"Yes, should call him as good choice as
any. He is a man of excellent Judgment and
prudence, and he isn't of the telling kind, who
would be likely to blab all the particulars to
everybody" replied Mistress Pufer.


This was the second point Of agreement.


Then followed long silence, filed only by
the cracking of the fire, the heavy ticking OF
the gaunt, eight-day clock, and the snoring
of Bose. It was not until the clock had tick
ed half an hour from time into eternity that
the Goodman spoke again.


81 calculate it will be your best way to take
your part and go up to your brothers. Will
liam will be glad enough of you for house
keeper, for he has had to get along most any
away since his wife died."


EYES, IexPect can be help to William"
replied Mrs. P, for the third time harmonic
ing. "But what do you lay out to do for a
housekeeper2" a


swell, am counting on making as shift
somehow, with mother'a help" returned Mr..
P, drawing up his waxed thread.


Now the mother was an infirm old body not
over-neat or energetic at the best, and Mrs.
Ps heart began to swell with pity; but of
course it was not for her to object or dictate,
so she only knit the faster, knowing we'll there
would be sore need.


81 want to finish out my corn Tomorrow
What supposing we ride up TO Sabine the day
after and settle up the matter?" suggested Mr..
Puffer, when the clock struck nine.


"Two, four, six. eight, ten,'' responded the
dame. counting her stitches. 81 don't know
but that time will suit me as well as any
have been laying out to make up the ounces
tomorrow, and then you need a new frock,
you know; but I guess can fetch them both
tomorrow"


There was shade of sadness in her tone, for
she was morally sure Mother Puffer would let
the preserves mould or ferment or come to ruin
in some unhousewilely way, and she was think
ing, too, of the rags to be in the blue woolen
frock. But then it was not worth while to
show any such feeling; so just to testify to her
light-hearted indifference, she began to sing
softly to herself while she bound off the heel;
meanwhile the husband, from his side of the
dog, could but confess the sound of her voice
was much more musical than his mother 8
asthmatic breathing.


The next morning Mr.. and Mrs. Puffer
were astir long before light, for they had
busy day before them Mr.. Puffer husked out
his corn and ate his meals, which happened to
be of his favorite kinds OF food, in his usual
heavy silence and Mrs. P,-well am afraid
Mrs. P. though she hustled about with great
show of cheerful activity, mingled few pity
ing tears with the beef-brine she was scalding,
and even went SO far as to pat Bose once or
twice, and feel thrill of affection for him in
her capacious heart when he looked up with a
wag of delight.


But the busy hours of the October day
fastened to spend themselves, and quite too
soon the old skeleton clock pounded out nine
of the evening again.


"Do you lay out to be ready Cor to go to the
squire's tomorrow" asked Mr.. Putfer at last,
finding Mrs. Puffer would not speak according
to her wont and save him the trouble Of open
ing his mouth.


"Ye-es, 1 suppose So" returned that lady
reluctantly 81 rather thought whether or no
l shouldn't manage 10 spin up that little hand
fuI of rolls into stocking yarn; then the pic
kle-vinegar needs scaIding over; and l do sup
pose your winter hannes ought by good rights
to have an overhauling but somehow the
time has slipped away, and l haven't seemed
to accomplish half meant to. The fact is,
there is always something to be done in a
house, and don't know but / am as ready as
shall be. Your mother will keep up things
as best she can, I've no doubt; but the poor
old woman is rather wheezy and Sbaky, and
she can't do as she could once"


As reply was not strictly necessary, of
course Mr.. Puffer made none, but there was
an answering "Amen" deep down in his heart,
which was the fourth time they two had found
point of agreement.


| That night Mistress Puffer could not sleep
| for thinking how everything about her we'll
ordered house would go speedily and surely
to rack and ruin under the thriftlessness oil
madam the mother. Neither could master
sleep for thinking, selfish soul! of the same.
But I would do him the credit of admitting
that mingled with personal bewailings was a
degree of pity for the life Of slavish toll which
awaited his late helpmate at her brorther's
house, where there was, besides, a possible
chance that she might be at any time sup
planted by a new sister-in-law.


So upon the next morning the husband and
wife drove over to Counsellor Sabin's in the
high-backed green wagon with the pumpkin
and milk horse heartily agreeing, filthy, in
pity for each other.


"Ye-es, ye-es AS l understand it, you two
wish to divide your joint possessions and go
each your way, without any formal public di-
vorcement. Wa-al, wa-al; let US see, let US
see /" said Squire Sabin, referring to paper
which be had already filled with minutes