of thread, or a quintal of
codfish, to a pound of nails. On one side, as you entered, were ranges
of shelves, protected by a counter, on which were exposed rolls of
flannels of divers colors, and calico and broadcloth, and other
"dry goods," while a showcase on the counter contained combs, and
tooth-brushes, and soaps, and perfumery, and a variety of other small
articles. The back of the store was used as a receptacle for hogsheads
of molasses, and puncheons of rum and wine, and barrels of whisky and
sugar. Overhead and on the posts were hung pails, and rakes, and iron
chains, and a thousand things necessary to the complete enjoyment of
civilization. On the other side was a small counting-room partitioned
off, with a door, the upper part of which was glass, for the
convenience of looking into the shop, in order to be ready to attend
to the wants of such customers as might come in. This little room,
scarcely eight feet square, contained a small close stove, around
which were gathered some half a dozen persons.

"I say, squire," exclaimed Tom Gladding, a tall, awkward, good-natured
looking fellow, with legs sprawling out, and heels on the top of the
stove, addressing himself to a man in a black suit, rather better
dressed than the others, "what do you think of this here rusty old
Father Holden cut up last night at Conference?"

Squire Miller, as one in authority, and who might be called to
adjudicate upon the case, and for other reasons of his own, was not
disposed to commit himself, he, therefore, cautiously replied, _more
Novo Anglicano_, by asking another question, "Were you there, Mr.
Gladding?"

"No," said Tom, laughing; "the old folks used to make me go so
regular, when I was a boy, I guess I've done my part. So after a while
I give it up."

"It is a pity you ever gave it up," said the squire. "You might get a
great deal of good from it."

"There's two opinions about that," said Tom. "You see, squire, as long
as mother was alive, I always went with her regular, 'cause it kind o'
comforted her, though somehow or other I never took to it. So when she
died I sort o' slacked off 'till now it's 'een amost two year since I
been in."

"They say," observed Mr. Jenkins, "they've took the old man up."

"I'm sorry for that," cried Tom. "To go to take up a kind o'
half-crazy man for speaking in meetin'!"

"Why," inquired the squire, "would you allow the man to go about
disturbing the neighbors as he pleased?"

"I