on this curious fact. As it was
he only moaned aloud. Two of the children, of peculiarly sympathetic
natures, echoed the moan unintentionally. They immediately vanished,
but soon peeped up again in irresistible curiosity.

"Old 'ooman," said Adams, "this is out o' sight the worst fit as ever I
had. Just fetch me a bit of that small strong cord out o' the cupboard
there."

Mrs Adams did as she was bid, and her husband, making a sailor-like
loop on it, fastened the same round his tooth, which was not difficult,
for the evil grinder stood unsupported and isolated in the jaw.

"Now," said her husband, "you take hold o' the end o' this and haul;
haul hard,--don't be afraid."

Mrs Adams felt nervous, and remonstrated, but being persuaded after a
time to try again, she gave a vigorous pull, which drew from the unhappy
man a terrible yell, but did not draw the tooth.

"This'll never do," groaned John, feeling the rebellious molar with his
finger; "it's as firm as a copper bolt yet. Come, wife, I'll try
another plan. You go outside that door an' do what I bid you. Mind,
never you heed what it means; you just obey orders exactly."

It was not necessary thus to caution poor tractable Mrs Adams. She
went outside the door as bid.

"Now, then," said her husband, "when I cry, `Pull,' you shut the door
with all your might--with a bang. D'ye hear?"

"Yes," replied the wife, faintly.

Fastening the cord once more round the tooth, the wretched sailor
attached the other end to the handle of the door, and retiring till
there was only about eight inches or a foot of "slack" cord left, stood
up and drew a long breath. The glaring children also drew long breaths.
One very small one, who had been lifted on to the window-sill by an
amiable companion, lay there on his breast visibly affected by alarm.

"Shut the door!" cried Adams.

There was a tremendous bang, followed by an instantaneous yell. The
children jumped nearly out of their own skins, and the little one on the
window-sill fell flat on the ground in speechless horror; but the tooth
was not yet out. The cord had slipped again.

"This is becomin' terrible," said Adams, with a solemn look. "I'll tell
'ee what, lass; you run round to the smiddy an' tell Thursday that I
want him d'rectly, an' look alive, old girl."

Mrs Adams hastened out, and scattering the children, soon returned with
the desired youth.

And a most respectable youth had Thursday October Christ