n,--and the other signs of confusion which prevailed, and
which so annoyed his wife, were as refreshing to Mrs. Smith's eyes as
the first glimpse of land to Columbus.

"Zactly as I expected," she ejaculated, lifting her hands in horror.
"I alluz hearn tell that these ere lit'ry women are a shiftless set. I
should think it would worry a man's life out of his body to be jined
to sich a hussy. Why, there's my Betsy Ann; she ken go a visitin' more
'n half the time, and her husband never said boo agin her house-work;
an' I've known lots o' women what could embroider, an' play the piana,
an' make heaps o' calls, an' attind balls an' sich till enymost
mornin', an' they'd no more think o' wastin' their time in writin' a
book than cuttin' their heads off! But duzzn't them books look pooty
on them shelves? I should think it would make the minister's head
split if he knows all that's in them volums; an' they do say he's
ter'ble larned. Well, I mustn't stay here no longer, though it's jist
as I expected." And, returning to the room below, she lifted her hands
again in astonishment as she saw by the clock that it was five. "I
guess John'll have to git his own fodder to-night, or go without. He's
used to it, though. I brings my man up not to expect a woman to
drudge, drudge, about house. But, mercy me!" she exclaimed, "where's
that child gone to? I warrant he's in some mischief;" and, opening the
door, she called,--

"Bub, Bub! come inter the huss!"

But Bub did not answer. So she went around the cabin, but could see
nothing of him, and, thinking that he would not come because it was
she that called him, she added,--

"Come right in now; Tom wants yer."

There was only a slight clearing around the cabin, and then came a
thick growth of bushes, and beyond, the woods on either hand, save the
path in the direction of the town. It was but a few rods to the
nearest house in the village, and she hurried there to make inquiries,
for she was becoming anxious for the child. But the children, playing
near by, said that Bub had not passed that way, so, running back, she
instituted a new search in the vicinity of the cabin, calling him as
before, and receiving no answer; and, as there was a wide cart track
leading into the woods from the cabin door, thinking it natural for
the child to stray that way, she hastened in that direction.

We have said that Mr. Smith had his virtues as well as weaknesses;
and, of course, his wife was not "_tota