ied by irrigating and shearing in their proper seasons.
Under the circumstances, it was not surprising that her wash-tub bore
about the same relationship to her real duties as does the crochet needle
or embroidery hoop to the lives of less arduously engaged women. It was at
once her fad and her relaxation, the dainty feminine accomplishment with
which she whiled away the hours after a busy day spent with pick and
shovel. Of all this Mary was ignorant when she proposed that Mrs. Yellett
saw off the tub-handles in the cause of culture. However, Mrs. Yellett
procured a saw, yet the hand that held it lingered in its descent on the
handles. She contemplated the tub as affectionately as Hamlet regarding
the skull of "Alas, poor Yorick!"

"This," she observed, "is the only thing about camp that reminds me I'm a
woman. I'd plumb forget it many a time if it warn't for this little tub.
The identity of a woman is mighty apt to get mislaid when dooty compels
her to assoome the pants cast aside by the nacheral head of the house in
sickness or death. It's ben six years now since paw's done a thing but set
'round and wait for meals." Mrs. Yellett sighed laboriously. "Not that I'm
holdin' it agin him none. When a man sees eighty, it's time he bedded
himself down comfortable and waited for the nacheral course of events to
weed him out. But when the boys get old enough to tend to herdin',
irrigatin', and the work that God A'mighty provided that man might get the
chance to sweat hisself for bread, accordin' to the Scriptures, I aim to
indulge myself by doin' a wash of clothes every day, even if I have to
take clean clothes and do 'em over again."

The poor "gov'ment's" tender heart could not resist this presentation of
the case.

"We won't touch the handles, Mrs. Yellett," she laughed. "I'm glad you
told me you had a personal sentiment for the tub. There are some things I
should feel the same way about--my hoe and rake, for instance, that I care
for my garden with, at home. And that suggests to me, why not dig two
little trenches for the handles and plant the tub? Then I shall have an
even firmer foundation on which to arrange the--the--the educational
miscellany."

The suggestion of this harmless expedient was gratefully received, and the
"desk" duly implanted, whereupon Mary pathetically sought to embellish her
"class-room" from such scanty materials as happened to be at hand. A
hemstitched bureau scarf that she had tucked in her tru