e's
no relation of ours. And we'll think about the matter over night, and
let you know in the morning."

"Yes, exactly, I see, I see; but it was the young child, the--a--female
child, that my wife desired to take into her family. She does not care
for boys, and she is particularly fond of girls, and so am I, very fond
of girls--a--in reason."

Miss Vilda all at once made up her mind on one point, and only wished
that Samantha wouldn't stare at her as if she had never seen her before.
"I'm sorry to disappoint your wife, Mr. Southwick. It seems that Mrs.
Tarbox and Jabez Slocum have been offerin' the child to every family in
the village, and I s'pose bime bye they'll have the politeness to offer
her to me; but, at any rate, whether they do or not, I propose to keep
her myself, and I'd thank you to tell folks so, if they ask you. Mebbe
you'd better give it out from the pulpit, though I can let Mis' Tarbox
know, and that will answer the same purpose. This is the place the baby
was brought, and this is the place she's goin' to stay."

"Vildy, you're a good woman!" cried Samantha, when the door closed on
the Reverend Mr. Southwick. "I'm proud o' you, Vildy, 'n' I take back
all the hard thoughts I've ben hevin' about you lately. The idee o'
that chiny-eyed preacher thinkin' he was goin' to carry that child home
in his buggy with hardly so much as sayin' 'Thank you, marm!' I like his
Baptist imperdence! His wife hed better wash his duster afore she adopts
any children. If they'd carry their theories 'bout immersion 's fur as
their close, 't wouldn't be no harm."

"I don' know as I'd have agreed to keep either of 'em ef the whole
village hadn't intefered and wanted to manage my business for me, and be
so dretful charitable all of a sudden, and dictate to me and try to show
me my duty. I haven't had a minute's peace for more 'n a fortnight, and
now I hope they'll let me alone. I'll take the boy to the city
to-morrow, if I live to see the light, and when I come back I'll tie up
the gate and keep the neighbors out till this nine days' wonder gets
crowded out o' their heads by somethin' new."

"You're goin' to take Timothy to the city, are you?" asked Samantha
sharply.

"That's what I'm goin' to do; and the sooner the better for everybody
concerned. Timothy, shut that door and run out to the barn, and don't
you let me see you again till supper-time; do you hear me?"

"And you're goin' to put him in one o' them Homes?"

"Ye