ays I hated ter gin up when I'd started a thing. But I
had ter git that cap first of all. I couldn't afford ter lose it
nohow. And another thing, I'd a froze my ears if I hadn't got it.

"So I goes back to the bank of the crick and cut me a pole. Then I
fished out the cap, wrung it out as good as I could, and clapped it on
my head. Before I'd clumb the crick bank ag'in that cap was as stiff
as one o' them tin helmets ye read about them knights wearin' in the
middle ages--er-haw! haw! haw!

"I had ter laig it then, believe me!" pursued the expressman. "Was
cased in ice right from my head ter my heels. Could git erlong jest
erbout as graceful as one of these here cigar-store Injuns--er-haw!
haw! haw!

"I dunno how I made it ter Ma'am Kittridge's--but I done it! The old
lady seen the plight I was in, and she made me sit down by the kitchen
fire just like I was. Wouldn't let me take off a thing.

"She het up some kinder hot tea--like ter burnt all the skin off my
tongue and throat, I swow!" pursued Walky. "Must ha' drunk two quarts
of it, an' gradually it begun ter thaw me out from the inside. That's
how I saved my feet--sure's you air born!

"When I come inter her kitchen I clumped in with feet's big as an
elephant's an' no more feelin' in them than as though they'd been boxes
and not feet. If I'd peeled off that ice and them boots, the feet
would ha' come with 'em. But the old lady knowed what ter do, for a
fac'.

"Hardest dollar ever I airned," repeated Walky, shaking his head, "and
jest carryin' a mess of goose feathers----

"Hullo! who's this here comin' aboard?"

Janice had run to answer a knock at the side door. Aunt 'Mira came
more slowly with the sitting room lamp which she had lighted.

"Well, Janice Day! Air ye all deef here?" exclaimed a high and rather
querulous voice.

"Do come in, Mrs. Scattergood," cried the girl.

"I declare, Miz Scattergood," said Aunt 'Mira, with interest, "you here
at this time o' night? I am glad to see ye."

"Guess ye air some surprised," said the snappy, birdlike old woman whom
Janice ushered into the sitting room. "I only got back from Skunk's
Holler, where I been visitin', this very day. And what d'ye s'pose I
found when I went into Hopewell Drugg's?"

"Goodness!" said Aunt 'Mira. "They ain't none o' them sick, be they?"

"Sick enough, I guess," exclaimed Mrs. Scattergood, nodding her head
vigorously: "Leastways, 'Rill oughter be. I told her so!