ting to be amused by his soliloquies.
Soon they heard him say:

"Oh, lay down, lay down, lay _down_, ye misable old mop!"

It was an expression of impatience and disgust.

"What's the matter, Jim?" Mr. Benedict called.

"Here's my har," responded Jim, "actin' as if it was a piece o' woods or
a hay-lot, an' there ain't no lodgin' it with nothin' short of a
harricane. I've a good mind to git it shingled and san'-papered."

Then, shifting his address to the object of his care and anxiety, he
went on:

"Oh, stick up, stick up, if you want to! Don't lay down on my 'count.
P'rhaps ye want to see what's goin' on. P'rhaps ye're goin' to stand up
with me. P'rhaps ye want to skeer somebody's hosses. If I didn't look no
better nor you, I sh'd want to lay low; an', if I'd 'a slep as poor as
ye did last night, I'd lop down in the fust bed o' bear's grease I could
find. _Hain't_ ye got no manners?"

This was too much for Harry, who, in his happy mood burst into the
merriest laughter.

This furnished Jim with just the apology he wanted for a frolic, and
rushing into the adjoining bedroom, he pulled Harry from his bed, seated
him on the top of his head, and marched with him struggling and laughing
about the room. After he had performed sundry acrobatic feats with him,
he carried him back to his bed. Then he returned to his room, and
entered seriously upon the task of arraying himself in his wedding
attire. To get on his collar and neck-tie properly, he was obliged to
call for Mr. Benedict's assistance.

Jim was already getting red in the face.

"What on arth folks want to tie theirselves up in this way for in hot
weather, is more nor I know," he said. "How do ye s'pose them Mormons
live, as is doin' this thing every three days?"

Jim asked this question with his nose in the air, patiently waiting the
result of Mr. Benedict's manipulations at his throat. When he could
speak again, he added:

"I vow, if I was doin' a big business in this line, I'd git some tin
things, an' have 'em soddered on, an' sleep in 'em."

This sent Harry into another giggle, and, with many soliloquies and much
merriment, the dressing in both rooms went on, until, in Jim's room, all
became still. When Benedict and his boy had completed their toilet, they
looked in upon Jim, and found him dressed and seated on his trunk.

"Good morning, Mr. Fenton," said Benedict, cheerfully.

Jim, who had been in deep thought, looked up, and said:

"Do ye know