red Mr. Berners.

"Yes, sir, that's my name. Will you sit down? Betsy Ann, hand the
gentleman a chair."

The little girl brought forward a country made chip-bottom chair, and
with a bow, the visitor seated himself.

The woman also sat down, and waited in some little curiosity to find out
the object of the stranger's visit.

"You have a young child at nurse?" he said.

"Yes, sir; this one that I have upon my lap. That one in the cradle is
my own."

"Are you strong enough to nurse two children?" inquired Mr. Berners.

"Betsy Ann," said the woman, turning to the little girl, "call your
sister Nancy 'Lizabeth in here."

The child went into a back kitchen, and returned with another child the
counterpart of herself.

"There, now! You two stand right up there before the gentleman."

The children joined hands, and stood before Mr. Berners for inspection.

"There, now, sir! You look at them."

"They are very well worth looking at; a pair of stout, rosy, healthy,
happy lasses, I'm sure," said Mr. Berners, smiling at them, and feeling
in his pocket for some loose coins.

"Well, sir, them's my twins. I nussed 'em both myself without any help
from a bottle--either a bottle for _them_, sir, or a bottle for
_myself_," said the mother, proudly.

"They do you much credit, certainly," said Mr. Berners, who had now
found two half-eagles.

"Well, sir, they never had a day's sickness in their lives. I showed 'em
to you, sir, to prove as I could nuss two children successful."

"I'm convinced of it."

"One of 'em is named Elizabeth Ann, and the other Ann Elizabeth. The
same name because they're twins, sir, only put backwards and forwards
like, so as to tell one gal's name from t'other's. And I call 'em Betsy
Ann and Nancy 'Lizabeth on week-days and work days; and I call 'em
Elizabeth Ann and Ann Elizabeth on Sundays and company days."

"Quite right," said Mr. Berners, smiling.

"And now, gals, you may go," said the mother.

"Here, my dears! Here is somethings to buy you a Christmas gift each,"
said Mr. Berners, slipping the gold coins into the hands of the
children.

"There! thank the gentleman, and then run out and peel the potatoes and
turnips. And be sure you don't lose your pennies," said the woman, who
had no idea that the children's gifts had been half-eagles.

The well-trained little girls obeyed their mother in every particular.
And as soon as they had left the room, Mr. Berners turned to the woman
and inq