ween his teeth to Abner; "do you want
to make a laughin' stock of me?"

"I kinder thought I wuz a-helpin' yer," said Abner, as he ran his
fingers down under his chin and pulled away his shirt collar, which had
been drawn back so forcibly that it interfered with his breathing.

"The question now," said the Moderator, "is on the adoption of Mr.
Smith's motion. Those in favor will please stand up and be counted."

When the tellers had attended to their duty the Moderator said, "Those
opposed will now rise and be counted."

The vote was soon announced. In favor of accepting the donation, three
hundred and one; opposed, fifty-eight.

"It's a vote," declared the Moderator.

A dozen matters of minor importance were quickly disposed of, and but
one remained upon the warrant, with the exception of the election of
town officers. Little squads of the members were now gathered together
talking over the most important question of the meeting, which was the
election of town officers for the ensuing year. The last item on the
warrant read: "Will the town appropriate money to buy a new hearse?"

Mr. Butterfield had evidently been holding himself in reserve, for he
was on his feet in an instant, and he secured the eye of the Moderator
and the floor.

"Mister Moderator," began Mr. Butterfield, "I desire to raise my voice
agin this biznez of unnecessary and unexampled extravagance. What do we
want of a new hearse? Those who are dead and in the cemetery don't find
any fault with the one we've got, and those who are livin' have no
present use for it, and why should they complain? I know what this
means. This is only an enterin' wedge. If this 'ere bill passes and we
git a new hearse, then it'll be said thet ther horses don't look as well
as the hearse, and then if ther hearse gits out in ther storm, we shell
hev ter pay money to git it polished up agin, and we who are livin' will
hev to work harder and harder for the benefit of those who are jest as
well satisfied with the old hearse as they would be with a new one. I
move, Mister Moderator, that instid of buyin' a new hearse, thet ther
old one be lengthened six inches, which ken be done at a slight
expense."

Mr. Tobias Smith now took the floor.

"I am glad that my friend has not opposed this measure entirely, but has
provided for my proper exit from this world when my time comes. I must
confess that it has troubled me a great deal when I have thought about
that hearse. I was b