he cat on the floor.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Sloane," said Josiah with a flourish. "I just
dropped in to see about this young man here. We are going to leave next
Wednesday; so you'd better send him down to our place Monday or Tuesday,
so that he can get used to us, and--"

"Oh, Ma," began Pa, rising imploringly to his feet.

Ma transfixed him with her eye.

"Sit down, Pa," she commanded.

Unhappy Pa sat.

Then Ma glared at the smiling Josiah, who instantly felt as guilty as if
he had been caught stealing sheep red-handed.

"We are much obliged to you, Mr. Spencer," said Ma icily, "but this baby
is OURS. We bought him, and we paid for him. A bargain is a bargain.
When I pay cash down for babies, I propose to get my money's worth.
We are going to keep this baby in spite of any number of uncles in
Manitoba. Have I made this sufficiently clear to your understanding, Mr.
Spencer?"

"Certainly, certainly," stammered the unfortunate man, feeling guiltier
than ever, "but I thought you didn't want him--I thought you'd written
to his uncle--I thought--"

"I really wouldn't think quite so much if I were you," said Ma kindly.
"It must be hard on you. Won't you stay and have tea with us?"

But, no, Josiah would not stay. He was thankful to make his escape with
such rags of self-respect as remained to him.

Pa Sloane arose and came around to Ma's chair. He laid a trembling hand
on her shoulder.

"Ma, you're a good woman," he said softly.

"Go 'long, Pa," said Ma.

X. The Courting of Prissy Strong

I WASN'T able to go to prayer meeting that evening because I had
neuralgia in my face; but Thomas went, and the minute he came home I
knew by the twinkle in his eye that he had some news.

"Who do you s'pose Stephen Clark went home with from meeting to-night?"
he said, chuckling.

"Jane Miranda Blair," I said promptly. Stephen Clark's wife had been
dead for two years and he hadn't taken much notice of anybody, so far as
was known. But Carmody had Jane Miranda all ready for him, and really
I don't know why she didn't suit him, except for the reason that a man
never does what he is expected to do when it comes to marrying.

Thomas chuckled again.

"Wrong. He stepped up to Prissy Strong and walked off with her. Cold
soup warmed over."

"Prissy Strong!" I just held up my hands. Then I laughed. "He needn't
try for Prissy," I said. "Emmeline nipped that in the bud twenty years
ago, and she'll do it again."