I didn't mind what you said. So many letters come here, that I can't
keep the run of them."

"I've axed your father for't goin' on three times; and he said it would
come in last night's mail. It must have come afore this time."

"If it must, I suppose it has," replied Ham, taking a pile of letters
from the pigeon-hole marked L.

Having lighted the kindlings in the stove, I stood up to observe the
conduct of Ham. He resumed his whistle, and examined the letters. Of
course he did not find the one he was looking for.

"None for Larrabee," said he, suspending the patriotic air long enough
to utter the words.

"Goodness gracious! There must be!" exclaimed the unhappy spinster.
"Have you looked 'em all over?"

"I have."

But Ham took down the L's again, and went through the pile once more.

"None for Larrabee," he repeated, and then, for variety's sake, whistled
the first strain of Hail, Columbia.

"But, Mr. Fishley, there must be a letter for me. Ethan writ me there
was one comin'; and he said it would be here by to-day, for sartain,"
protested Miss Larrabee. "Mebbe it's got into some other hole."

"Well, to please you, I'll look them all over; but I don't remember
seeing any letter for you."

"I tell ye it must have come afore now," persisted the venerable maiden.

Ham whistled his favorite air as he went through all the letters in the
pigeon-holes, from A to Z. He did not find it, and Miss Larrabee was in
despair. She had made all her preparations to visit "Jim's folks," and
had intended to start that day.

"It's a shame!" exclaimed she. "I know Ethan sent the letter. He
wouldn't play no sech trick on me. Them mail folks ought to look out for
things better'n that."

"If it didn't come, it didn't," added Ham, consolingly.

"But I know it did come. Ethan must have put it in the post-office.
'Tain't like him to say he'd do a thing, and then not do it. I almost
know he sent the letter."

At this point Captain Fishley and his brother entered the store, and
Miss Larrabee appealed to him. The postmaster looked the letters over
very carefully; but, as there was none for the lady, he couldn't find
any. He was very sorry, but he displayed more philosophy than the
spinster, and "bore up" well under the trial.

"What on airth am I to do!" ejaculated Miss Larrabee. "Here I've got all
ready to go and see Jim's folks; but I can't go because I hain't got no
money. When I set about doin' a thing, I want to do it."

"