behind Dorothy's chair,
were now recriminating with corn-cobs on each other's faces.) "Dorothy,
can't thee keep those boys quiet?"

"Did thee ever know them to be quiet?" said Dorothy, helping Jimmy to
relieve himself of his corn.

"Well now, listen!" Rachel continued placidly, "'Second day, 27th' (of
fifth month, he means, the letter's been a _long time_ coming),
'attended their mid-week meeting at London Grove, where my tongue as it
were clave to the roof of my mouth, while Hannah Husbands was much
favored, and enabled to lift up her voice like the song of an angel'"--

"Who's Hannah Husbands?" cried Dorothy.

"Thee don't know her, dear. She was second cousin to thy father's
step-mother; the families were not congenial, I believe; but she has a
great gift for the ministry."

"I should think she'd better be at home with her children,--if she has
any. Fancy _thee_, mother, going about to strange meetings, and lifting
up thy voice."

"Hush! hush! Dorothy! Thy tongue's running away with thee. Consider the
example thee's setting the boys."

"Thee'd better write to father about Dorothy, mother! Perhaps Hannah
Husbands would like to know what she thinks about her preachin'!"

"Well now, be quiet, all of you. Here's something about Dorothy: 'I
know that my dear daughter Dorothy is faithful and loving, albeit
somewhat quick of speech, and restive under obligation. I would have
thee remind her that an unwillingness to accept help from others argues
a want of Christian Meekness. Entreat her, from me, not to conceal her
needs from our neighbors, if so be she find her work oppressive. We
know them to be of kindly intention, though not of our way of thinking
in all particulars. Let her receive help from them, not as individuals,
but as instruments of the Lord's protection, which it were impiety and
ingratitude to deny.'"

"There!" cried Shep. "That means thee's to let Luke Jordan finish the
sheep-washing. Thee'd better have done it in the first place. We
wouldn't have the old ewe to pick if thee had!"

Dorothy was dimpling at the idea of Luke Jordan in the character of an
instrument of heavenly protection. She had not regarded him in that
light, it must be confessed, and had rejected him with scorn.

"He may if he wants to," she said; "but you boys shall drive them over.
I'll have nothing to do with it."

"And shear them too, Dorothy? He asked to shear them long ago."

"Well, _let_ him shear them, and keep the wool