n the doctor had closed the door and stepped from the front porch,
his wife sank into a chair.

"I do hope you won't git mad at what I'm goin' to say, Mister Hewlitt,"
she said, "'cause I ain't goin' to say it for no such thing; but I
couldn't help hearin' what you was sayin' to Doc while I was reddin' off
the table. I wisht you wouldn't let him git to talkin' about new-fangled
religions and sich. It ain't for his good nor mine."

Eliph' nodded good-naturedly.

"Why, ma'm," he exclaimed, "we were only discussing faith cures, and
neither of us believes in them--wholly, that is. Of course everyone
who has read the chapter on "India, It's Religions and Its History,' in
Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science
and Art, must to some extend admit the power of mind over matter. But
if you'd rather not have me, I'll not discuss it again. There are one
thousand and one other interesting subjects treated of in this great
book, any one of which will please the studious mind."

"I'd rather you wouldn't, if you don't mind," said the doctor's wife
simply.

Eliph' Hewlitt pushed back his chair, and arose as he saw the lines of
worry leave the face of his hostess. He turned to the side table and
looked among the books that lay on it.

Mrs. Weaver sprang to her feet.

"Land's sakes!" she cried. "I know what you're lookin' for. You're
lookin' for that book of yourn, ain't you? It's right there behind them
wax flowers on that what-not. I seen it layin' around and I jist shoved
it back there so Doc wouldn't git at it."

"Well, you sit down, ma'm," said the book agent. "I can get it. But
there was no need to be so particular. The doctor knows how to hand a
book as well as the next man."

The doctor's wife drew her darning basket from the side table and turned
its contents into her lap.

"'Twasn't that," she said; "I'd never have thought of that, I guess. I
hit it because I didn't know if 'twas a proper book for Doc. It's got a
kind of a queer name."

Eliph' turned the book over in his hand. It was the first time anyone
had suggested that the volume might be dangerous. He looked up and
smiled.

"It would not harm the youngest child, ma'm," he said, "unless it fell
on it. I wouldn't harm a baby."

"Well, I guess you'll think I'm awful foolish about Doc," said Mrs.
Weaver, "but I wasn't goin' to take no chances, and the name kind of
riled. Me. And them pictures of ladies bending."

"Physical Cu