riving man in the matter of family.
More boys appeared. Only one was married, but four had "got their time."
As night approached, and no Wilson, there was a good deal of lively and
loud conversation about the stock and the chores, in all of which the
girl took a leading and intelligent part, showing a willingness to do
her share, but not to have all the work put upon her. It was time to go
down the road and hunt up the cows; the mule had disappeared and must
be found before dark; a couple of steers hadn't turned up since the day
before yesterday, and in the midst of the gentle contention as to whose
business all this was, there was an alarm of cattle in the corn-patch,
and the girl started off on a run in that direction. It was due to the
executive ability of this small girl, after the cows had been milked and
the mule chased and the boys properly stirred up, that we had supper.
It was of the oilcloth, iron fork, tin spoon, bacon, hot bread and
honey variety, distinguished, however, from all meals we had endured or
enjoyed before by the introduction of fried eggs (as the breakfast next
morning was by the presence of chicken), and it was served by the active
maid with right hearty good-will and genuine hospitable intent.

While it was in progress, after nine o'clock, Big Tom arrived, and, with
a simple greeting, sat down and attacked the supper and began to tell
about the bear. There was not much to tell except that he hadn't seen
the bear, and that, judged by his tracks and his sloshing around, he
must be a big one. But a trap had been set for him, and he judged it
wouldn't be long before we had some bear meat. Big Tom Wilson, as he is
known all over this part of the State, would not attract attention from
his size. He is six feet and two inches tall, very spare and muscular,
with sandy hair, long gray beard, and honest blue eyes. He has a
reputation for great strength and endurance; a man of native simplicity
and mild manners. He had been rather expecting us from what Mr.
Murchison wrote; he wrote (his son had read out the letter) that Big Tom
was to take good care of us, and anybody that Mr. Murchison sent could
have the best he'd got.

Big Tom joined us in our room after supper. This apartment, with two
mighty feather-beds, was hung about with all manner of stuffy family
clothes, and had in one end a vast cavern for a fire. The floor was
uneven, and the hearthstones billowy. When the fire was lighted, the
effect of