olest or annoy--no
unsympathetic souls to stifle our ardent passion for Nature and the work
of her free, divine hands."

A frowsy head suddenly appeared at the dining-room door, and a voice
which accompanied it remarked:

"Didn't they bring in any stove, ma'am?"

Sophronia looked inquiringly at me, and I answered:

"No!" looking very blank at the same time.

"Then how am I to make a fire to cook with?" asked the girl.

"In the range, of course," said Sophronia.

Our domestic's next remark had, at least, the effect of teaching what
was her nationality:

"An' do ye think that I'd ax fur a sthove av dhere was a range in the
house? Dhivil a bit!"

"Never mind, dear," said I soothingly; "I'm an old soldier; I'll make a
fire out of doors, and give you as nice a cup of tea and plate of hot
biscuit as you ever tasted. And I'll order a stove the first thing in
the morning."

Sophronia consented, and our domestic was appeased. Then I asked the
domestic to get some water while I should make the fire. The honest
daughter of toil was absent for many moments, and when she returned, it
was to report, with some excitement, that there was neither well nor
cistern on the premises.

Then I grew angry, and remarked, in Sophronia's hearing, that we were a
couple of fools, to take a house without first proving whether the agent
had told the truth. But Sophronia, who is a consistent optimist, rebuked
me for my want of faith in the agent.

"Pierre," said she, "it is unmanly to charge a fellow-man with
falsehood upon the word of a menial. I know that agent tells the truth,
for he has such liquid blue eyes; besides, his house is right next to
the Presbyterian Church."

Either one of these powerful arguments was sufficient to silence me, of
course; so I took the pail, and sought well and cistern myself. But if
either was on the place, it was so skillfully secreted that I could not
find the slightest outward evidence of it. Finally, to be thorough, I
paced the garden from front to rear, over lines not more than ten feet
apart, and then scrutinized the fence-corners.

While at this work, I was approached by a gentleman, who seemed to come
from a house two or three hundred yards off.

"Moved into the cottage, it seems," said he.

"Yes," I replied. "Do you know the place? The agent said there was
excellent water here, but I can't find it."

"He meant there was good water in my well, where all occupants of the
cottage have drawn