ore his fingers got too big. Don't you recall one
winter when he was house-bound after a run o' scarlet fever? He used
to work worsted, and knit some, I believe he did; but he took to
growin' that spring, and I chanced to ask him to supply me with a
couple o' good holders, but I found I'd touched dignity. He was
dreadful put out. I suppose he was mos' too manly for me to refer to
his needlework. Poor Marthy! how she laughed! I only said that about
the holders for the sake o' sayin' somethin', but he remembered it
against me more than a year."

The two aunts laughed together. "Boys is boys, ain't they?" observed
Mrs. Stevens, with great sagacity.

"Men is boys," retorted Mrs. Martin. "The more you treat 'em like
boys, the better they think you use 'em. They always want motherin',
an' somebody to come to. I always tell folks I've got five child'n,
counting Mr. Martin the youngest. The more bluster they have, the more
boys they be. Now Marthy knew that about brother Isr'el, an' she
always ruled him by love an' easin' of him down from them high perches
he was always settin' upon. Everything was always right with her an'
all wrong with him when they was young, but she could always say the
right word."

"She was a good-feelin' woman; she did make him a good wife, if I say
it that shouldn't o' my own sister," sighed Mrs. Stevens. "She was the
best o' housekeepers, was Marthy. I never went over so neat a house. I
ain't got the gift myself. I can clear up, Mis' Martin, but I can't
remain cleared up."

The two sisters turned to their pathetic work of looking over the
orderly closets and making solemn researches into the suspected
shelters of moths. Much talk of the past was suggested by the folding
of blankets; and as they set back the chairs, and brushed the floors
that were made untidy by the funeral guests of the day before, they
wondered afresh what would become of Israel Haydon, and what plan he
would make for himself; for Mrs. Martin could only stay with him for a
few days, and Mrs. Stevens was obliged to return as soon as possible
to her busy household and an invalid daughter. As long as they could
stay the house went on as usual, and Israel Haydon showed no
apprehension of difficulties ahead. He took up the routine of his
simple fashion of life, and when William asked if he should bring his
team to plough, he received the surprised answer that all those things
were settled when they talked about them earlier in the s