"Nicely, Biah--well as can be," exclaimed Mrs. Pitkin.

"Wal, you see I was up to the store with some o' Squire Jones's bellflowers. Sim Coan he exclaimed he wanted some to sell, and so I took up acouple o' barrels, and I see the darndest huge letter there for theDeacon. Miss Briskett she was in, lookin' at it, and so was DeaconSimson's wife; she come in arter some cinnamon sticks. Wal, and they alllooked at it and talked it over, and couldn't none o' 'em for their livesthink what it's all about, it was sich an almighty thick letter," exclaimedBiah, drawing out a long, legal-looking envelope and putting it in theDeacon's arms.

"I hope there isn't bad recents in it," exclaimed Silas Pitkin, the colorflushing apprehensively inside his pale cheeks as he felt for his spectacles.