84 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



ture, his looking-glass, comb, hair-brush, and soap 

 he kept among the eggs. The eggs suffered con- 

 siderably from the association, and their injury was 

 felt by myself as head cook; but Don could never 

 be persuaded to change his habits, producing abun- 

 dant arguments to prove that that was their only 

 appropriate place. 



At supper he announced his firm conviction that 

 china ciips and plates were a necessity to existence, 

 that tin was an abomination, and that on all future 

 trips he should be properly supplied. He was in- 

 dignant at a suggestion that they might be broken, 

 and burst forth : 



" You are so set in your ways that you think no 

 one can have any ideas but yourself, or make any 

 improvement on your plans. Here you are, drinking 

 high-priced tea, and even brandy-and-water, out of 

 tin cups that hold a quart," — this was an exaggera- 

 tion, as they were only pints — "have a disgust- 

 ing taste that absolutely destroys the flavor, and are 

 of such a shape that you have to dip your nose into 

 the fluid before you can swallow any of it. With 

 hot tea this is painful, and with brandy, or even 

 water, far from ])leasant." 



"Glass or china would be more agreeable on 

 some accounts " was the mild reply. 



" I should think so," he interrupted. " Allow me 

 to ask what you paid for this tea ?" 



" One dollar and fifteen cents a pound." 



" And what does it taste like ?" 



*' Tea." 



