THE DRAPERY OF VINES 317 



wayside trees, choosing just ordinary Field Lilies 

 and wild fowl for his texts. Yours is clear sight, 

 Time o' Year!' 



"My, but things is changed sence that day 

 when in the meetin'- house they preached Eph 

 away from home and her out o' the world and me 

 inter the woods at one time! 



"By and by, when the minister's wife got 

 rested, she looked up, and says, kind o' quick, 'I 

 guess you '11 need a housekeeper if you move up 

 to the farm.' 



" 'That 's the worst on 't,' sez I. 'It 's over 

 long sence I 've had my outgoin's and incomin's 

 noticed or was held accountable for the same. In 

 trout -time and 'long in Fall when quail and pa'- 

 tridge is fair game and 'coons are out, and in be- 

 tween times I 'm out early and late, and keep 

 no reglar hours, so I 'm af eared no sober-minded 

 woman hereabout would want ter put up with 

 me, nor, mostlike, I with her.' 



" * Why not try some one from away ?' she said, 

 kind o' smilin' and crossin' the cabin ter pick up 

 the botany book that the schoolma'am I told ye 

 of gave me. 



' 'I 'm not acquainted further 'n the Ridge,' 

 sez I. 



