KNOTTY POINTS OF DEBATE. 329 



together, and the owner of the bull was condemned to 

 pay the expenses. The next question was : " AYhich is 

 better, a single or a married life ? " The judges were 

 not quite impartially chosen. The wife of one had 

 run off with a young man to Texas, three years ago ; 

 the wife of the other had three times borne twins. I 

 was chosen on the married side with the school- 

 master, three or four other young men, and six or 

 seven of the scholars. We defended our cause with 

 glowing animation — but one judge thought of Texas, 

 and the other of the twins, and our scale kicked the 

 beam. Several other questions were discussed ; among 

 them, " Which is worse, a smoky chimney or a scolding 

 wife ? " Left undecided. At last I was invited to 

 propose a subject, but I would not consent until I 

 received assurance that it should be discussed : " Which 

 enjoys life most, has fewer cares, and lighter sorrows — • 

 a short or a long-tailed dog ? " But by this time it was 

 late, and time to adjourn ; so the house was soon 

 left to its solitude in the forest, and the party dispersed 

 in all directions to their dwellings. 



On the morning of the 22nd January, Old Conwell 

 and I shouldered our rifles, and each provided with 

 meat and bread, we wandered towards the waters of 

 the Richland. Lucky was it that we took provisions, 

 for not a shot did we fire. Next day was ahnost as 

 bad, and if Conwell had not knocked over a turkey, 

 we should have been reduced to chew sassafras. At 

 length on the third day, he shot a deer and I a tui-key, 

 which put a little life into the dogs. Disgusted with 

 our bad luck, we decided on returning home next 

 day ; besides, the weather was bad, and tlireatened to 

 28* 



