340 THE GARDEN OF A 



Corkle, they don't handle victuals 'ere like they did 

 at 'ome. E'en the mouthful o' bread rises to the 

 nose and leaves the belly empty.' 



"There are some, 'owsomever, that doesn't like 

 durable bread, so to speak, tastes differin'." 



I could feel the scorn wave settling on my guilty 

 head, but Martha never paused. 



"It's terribly piteous to 'ear a man sigh on 

 account of poor victuals, and it shook my vitals. So 

 now and again I offered him a tit-bit, knowin' you'd 

 not object, and he always eat them hearty. 



"Next I noticed he'd sit in the stable at night, 

 his 'ead on his arms ; and the same bein' lonesome 

 and unhealthf ul, I bid him be free of the settin' 

 room, and have a game with Eliza and Delia, me 

 mindin' my needle that he needn't think I was 

 wishful o' the sight of him. 



"Then one day when he flung down his coat 

 to take in some firm', I minded it lacked every 

 button, and his braces was tied up with strings, 

 the same which when I took notice of he turned 

 very distant and sour and drew a long sigh which 

 would start one a-shiverin'. 



" So it dragged along, and never a good word he 

 said in return for the flannels which I gave on your 

 hand, Mrs. Evan, but just hintin' the sewin' was 



