"Well, if I live two months and five days longer, I shall be sixteen."
Then there was a shout at Charlie's expense, and I resumed my work, grave as an owl. That furnished amusement until it grew stale, when Charlie came to ask me my name, and I told him it was Mrs. Snooks.
"Mrs. Snooks?" repeated a dozen men, who looked sadly disappointed, and
Charlie most of all, as I added:
"Yes; Mrs. Timothy Snooks, of Snooksville, Minnesota."
This was worse and worse. It was evident no one liked the name, but all, save one, were too polite to say so, and he roared out:
"I don't believe a word of it!"
I sat at some distance with my back to him, dressing a wound; and, without turning, said,
"Why? What is the matter with you?"
"I don't believe that such a looking woman as you are ever married a fellow by the name of Snooks:"
"That is because you are not acquainted with the Snooks' family: brother
Peter's wife is a much better looking woman than I am!"