“Hed good health—no ager?” she continued.
“Never was better, my dear woman—healthy right to the top notch,” he answered.
“It must be,” said good Mrs. Simmons, to herself—“it can’t be nothin’ else. Bless the Lord!”
This pious sentiment she followed up by a hymn, whose irregularities of time and tune were fully atoned for by the spirit with which she sung. A knock at the door interrupted her.
“Come in!” she cried.
Captain Sam entered, and laid a good-sized, flat flask on the table, saying:
“I’ve just been unpackin’, an’ I found this; p’r’aps you ken use it fur cookin’. It’s no use to me; I’ve sworn off drinkin’.”
And before the astonished lady could say a word, he was gone.
But the good soul could endure the suspense no longer. She hurried to the door, and cried:
“Cap’en!”