"I haven't heard anything about it before."
"Well, you was a standin' here last night when I axed your father for it," added Miss Larrabee, who thought the matter was of consequence enough to have everybody take an interest in it.
"I didn't mind what you said. So many letters come here, that I can't keep the run of them."
"I've axed your father for't goin' on three times; and he said it would come in last night's mail. It must have come afore this time."
"If it must, I suppose it has," replied Ham, taking a pile of letters from the pigeon-hole marked L.
Having lighted the kindlings in the stove, I stood up to observe the conduct of Ham. He resumed his whistle, and examined the letters. Of course he did not find the one he was looking for.
"None for Larrabee," said he, suspending the patriotic air long enough to utter the words.
"Goodness gracious! There must be!" exclaimed the unhappy spinster. "Have you looked 'em all over?"
"I have."
But Ham took down the L's again, and went through the pile once more.