Mr. Landholm took the letters, and with a very willing face went for a 'little box,' which he filled with the Mannahatta tobacco.
"Old Cowslip don't keep anything like this," Mr. Underhill said as he received it and stowed it coolly away in his pocket. "I mean to shew it to him."
"Will you stay to dinner, neighbour?"
"No thank 'ee — I've got to get over the river; and my little woman'll have something cooked for me; and if I wa'n't there to eat it I shouldn't hear the last of my wastefulness."
"Ay? is that the way she does?" said Mr. Landholm laughing.
"Something like it. A tight grip, I tell ye!"
And with these words Mr. Underhill took himself out of the house.
"Where's your mother, Asahel? call her and tell her what's here," said Mr. Landholm, as he broke one of the seals.
"Shagarack, Dec. 3, 1810.
"My dear parents,