"An extraordinary powerful instrument, to stop a woman's tongue!"

"Well, you've only to ax Mistress Saunders, she'll tell you all its
virtues."

"Well, Mr. Saunders, I don't know whether you have any idea of taking
another wife some future day. If so, say nothing about it, or you'll
never get one."

"Well, marm--I don't know whether you ever think of taking another
husband; but if so, I think it would be kind on my part to lend it to
him. Can you tell me why widows' tongues run so much faster than other
women's?"

"Mercy! what put that idea in your head, Mr. Saunders?"

"You, and half a dozen more that I happen to know. May I make so bold as
to ask you, marm, how long you may have been a widow?" continued my
father.

"Bless me! so long that I quite forget all about it," replied Mrs. St.
Felix, turning away from the counter to the jars behind.

I gave my father a wink to let him know that it was his turn now: he
understood me, hitched up his waistband and nodded.

"How did you lose your first husband, marm? What did he die of?"

The widow colored, and my father perceiving it, followed up his
question.