irrigation to the rich meadows on both sides.

Ephraim's family, where Paul and Bridget remained, consisted of Mrs.
Prying, Amanda, the senior daughter, Melinda, and Mary, called after her
grandmother, who was Irish. There were besides, Calvin, Wesley, Cassius,
and Cyrus, younger members of the family, together with old uncle
Jacob, an unmarried brother of Ephraim, the head of this family. We may
as well here remark that Mr. Prying was, from the beginning, averse to
receive these orphans into his house, seeing, as he said, "that he
wanted no more such hands as they were;" but Amanda persuaded him, in
order to have the glory of being instrumental in the conversion of the
"interesting orphans," as they were called.

There were frequent friendly contentions in the family to see who would
have the special care of the new comers. Little Mary insisted on having
Bridget to sleep with herself instead of her sister Melinda, whom she
wanted to dispossess. Wesley, Calvin, and Cassius wanted to monopolize
Paul, especially on Sundays, when each of them were about to separate
for their respective meetings to hear the preacher.

"Father," said Calvin, "won't Paul come with me? Our minister, Mr.
Gulmore, is such a clever preacher, and our Sunday school the best and
the largest."

"I say he shan't, now, Calvin," replied Wesley. "Your minister, the old
feller, is nothing, compared with ours, Mr. Barker."

"Well, brothers," said Cassius, "I don't see the use of your jawing
about it. But I say Paul had better come to our meeting--the very name,
Universalist, signifying the same with Catholic, as I was telling Paul