storekeeper, paid his bill promptly; and old Mr. Truly Matthews, who had
telegraphed to Washington to a nephew in the Patent Office Department,
"just to see how it would go," paid what he owed on the eighth visit of
Wilson Ogden to his house. He had not seen "how it would go," for his
nephew had not answered him, either by telegraph or mail, and he was in
no hurry to pay up, but he could not stand "that boy opening his gate
three times a day." As for the rest, they promised to settle as soon as
they could get some spare cash--which happy time they expected would
arrive when they sold their tobacco.

It is to be supposed that no one ever bought their tobacco, for they
never paid up.

The proceeds of the five days of telegraphing, together with the money
obtained by the sale of Harry's gun, were spent by Kate for Aunt
Matilda's benefit; and as she knew that it might be a good while before
there would be any more money coming, Kate was as economical as she
could be.

It was all very proper and kind to make the old woman's income hold out
as long as possible, but Aunt Matilda did not like this systematic and
economical way of living. It was too late in life for her, she said, "to
do more measurin' at a meal than chewin';" and so she became
discouraged, and managed, one fine morning, to hobble up to see Mrs.
Loudon about it.

"Ise afraid dese chillen ain't a-gwine to hold out," said she. "I don
know but what I'd better go 'long to the poor-house, arter all. And
there's that money I put inter de comp'ny. I ain't seen nothin' come o'
dat ar money yit."