"So you have been taken in too," he said, with a suppressed gobble. "You
needn't believe a word of that tale, and if you knew anything about
raising poultry you would have seen the weak point in her story. It was
only to play on your sympathy while she made a meal of your lettuce.
That old hen is one of the toughest confidence operators in the yard,
and if you take my advice, (and I have lived over four Thanksgivings,)
you will keep an eye open for all black Spanish hens who have lost a
husband."

I thanked the old fellow and came into the house, and since then have
kept on the guard against widows of every genus, with better success
than Mr. Weller the elder attained.




"Oceanic" at Sea.


What shall I sing of thee, my ship,
Lone center of this orb of blue,
Horizoned by the rosy light
Of peeping dawn, and sleeping evening too?

Thou art the pupil, ship of mine,
Which lights this round and azure eye,
Rimmed by the rosy lids of dawn,
And lost in sleep when evening rules the sky.