though at first he felt indignant, learned at last to treat them as they
deserved, with silent disdain. Assured of the sympathy of those around
him, he did not allow his appetite to be spoiled by any remark which
Mrs. Mudge might offer.

This, of course, only provoked her the more, and she strove to have his
daily tasks increased, in the amiable hope that his "proud spirit" might
be tamed thereby.

Mr. Mudge, who was somewhat under petticoat government, readily acceded
to his wife's wishes, and henceforth Paul's strength was taxed to its
utmost limit. He was required to be up with the first gray tint of dawn
and attend to the cattle. From this time until night, except the brief
time devoted to his meals, he was incessantly occupied. Aunt Lucy's
society, his chief comfort, was thus taken from him; since, in order to
rise early, he was obliged to go to bed as soon as possible after day's
work was finished.

The effects of such incessant labor without a sufficient supply of
nourishing food, may easily be imagined. The dry bread and meagre soup
which constituted the chief articles of diet in Mrs. Mudge's economical
household, had but one recommendation,--they were effectual preventives
of gluttony. It was reported that on one occasion a beggar, apparently
famishing with hunger, not knowing the character of the house, made
application at the door for food. In an unusual fit of generosity, Mrs.
Mudge furnished him with a slice of bread and a bowl of soup, which,
however, proved so far from tempting that the beggar, hungry as he was,
left them almost untouched.

One day, as Paul was working in the field at a little distance from