promise solemn to Tom to have it down by four o'clock. 'Liza, honey,
how's the baby?"

"He have got a new top-tooth and throwed up onct this morning,"
answered Eliza in a practical tone of voice.

"Dearie me," said Mother anxiously, for the Pike teether had up to
this time been the Doctor's prize patient. "I wonder if your Maw
remembered the lime water faithful?"

"I expect she forgot it, for she was whipping Susie for sassing Aunt
Prissy, and Bud for saying fool," answered Eliza, not at all
hesitating to lay bare the iniquities of her family circle.

"I'm sorry they did like that," said Mother with real concern at the
news of such delinquencies.

"Yes'm, Susie told Aunt Prissy Mis' Peavey said she were a-setting
her cap fer Mr. Hoover and it made Bud mad 'cause he fights 'Lias
Hoover and he called her a fool. He hadn't oughter done it, but he's
touchy 'bout Aunt Prissy and so's Paw. There comes Deacon and a
little boy with him."

As she spoke, Mother rose to greet Deacon Bostick who had turned in
the front gate and got as far up the front walk as the second
snowball bush. The Deacon was tall, lean, bent and snow-crowned,
with bright old eyes that rested in a benediction on the group on
the porch that his fine old smile confirmed. By the hand he led a
tiny boy who was clad in a long nondescript garment and topped off
by a queer red fez, pulled down over a crop of yellow curls, a