"Not take a newspaper, Mr. Ashburn!" said the postmaster, with a
look and in a tone of surprise.

"No. I must retrench. I must cut off all superfluous expenses. And I
believe I can do without a newspaper as well as any thing else. It's
a mere luxury; though a very pleasant one, I own, but still
dispensable."

"Not a luxury, but a necessary, I say, and indispensable," returned
the postmaster. "I don't know what I wouldn't rather do without than
a newspaper. What in the world are Phœbe, and Jane, and Margaret
going to do?"

"They will have to do without. There is no help for it."

"If they don't raise a storm about your ears that you will be glad
to allay, even at the cost of half a dozen newspapers, I am
mistaken," said the postmaster, laughing.

Ashburn replied, as he turned to walk away, that he thought he could
face all storms of that kind without flinching.

"Give me the 'Post,' papa," said Margaret, running to the door to
meet her father when she saw him coming.

"I haven't got it," replied Mr. Ashburn, feeling rather
uncomfortable.

"Why? Hasn't it come?"