contained. It was still quite early when they trudged anxiously about
the house, intent on fastening the numerous doors and windows.

"Dear me!" exclaimed the little woman nervously, "I'm 'most afraid to go
to bed, Reuben, for fear some one will break in an' steal all these nice
things."

"Well, you can sit up if you want to," replied her husband dryly, "but I
shall go to bed. Most of these things have been here nigh on to twenty
years, an' I guess they'll last the night through." And he marched
solemnly upstairs to the big east chamber, meekly followed by his wife.

It was the next morning when Mrs. Gray was washing the breakfast dishes
that her husband came in at the kitchen door and stood looking
thoughtfully at her.

"Say, Emily," said he, "you'd oughter have a hired girl. 'T ain't your
place to be doin' work like this now."

Mrs. Gray gasped--half terrified, half pleased--and shook her head; but
her husband was not to be silenced.

"Well, you had--an' you've got to, too. An' you must buy some new
clothes--lots of 'em! Why, Em'ly, we've got heaps of money now, an' we
hadn't oughter wear such lookin' things."

Emily nodded; she had thought of this before. And the hired-girl hint
must have found a warm spot in her heart in which to grow, for that very
afternoon she sallied forth, intent on a visit to her counselor on all
occasions--the doctor's wife.