of some fifteen summers, arose and said, not without
something of the sublime air becoming a solitary intelligence: "It's
the great and only Pot-entate."

Elder Skates showed no sign of having been hit to death, but gazed
vaguely at each one of his audience in turn, and then turned with dazed
approval to the girl.

"Very good. Very good indeed," said he. "How true that is! Let us
try and act upon it during the week, according to our lights.
Providence--nor nothin' else--preventin', we will have our
Sunday-school here as usual next Sunday, and I hope we shall all try
and keep up religion. Is there anybody willing to have the 'five-cent
supper' this week, in order to raise funds for a united burying-ground?
We have been long at work on this good cause, but, I'm sorry to say,
interest seems to be flaggin'. Is there anybody willin' to have the
five-cent supper this week?"

"I can, I suppose," said the woman who had been willing to sing without
tune. "But I can't give beans no longer. I can give beet greens and
duck."

"I don't think it was any wonder we was gettin' discouraged," said
another now resuscitated voice. "Zely had the last one, and Fluke for
devilment gets a lot of the Artichokes over early ter help the cause.
Wal, you might know there wa'n't no beans left for the Capers and
Basins, and Zely was dreadful mortified, for there was several Crooked
Rivers."

"Cap'n Nason Teel says," continued that individual's wife, "that the
treasury 's fell behind; he says there ain't nothin' made in five-cent
suppers, Artichokes or no Artichokes--in beans and corn-beef; he says
we've got to give somethin' that don't cost nothin'. Beet greens and
duck don't cost nothin', and if that 's agreeable, I'm willin'."

"All the same, beet greens and duck is very good eatin', I think,"
proposed Elder Skates, and receiving no dissenting voice, continued:

"Providence--nor nothin' else--preventin', there will be a five-cent
supper at Cap'n Nason Teel's, on Wednesday evenin'. Beet greens and
duck. I will now close the Sunday-school, trusting we shall do all we
can during the week to help the cause of the burying-ground and of
religion. As soon as Brother Birds'll arrives, we can begin social
meetin'."

"It 's natch'all he should be late; somebody said 't he was havin'
pickled shad for dinner."

"Here he comes now, beatin' to wind'ard," said Captain Pharo from the
window. "He'll make it! The wind 's pilin' in through t