" of tobacco.

"Narvine lozenges," he explained; "they're dreadful moderatin' to the
dispersition; quiet ye; take some.

"They come high," he confided to me, with the idea of enhancing, not
begrudging the gift, as we sucked them luxuriously; "cent apiece,
dollar a hunderd. Never mind, Dilly; here 's one o' Granpy's narvine
lozenges; p'r'aps it'll help ye to set stiddier."

So, with a glad view to moderating my disposition, I sat with Captain
Leezur and the little girl on the log, and ate soiled nervine lozenges,
tinctured originally with such primal medicaments as catnip and
thoroughwort; and whether from that source or not, yet peace did
descend upon me like a river.

As I finally rose to go--

"D'ye ever have the toothache?" said Captain Leezur kindly; "ef ye do,
come right straight deown to me, and ef she 's home you shall have
her"--and he exhibited beamingly that talismanic little bone cleft from
the forepaw of a deer, "Ye pick yer teeth with 'er and ye're sartin
never to have the toothache, but ef you've got a toothache, she'll cure
ye.

"Mine 's been lent a great deal," he continued proudly. "She 's been
as far as 'Tit Menan Light, and one woman over to Sheep Island kep' her
a week once. She 's been sent for sometimes right in the middle o' the
night! When there ain't nobody else a-usin' of her, I takes the
charnce to pick away with her a little myself. But ef you ever feel
the toothache comin' on, come to me direc'--and ef she 's home, you
shall have her."

I thanked him with a swelling heart. We shook hands affectionately,
and I went on up the lane.

I turned the corner by the school-house. Away back there among the
spruce trees, I saw moving figures, red, green, blue, and heard low
voices and laughter.

Then I remembered how I had heard the orphan "help" of my hostess, Miss
Pray, make a request that she might go "gumming" with the other girls
that afternoon.

It was a long perspective to limp through alone, with all those bright,
merry eyes peering from behind the spruce trees. But I had not labored
over half the way, when I saw one, the tallest one, coming toward me.

Vesty.

"Won't you have some?" she said. "Strangers don't know how good it is;
it is very good for you--a little." Yes, she was chewing the gum--a
little--herself; but that wild pure resin from the trees, and with, oh,
such teeth! such lips! a breath like the fragrant shades she had issued
from.

She poured some of h