me, I
am devilish hungry, and athirst likewise. Knave, a stoup of sack, and
then let ham, eggs and coffee smoke upon the festive board!"

"To hear is to obey," said he of the Pig and Snuffers, as he waddled out
of the room in order to give the necessary instructions for breakfast.

It came! Ha, ha! Shall I attempt to describe that breakfast? Nay--my
powers are inadequate to the task.

But, dropping the style of my friend, G.P.R. James, the great English
novelist, I shall continue my narrative in my own humble way.

We breakfasted, and cheerfully set out upon our journey. The weather was
delightful; the odor of spring flowers perfumed the air, and the soft
breeze made music amid the branches of the trees. On every side of us
were the evidences of agricultural prosperity--fine, spacious
farm-houses, immense barns, vast orchards, and myriads of thriving
domestic animals. Sturdy old Dutch farmers, jogging leisurely along in
their great wagons to and from the city, saluted us with a hearty "good
morrow;" and one jolly old fellow who was returning home after having
disposed of a quantity of produce, insisted upon giving us a "lift" in
his wagon. So we got in, and about dark reached the farmer's home--a
substantial and comfortable mansion that indicated its owner to be a man
of considerable wealth.

I was surprised at the powers of endurance exhibited by my fair friend,
who after a pretty hard day's journey, exhibited not the slightest
symptom of fatigue. She kept up a most exuberant flow of spirits, and
seemed delighted with the novelty of the journey which we had commenced.
She was truly a charming companion, full of wit, sentiment and
intelligence; and I look back upon those days with a sigh of regret--for
such unalloyed happiness I shall never see again.

The good old farmer, with characteristic hospitality, declared that we
should go not further that night; and we gladly availed ourselves of his
kindness. He introduced us to his wife--a fine old lady, and a famous
knitter of stockings--and also to his only daughter, a plump, rosy, girl
about eighteen years old. This damsel surveyed my disguised companion
with a look of the most intense admiration; and I saw at once that she
had actually fallen in love with Mrs. Raymond!

"There will be some fun here," said I to myself--"I must keep dark and
watch the movements. The idea of a woman falling love with one of her
own sex, is rather rich!"

After a capital supper--ye