mon, when the assembly dispersed to their
homes, to attend, in another form, to the duties of the day. Mr.
Armstrong and Faith waited for the minister, and the three walked
home together. They were overtaken and joined by Doctor Elmer,
who expressed regret at having been detained from the services by
professional duties.

"But," added he, looking at Mr. Robinson, and bowing courteously, "if
I have been so unfortunate as to miss of one feast, I do not mean to
be deprived of another. I may say of myself, as Shakspeare says of
somebody, 'Marry, sir, sometimes he is a kind of Puritan.'"

"I hope your Puritan principles do not consist merely in eating
Thanksgiving dinners," said Mr. Robinson, with a smile.

"And remember, doctor," observed Faith, "what your own Shakspeare says
again--

"'dainty bits
Make rich the ribs, but bankerout quite the wits.'"

"My dear," interposed Mr. Armstrong, "is not this conversation of too
light a character?"

But he could not immediately check the doctor.

"Ha, Miss Faith," he cried, "'wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy
wit, in an instant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain
meaning.' But

'The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen
As is the razor's edge invisible,
Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen.'
Come," he added, observing that Mr. Armstrong looked grave, "take my
arm, and we will discuss some serious subject, together." So saying,
he offered his arm to Faith, which she took, and they followed, at a
few steps distance, after Mr. Armstrong and the minister.

"I am afraid," said the doctor, slackening his pace, so as to allow
the others to get out of hearing, "you would prefer a certain young
gentleman's arm to that of an old bachelor. It is rather hard that the
rogues, whose principal recommendation, I flatter myself, is that they
are twenty years younger, should steal away all my sweethearts."

Faith laughed, as she replied:

"Why, dear doctor, what would you have us do? You never will propose;
so you must not complain if you drive us poor girls to desperation."

"You wicked little baggage, is this the way you laugh at the most
constant of your admirers? How many long years have I spent in your
service, from the time I began with rocking your cradle, occasionally
giving you, to sweeten your humors, a teaspoon of castor oil, or a
half-dozen drops of elixir salutis, up to the present time, and thus
you reward