t." Then he
lunged his fork desperately at a blowfly that persistently hovered
about his plate, and commenced.

Joe had a healthy appetite. He had charged his mouth with a load of
cold meat, when his jaws ceased work, and, opening his mouth as though
he were sleepy, he leaned forward and calmly returned it all to the
plate. Dad got suspicious and asked Joe what was up; but Joe only
wiped his mouth, looked sideways at his plate, and pushed it away.

All of us stopped eating then, and stared at each other. Mother said,
"Well, I--I wrapped a cloth round it so nothing could get in, and put
it in the safe--I don't know where on earth to put the meat, I'm sure;
if I put it in a bag and hang it up that thief of a dog gets it."

"Yes," Dad observed, "I believe he'd stick his nose into hell itself,
Ellen, if he thought there was a bone there--and there ought to be lots
by this time." Then he turned over the remains of that cold meat, and,
considering we had all witnessed the last kick of the slaughtered
beast, it was surprising what animation this part of him yet retained.
In vain did Dad explore for a really dead piece--there was life in all
of it.

Joe was n't satisfied. He said he knew where there was a lot of eggs,
and disappeared down the yard. Eggs were not plentiful on our
selection, because we too often had to eat the hens when there was no
meat--three or four were as many as we ever saw at one time. So on
this day, when Joe appeared with a hatful, there was excitement. He
felt himself a hero. We thought him a little saviour.

"My!" said Mother, "where did you get all those?"

"Get 'em! I've had these planted for three munce--they're a nest I
found long ago; I thought I would n't say anythink till we really
wanted 'em."

Just then one of the eggs fell out of the hat and went off "pop" on the
floor.

Dave nearly upset the table, he rose so suddenly; and covering his nose
with one hand he made for the door; then he scowled back over his
shoulder at Joe. He utterly scorned his brother Joe. All of us
deserted the table except Dad--he stuck to his place manfully; it took
a lot to shift HIM.

Joe must have had a fine nerve. "That's on'y one bad 'n'," he said,
taking the rest to the fireplace where the kettle stood. Then Dad, who
had remained calm and majestic, broke out. "Damn y', boy!" he yelled,
"take th' awful things outside--YOU tinker!" Joe took them out and
tried them all, but I forget if he fo