his father, running a
brush steadily along the water-line.

"No! no! no!" with shouts of laughter from the whole attacking party.

"Then it's Captain Ezekiel."

This excited great merriment: Captain Ezekiel was an aged, purblind man,
who leaned on a cane.

After attempts to identify the invader--with the tax-collector come for
taxes, then with the elderly minister making a pastoral call, with the
formal schoolmaster, and with Samuel J. Tilden--the victim reached over
his shoulder, and, seizing the assailant by a handful of calico jacket,
brought him around, squirming, before him.

"Now," he said, "I 'll give you a coat of verdigris. (Great applause
from the reserve force behind.)

"I suppose Mother sent you to say dinner's ready," said the father,
rising and surveying the green bottom of the boat. "I must eat quick, so
as to do the other side before half-flood."

And with a child on each shoulder, and the third pushing him from
behind with her head, he marched toward the vine-covered kitchen, where,
between two opposite netted doors, the table was trimly set.

"Father, you look like a mermaid, with your green hands," said his wife,
laughing, as she handed him the spirits of turpentine. "A woman could
paint that boat, in a light dress, and not get a spot on her."

He smiled good-naturedly: he never spoke much.

"I guess Louise won't have much trade today," said his wife, as they all
sat down; "it's so hot in the sun that everybody 'll wait till night.
But she has her tatting-work to do, and she 's got a book, too, that she
wanted to finish."

Her husband nodded, and ate away.

"Oh, can't we go up street and see her, this afternoon?" said one of the
children.

"Who can that be?" said the mother, as an elderly, half-official-looking
man stopped his horse at the front gate and alighted. The man left the
horse unchecked to browse by the roadside, and came to the door.

"Oh, it 's you, Captain Nourse," said Wood, rising to open the netting
door, and holding out his hand. "Come to summons me as a witness in
something about the bank case, I suppose. Let me introduce Captain
Nourse, Mary," he said, "deputy sheriff. Sit down, Captain, and have
some dinner with us."

"No, I guess I won't set," said the captain. "I cal'lated not to eat
till I got home, in the middle o' the afternoon. No, I 'll set down in
eye-shot of the mare, and read the paper while you eat."

"I hope they don't want me to testify anywhere to-