put in and add our two mites."

Sez he, "The money has gone."

"Wall," sez I, "I am a disap'inted creeter. I wanted to do my part
towards gittin' them good, noble folks enough to live on till Spring."

Sez Josiah (and mebby it wuz to git my attention off from the subject,
which he felt wuz perilous to his pocket--he is clost)--sez he, "There
is one man here, Samantha, that I'd give a cent to see."

Sez I, "Who is it that you are willin' to make such a extraordinary
outlay for?"

"The Rager," sez he.

"The Rager," sez I dreamily; "who's that?"

"Why, the Rager from India. I spoze," sez he, "that he is one of the
raginest men that you ever see. He took his name from that, most likely,
and to intimidate his subjects. Now, King or Emperor don't strike the
same breathless terror; but Rager--why, jest the name is enough to make
'em behave."

"Wall," sez I, "if the Monarch of Ingy is here I must see him, and git
him not to burn any more widders with their dead pardners." Sez I, "It's
a clear waste of widders, besides bein' wicked as wicked can be. Widders
is handy," sez I, "now to keep boardin'-housen, or to go round as
agents. Old maids hain't nothin' by the side of 'em, and they look so
sort o' respectable behind their black veils, and then they are needed
so for the widdower supply--and that market is always full." Sez I, "I
don't want 'em wasted, and I want the wickedness to be stopped.

"And then to insist on marryin' so many wimmen. I'd love to labor with
him, and convince him that one's enough."

"It seems to me," sez Josiah, "that I could make him _know_ that one's
enough. It _seems_ as if _any married man might_. Heaven knows, it
_seems_ so!" sez he.

I didn't like his axent. There seemed to be some iron in it, but I
wouldn't dane to parley.

"And then," sez I, "their makin' their wimmen wear veils all the time.
What a foolish habit! What's the use on't? Smotherin' 'em half to death,
and wearin' out their veils for nothin'.

"And then I'd make him educate 'em--gin 'em a chance," sez I; "but
whether he gives it or not the bell of Freedom is a-echoin' clear from
Wyomin' to Ingy, and it sounds clear under them veils. They will be
throwed off whether he is willin' or not, and I'd love to tell him so."

Sez Josiah, "I guess it will be as the Rager sez."

"No," sez I solemnly; "it will be as the Lord sez, and He is callin' to
wimmen all over the earth, and they are answerin' the call."

But we hearn aft