uld be piled up in the great open fireplace,
the candles lighted, we girls would draw up to the table with our
knitting or sewing, Barnes would throw himself down before the fire,
and mother would take up a book for the evening's reading. This
reading was as much a part of the routine of the day as dinner or
supper, and was indeed our only means of culture that winter, distant
as we were from schools and all other educational advantages. Mother
always monopolized the position of reader; indeed, until after her
death, father seldom read a book, but contented himself with being a
listener."

"And was he a good listener, mamma?" I inquired, "or did he stop
grandmamma from time to time to comment upon the author and the events?"

"Father's intentions were the best in the world," replied mamma
smiling, "but you must remember that he would sit down to listen,
completely exhausted from a day's work that had commenced with the
first tinge of dawn, and before very long, soothed by mother's musical
voice, his breathing would become more and more audible, and his head
commence to nod. Quite patiently mother would continue her chapter,
feigning not to be conscious of the heavy breathing that proceeded from
the arm-chair, and often from the boyish figure stretched before the
fire, until their slumber would become _too_ apparent, when, closing
the book, she would call them severely to task for their inattention.

"Rubbing his eyes, father would rouse up, and indignantly refuting the
accusation, declare that he had heard every word.

"Instantly putting him to the test, mother would inquire what she had
been reading about?

"After a moment of deep reflection, father would say penitently:

"'Well, Mary, if you will just read back a page or two, I will remember
all about it.'

"Very indulgently mother would turn back, but often before she had
reached the former stopping-place, father's breathing would announce
that he was again resting from the hard day's toil.

"Barnes was somewhat better as a listener, but he, like father, worked
hard, and it was often difficult for him to keep awake during the
reading of history or novels; but we three girls were a most interested
audience, and somewhat compensated for masculine inattention.

"But father was not always drowsy; at times he would listen with keen
interest to the evening reading, and very much vexed he would be if the
arrival of any neighbor should put a stop to it.

"'My