eepy way onward.

"I d'no as 'twould be best," he said to himself. "Diplomy's a fine
woman, I wouldn't ask to see a finer; but there, I d'no how 'tis. When
you've had pie you don't hanker after puddin', even when it's good
puddin'; and Loviny was pie; yes, sir! she was, no mistake; mince, and
no temperance mince neither. Guess I'll get along someways the rest of
the time. Seems as if some of Alviry's talk must have got lodged in the
cracks or somewhere; there's ben enough of it these three months. Mebbe
that'll last me through. Git ap, you!"

Arrived at the post-office, Mr. Butters quitted his perch once more, and
with a word to the old horses (which they did not hear, being already
asleep) made his way into the outer room. Seth Weaver, who was leaning
on the ledge of the delivery window, turned and greeted the old man
cordially.

"Well, Uncle Ithe, how goes it?"

"H'are ye, Seth?" replied Mr. Butters, "How's the folks? Mornin',
Homer! anything for out our way? How's Mother gettin' on, Seth?"

"She's slim," replied his nephew, "real slim, Mother is. She's ben
doctorin' right along, too, but it don't seem to help her any. I'm goin'
to get her some new stuff this mornin' that she heard of somewhere."

"Help her? No, nor it ain't goin' to help her," said Mr. Butters, with
some heat; "it's goin' to hender her. Parcel o' fools! She's taken
enough physic now to pison a four-year-old gander. Don't you get her no
more!"

"Wal," said Weaver, easily, "I dono as it really henders her any, Uncle
Ithe; and it takes up her mind, gives her something to think about. She
doctored Father so long, you know, and she's used to messin' with roots
and herbs; and now her sight's failin', I tell ye, come medicine time,
she brightens up and goes for it same as if it was new cider. I don't
know as I feel like denyin' her a portion o' physic, seein' she appears
to crave it. She thought this sounded like good searchin' medicine, too.
Them as told her about it said you feel it all through you."

"I should think you would!" retorted Mr. Butters. "So you would a quart
of turpentine if you took and swallered it."

"Wal, I don't know what else _to_ do, that's the fact!" Weaver admitted.
"Mother's slim, I tell ye. I do gredge seein' her grouchin' round, smart
a woman as she's ben."

"You make me think of Sile Stover, out our way," said Mr. Butters. "He
sets up to be a hoss doctor, ye know; hosses and stock gen'lly. Last
week he called me in t