," was the general verdict.

"Homer's as good as gingerbread," said Salem Rock, heartily. "He knows
the business, ben in it sence he was a boy, and there's no one else
doos. My 'pinion, he'd oughter have the job."

He spoke emphatically, and all the others glanced at him with approval;
but there was no hurry. The mail would not be in for half an hour yet.

"There's the _Fidely_," said Seth Weaver. "Goin' up river for logs, I
expect."

A dingy tug came puffing by. As she passed, a sooty figure waved a
salutation, and the whistle screeched thrice. Seth Weaver swung his hat
in acknowledgment.

"Joe Derrick," he said. "Him and me run her a spell together last year."

"How did she run?" inquired John Peavey.

"Like a wu'm with the rheumatiz," was the reply. "The logs in the river
used to roll over and groan, to see lumber put together in such shape.
She ain't safe, neither. I told Joe so when I got out. I says, 'It's
time she was to her long home,' I says, 'but I don't feel no call to be
one of the bearers,' I says. Joe's reckless. I expect he'll keep right
on till she founders under him, and then walk ashore on his feet. They
are bigger than some rafts I've seen, I tell him."

"Speaking of bearers," said Abram Cutter, "hadn't we ought to pass a
vote of thanks to Isr'el, or something?"

"What for? turnin' up his toes?" inquired the irrepressible Seth. "I
dono as he did it to obleege us, did he?"

"I didn't mean that," said Abram, patiently. "But he was postmaster here
twenty-five years, and seems's though we'd ought to take some notice of
it."

"That's so!" said Salem Rock. "You're right, Abram. What we want is
some resolutions of sympathy for the widder. That's what's usual in such
cases."

"Humph!" said Seth Weaver.

The others looked thoughtful.

"How would you propose to word them resolutions, Brother Rock?" asked
Enoch Peterson, cautiously. "I understand Mis' Nudd accepts her lot.
Isr'el warn't an easy man to live with, I'm told by them as was neighbor
to him."

He glanced at Seth Weaver, who cleared his throat and gazed seaward. The
others waited. Presently--

"If I was drawin' up them resolutions," Weaver said, slowly, "'pears to
me I should say something like this:

"'Resolved, that Isr'el Nudd was a good postmaster, and done his work
faithful; and resolved, that we tender his widder all the respeckful
sympathy she requires.' And a peanut-shell to put it in!" he added, in
a lower tone.

Salem