en
shown in the fate of the strange woman, that her illness had not even
been communicated to the clergyman, and the selectmen did not think it
'worth while to have any funeral'! Mr. Bellows hurried hack to the inn.
The coffin was placed in a wagon. It was followed by the clergyman and
Mr. Bellows, the two other selectmen, the landlord of the inn, and his
wife. The burying-ground was soon reached, a short prayer made, and the
company dispersed, leaving the man to fill up the grave according to
contract. Mr. Bellows and his two associates returned to the tavern
together, in order, as the latter expressed it, to settle up the
business. Going into the sitting-room, and taking seats around a small
table, one of them opened the subject in a serious and important tone,
indicative of the weight of responsibility he felt was resting on his
shoulders, by asking what was to be done with the boy.

'What do you think best to do with him?' said Mr. Bellows.

'Well, I suppose there is room in the town-house. There is nobody there
now but Aunt Lois and foolish Tom, and we can probably bind him out next
spring.'

'I don't think we have a right to charge the town with the expense,'
said selectman number two. 'We know where the boy came from; the best
way is to send him back to Granby.'

'He has got an aunt,' said the other; 'hadn't we better write to her?'

'Gentlemen,' said Mr. Bellows, 'I will cut this matter short. I will
take the lad myself. You shall bind him out to me in the regular way. I
do not think you need fear any interference from the town of Granby. As
to his aunt, I propose first to write and get her consent. If she
prefers to take the boy, why, she will send for him.'

This question disposed of, the spokesman next proposed to go into the
accounts; which meant his own and his neighbor's charge for time and
personal expenses twice from East-Sudbury with horse and wagon. They
thought six dollars about right.

'How do you propose to be paid?' quoth Mr. Bellows.

'Twenty dollars and seventy-two cents was in their possession, taken
from the pocket of the woman after she died.'

'And how did you dare interfere with property of any kind,' exclaimed
Mr. Bellows, his smothered indignation bursting forth, 'without
consulting with me? Don't you know the landlord has the first claim on
every thing till his bill is paid? Don't you know, too, you are simply
doing the town business, and if you have any claim, the town must pay