travagance. Mrs. Tucker puts sugar in the teapot before she
pours it out. I s'pose Ann Carter would put as much in one cup of tea as
Mrs. T. uses for the whole teapotful, if she had her way."

This was very probably true, as the frugal Mrs. Tucker only allowed one
teaspoonful for the entire supply.

"That looks reasonable, Mr. Tucker," said the squire approvingly. "Now
about the bread and the meat?"

"The paupers has plenty of bread," said Mr. Tucker. "Our bread bill is
actually enormous."

"And as to the meat?"

"We don't give 'em roast turkey every day, and we don't buy tenderloin
steaks to pamper their appetites," said Mr. Tucker, "though we're
perfectly willing to do it if the town'll pay us so we can afford it. Do
you think the town'll agree to pay me twenty-five cents more a week for
each one, squire?"

"Certainly not. It can't be thought of," said the squire hastily,
knowing that if the selectmen advocated such a measure they would
probably lose their reelection.

"If it would, we might live a little better, so that Ann Carter
wouldn't have to complain, though, bless your soul! that woman is always
complainin'."

"Ahem! Mr. Tucker, you present the matter to me in a new light. I really
feel that Ann Carter is very unreasonable in her complaints."

"I knowed you'd do me justice, squire," said Mr. Tucker effusively.
"You're a sharp man. You ain't a-goin' to be taken in by any of them
paupers' rigmarole. I always said, Squire Pope, that you was the
right man in the right place, and that the town was lucky to have so
intelligent and public-spirited a citizen fillin' her most important
offices."

"Mr. Tucker," said the squire, "you gratify me. It has ever been my aim
to discharge with conscientious fidelity the important trusts which the
town has committed to my charge--"

"I'll bear witness to that, squire."

"And your sincere tribute gives me great satisfaction."

"I hope you'll report things right to the board, Squire Pope?" said Mr.
Joe Tucker insinuatingly.

"Be assured I will, Mr. Tucker. I consider you a zealous and trustworthy
official, striving hard to do your duty in the place the town has
assigned you."

"I do, indeed, squire," said Mr. Tucker, pulling on a red handkerchief
and mopping some imaginary tears. "Excuse my emotions, sir, but your
generous confidence quite unmans me. I--I--trust now that I shall be
able to bear meekly the sneers and complaints of Ann Carter and her
fellow paup