see across the street. There
weren't no hope for a crop unless I had more plain sowin'
material--please remit.

"And then they come back at me, sayin' I'd already cost the
community about four hundred and fifty dollars, and not even a
Dutchman by way of results. That I'd understand this weren't said
in no mercenary spirit, but just as a matter of business. They
would hold a prayer-meetin', they said, which, no doubt, would
bring the end aimed at, and for me to go forth strong in the faith
and gather 'em up from the wayside.

"I let fly oncet more, sayin' that I was strong in the faith but
feeble in the pocket; that sinners were costly luxuries in a big
town like New York. How was I goin' to play the Prophet and stand
the man off for my board?

"Elder Stimmins wrote back pussonally, exhortin' me to be of good
heart, sayin' further that the days of miracles weren't past; at
any moment the unrepentant might get it in the conscience--and
signed himself my friend and brother in the church, with a P. S.
readin':

_Dear Zeke_: My wife Susan Ann will continner to have high-stukes
till I produce a grand pianny. Mary's after a dimint neclas, and
my beluvid spous Eliza (that's the carut-heded one lives down by
the rivver) will put sumthin' in my food if she don't git a gol
watch and chane. Tomlinson's fust three ar rasin' Ned fur new
housis, hors and kerige, and the like. The new ones is more
amable, but yellin' fur close and truck. Uncle Peter Haskins'
latest is on the warpath fur a seleskin sak, and so on and so
forth. You know how it is yourself, dear frend and bro., and we ar
broke, so I incurrige you to keep your hart stout, your faith
intack, and hunt up a poker-game sumwheres, becus we honest ain't
got the money.

SAUL STIMMINS.

"'Well!' says the cookee, when he heaved the egg into the coffee,
'that settles it!' And that settled me. I sure did know how it
was myself. If there was any man in or out of the Territory of
Utah that knew how it was myself, I and him was the same indivijool.

"I took thought of Mrs. Scraggs out there all alone by herself,
with her darlin' Zeke entirely out of reach, and while I don't
recommend the idee of jollyin' yourself by gloatin' over the
misfortunes of others, I thinks this here state of affairs could be
worse, and I went forth strong in the faith to New York City,
feelin' I might encounter some kind of quick action, like Brother
Stimmins prophesied.

"And t