eturning from a grocery store with three codfish in one
hand, and a piece of salt pork and a jug of molasses in the other, when she
was startled by Aunt Polly's unexpected appearance, bearing down upon her
like a man of war.

Aunt Polly stopped for a moment and looked at her intensely, while Susan's
feelings, which, like her poetry, had for some time been quite subdued by
constant collision with a cooking stove, got the better of her, and she
burst into tears. Aunt Polly made up her mind on the spot; it was, as she
afterwards expressed it, "'A meracle,' meeting that poor girl, with all
that codfish and other stuff in her hand."

Susan did not require too much encouragement to tell her lamentable tale,
and Aunt Polly in return advised her to leave her place when her month was
up, informing the family of her intention, that they might supply
themselves. This Susan promised to do, with a full heart, and Aunt Polly
having accomplished her mission, set out on her return, first saying to
Susan, however, "We'll wait for you, you needn't be afeard, and I'll do
your work 'till you come, 'taint much, for we puts out our washin. And you
need'nt be sceard when you see the sogers, they aint gwine to hurt you,
though they do look so savage."

Susan gave notice of her intention, and after a season of martyrdom set
forward to find Captain Moore's quarters. She had no difficulty, for Polly
was looking out for her, with her pipe in her mouth. "Come in, child," said
she, "and warm yourself; how is your cough? I stewed some molasses for you,
'gin you come. We'll go up and see Miss Emmy, presently; she 'spects you."

Susan was duly introduced to Mrs. Moore who was at the time sitting in the
captain's lap with the baby in hers, and Neptune's forepaws in the baby's.
The captain's temperance principles did not forbid him smoking a good
cigar, and at the moment of Susan's entrance, he was in the act of emitting
stealthily a cloud of smoke into his wife's face. After letting the baby
fall out of her lap, and taking two or three short breaths with strong
symptoms of choking, Mrs. Moore with a husky voice and very red eyes,
welcomed Susan, and introduced her to the baby and Neptune, then told Aunt
Polly to show her where to put her clothes, and to make her comfortable in
every respect.

Aunt Polly did so by baking her a hoe-cake, and broiling a herring, and
drawing a cup of strong tea. Susan went to bed scared with her new
happiness, and dream