eyes with the work she has in her hands; it is a baby's dress._)
Bless my soul! What's this, Mary?

_Mary._ (_Falteringly._) Do you remember Bella and John in "Our
Mutual Friend" that I read to you?

_Jack._ Yes. Warn't they glorious?

_Mary._ Well, these are sails, Jack, sails for the little ship
that's coming across the water for you and me.

[Illustration: Mr. Herne as Reuben Foxglove in "The Minute Men." See
page 544.]

I quote a few lines from another scene.

Christmas morning. Hester and Silas, some young friends, have
come in to take breakfast. All are seated at the table with much
bustle and laughter. Lish Mead, Mary's foster father, pokes his
head in the door.

_Lish Mead._ Wish you Merry Christmas.

_All._ (_Hilariously._) Merry Christmas! Come in.

_Lish._ Can't less some on ye hol's th' door open.

_Silas._ I'll hold it, Lish. (_Lish enters, hauling a warehouse
truck on which is a barrel of flour and a large hamper._)

_Lish._ Mister Seward wanted I should hand ye these with his
complements.

_Mary._ Oh, how kind of Mr. Seward, and how good of you to bring
'em.

_Jack._ Set down here, Lish, and have a bite o' breakfast.

_Lish._ (_Taking off mittens, cap, comforter, etc._) Whatcher
got? Chicking? Waal, that's good 'nough. (_Seats himself at
table._) Say, Jack, d' you know, you left a goose a-layin' on Jim
Adamses bar las' night? I was goin' to fetch it along but Jim
said you gin it to him, swore you made him a present on it.

_Mother._ Jack Hepburn, did you give that goose--

_Mary._ (_Interrupting her._) Have a cup of coffee, mother.

_Lish._ Jack, have you got the time o' day? (_Chuckles._) Here's
y'r new Waterbury. The boys wanted I should fetch her 'round; ye
went off las' night without her.

_Jack._ Ye can take her back again; I don't want her.

_Mary._ O Jack!

_Jack._ No, Mary, I don't. I wish the durned ol' Waterbury 'd
never been born.

_Mary._ The boys meant well, Jack; I wouldn't send back their
present.

_Jack._ All right, Mary, if you say so, I'll take her. There's
one thing sure, every time I wind her up she'll put me in mind
how durn near I come to losin' the best little wife in the whole
world.

This play brought me to know Mr. and Mrs. Herne. It needed but an
ho