ought I had better
just drop in and see after my 'prentice. Work has been frozen up all
winter, and now, like the rivers and the snow-drifts, it is thawed and
coming with a rush! I'm nigh torn to pieces by the people as has been
sending after me; and I thought I would just take young Ishmael on again
to help me. And--as I heard how you'd been disabled along of the
rheumatism, Miss Hannah, and wasn't able to do no weaving, and as I
knowed young Ishmael would be out of work as long as I was, I just made
so free, Miss Hannah, as to bring you this bag of flour and middling of
bacon, which I hope you'll do me the honor of accepting from a
well-wisher."

"I thank you, Morris; I thank you, very much; but I cannot think of
accepting such assistance from you; I know that even you and your family
must have suffered something from this long frost; and I cannot take the
gift."

"Law, Miss Hannah," interrupted the honest fellow, "I never presumed to
think of such a piece of impertinence as to offer it to you as a gift! I
only make free to beg you will take it as an advance on account of
young Ishmael's wages, as he'll be sure to earn; for, bless you, miss,
work is a-pouring in on top of me like the cataract of Niagara itself!
And I shall want all his help. And as I mayn't have the money to pay him
all at once, I would consider of it as a favor to a poor man if you
would take this much of me in advance," said the professor.

Now whether Hannah was really deceived by the benevolent diplomacy of
the good professor or not, I do not know; but at any rate her sensitive
pride was hushed by the prospect held out of Ishmael's labor paying for
the provisions, and--as she had not tasted meat for three weeks and her
very soul longed for a savory "rasher," she replied:

"Oh, very well, Morris, if you will take the price out of Ishmael's
wages, I will accept the things and thank you kindly too; for to be
candid with so good a friend as yourself, I was wanting a bit of broiled
bacon."

"Law, Miss Hannah! It will be the greatest accommodation of me as ever
was," replied the unscrupulous professor.

Ishmael understood it all.

"Indeed, professor," he said, "I think Israel Putnam would have approved
of you."

"Well, young Ishmael, I don't know; when I mean well, my acts often work
evil; and sometimes I don't even mean well! But it wasn't to talk of
myself as I came here this morning; but to talk to you. You see I
promised to go over to Squ