ter?"

"Botheration is the matter, Hannah, my dear. Just go call Ishmael to
me."

Hannah left the house to comply with his request, and Reuben sat and
wiped his face and pondered over his perplexities. Reuben had lately
given to rely very much upon Ishmael's judgment, and to appeal to him in
all his difficulties. So he looked up in confidence as the youth entered
with Hannah.

"What is it, Uncle Reuben?" inquired the boy cheerfully.

"The biggest botheration as ever was, Ishmael, my lad!" answered Gray.

"Well, take a mug of cool cider to refresh yourself, and then tell me
all about it," said Ishmael.

Hannah ran and brought the invigorating drink, and after quaffing it
Gray drew a long breath and said:

"Why, I've got the botherationest letter from the judge as ever was. He
says how he has sent down a lot of books, as will be landed at our
landing by the schooner 'Canvas Back,' Capt'n Miller; and wants me to
take the cart and go and receive them, and carry them up to the house,
and ask the housekeeper for the keys of the liber-airy and put them in
there," said Reuben, pausing for breath.

"Why, that is not much bother, Uncle Reuben. Let me go and get the books
for you," smiled Ishmael.

"Law, it aint that; for I don't s'pose it's much more trouble to cart
books than it is to cart bricks. You didn't hear me out: After I have
got the botheration things into the liber-airy, he wants me to unpack
them, and also take down the books as is there already, and put the
whole lot on 'em in the middle of the floor, and then pick 'em out and
'range 'em all in separate lots, like one would sort vegetables for
market, and put each sort all together on a different shelf, and then
write all their names in a book, all regular and in exact order! There,
now, that's the work as the judge has cut out for me, as well as I can
make out his meaning from his hard words and crabbed hand; and I no more
fit to do it nor I am to write a sarmon or to build a ship; and if that
aint enough, to bother a man's brains I don't know what is, that's
all."

"But it is no part of your duty as overseer to act as his librarian,"
said Ishmael.

"I know it aint; but, you see, the judge he pays me liberal, and he
gives me a fust-rate house and garden, and the liberty of his own
orchards and vineyards, and a great many other privileges besides, and
he expects me to 'commodate him in turn by doing of little things as
isn't exactly in the line of my d