go a fishing, he said she
needed something of that sort, by way of change, for she was quite worn
out. Betsey said, "No, Tom, I am well enough; besides, the water will
make me sick; but I want _you_ to go; you and Phil Dolan; you need it
more than I, a great deal."

Tom didn't like to go without Betsey; he didn't believe in husband's
frolicking about, and leaving their poor tired wives to mend their old
duds, at home. No; he knew that there is no woman, be she ever so kind
and good, who does not _sometimes_ want to see something beside a mop,
a gridiron, and a darning needle; so Tom said, "No, I'll think of some
pleasure you can share with me."

But Betsey persuaded him to go without her. She fancied, (good kind
soul,) that Tom was looking less well than usual, and the thought of
_his_ getting sick, made her quite miserable; so Tom said he'd go. Then
Betsey got Tom his fishing tackle, and put him up some biscuit, for he
and Phil intended to get out on a little island to make some chowder;
and then Tom----kissed her; (as true as you are alive, though she was
his _wife_!) and then he went for Phil, and they got into a little
boat, and floated off down the river.

Betsey worked away, thinking all the time how much good the fresh air
on the water was doing Tom. She got along very well through the
forenoon; cleaning up the house, and putting things in place, till
dinner-time; then how lonesome it was not to have Tom's handsome face
opposite her! and nobody to say, "Betsey, dear, here's your favorite
bit;" or, "Betsey, dear, where's your appetite to-day?" It made her so
dull, that she couldn't eat her dinner.

I am sorry to say that Betsey had no darling little girl or boy, to
climb up in her lap, and talk to her about papa. Betsey was sorry too,
and so was Tom.

Well, the afternoon wore away. It was five o'clock;--time Betsey had
begun to get tea, for Tom would soon be home. Let's see!--she would
make some flap-jacks. Tom was fond of flap-jacks. She'd make him a
_real_ strong cup of coffee: he liked that better than tea. She would
cook him a bit of beef steak too, for she knew that fishing always gave
people a good appetite. So she stepped around briskly, and spread her
snow-white table-cloth, and put on her cups and saucers, and plates,
and the castor--(yes, the _castor_ on the _tea_ table! for they didn't
care a pin for fashion); and when she had cooked her supper, she looked
at the clock. Yes, it was quite time he