ng to fix it mit. It ish wonderful what mischief gets into dem
boys; dere ain't no time when dey ain't doin' notting what dey hadn't
not ought to--all de times just de same way, while I toils myself to
death to educate dem and bring 'em up in de way apout which dey ought
to go."

Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock being in the habit of frequently
indulging in the use of tobacco, her husband was not deprived entirely
of his solace. Going into the wigwam, he unbosomed his griefs to her,
and she kindly loaned him her own pipe.

"I hopes dere ain't no powder in dat," he remarked, glancing uneasily
into the bowl.

"Nothing but tobac," replied his spouse, in her native tongue, "unless
you've put the powder in yourself."

"Dunderation, I don't does dat, and blow mine eyes out my head. Dem
little Dutchmen is up to all kinds of such tricks, and some dese days
dey will blow deir poor fader's brains out of his head, and den what
will become of dem?" feelingly inquired Hans Vanderbum.

"What will become of them?" repeated Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock, her
voice rising higher and higher at each word. "Who is it that supports
them now and takes care of them? Who is it that does that? Who is
it--"

"It's you--it's you," replied her husband, seeing the mistake he had
made. "I doesn't do nottings--I doesn't do nottings; it's my wife, my
good Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock, dat does it all. She's a very nice
squaw, de same shape all de way down."

These concessions and compliments greatly soothed the feelings of the
incensed spouse. She scolded her husband no more.

"What you going to do, my dear frau?" he asked, in a voice as cooing
and winning as a dove's.

"Going to work, to plant the corn, to get food for you and Quanonshet
and Madokawandock when the snow falls."

"Very kind, clever woman; good frau is mine
Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock."

"What are _you_ going to do?" asked the wife, as the two passed out the
wigwam.

"Going to shmoke and _meditate_--meditate _hard_," replied Hans
Vanderbum, impressively.

"Can't you think as well while you're _fishing_?"

"I shpose I can; if my Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock t'inks so, I can."

"Well, she thinks so."

The fact that his wife "thought so" was equivalent to a command with
Hans. He manifested no unwillingness or reluctance in obeying.
Accordingly, he furnished himself with a hook, line and bait, and set
out for the river.

It was now getting well along in th