as it fell from her lips; there could be no doubt whatever in any but the most obtuse intellect.  For her it had a large and noble, although a rather indefinite meaning, entirely favorable to the person or the object to which it was applied.  There was one other word in her lexicon which was in the nature of a jewel to be used only on special occasions.  It was the word “copasetic.”  The best society of Salem Hill understood perfectly that it signalized an unusual depth of meaning.

In half a moment she added:  “He’s got some grand idees.  If they was ever drawed out an’ spread on the ground so that folks could see them, I reckon they’d be surprised.”

“I’m sorry to find him in this condition,” said Harry.  “We wanted you and him to come out and help Mrs. Traylor to look after the place while we are gone to Chicago.”

“You needn’t worry about Ol’ John,” said she.

“He’ll git lonesome an’ toddle off when the ‘Colonel’ goes to bed an’ won’t come ’round ag’in till snow flies.  That man will be just as steady as an ox all the summer an’ fall—­not a laugh out o’ him—­you see.”

“Can you be there at six in the morning?”

“We’ll be there—­sure as sunrise—­an’ ready to go to work.”

They were on hand at the hour appointed, the “Colonel” having acquired, meanwhile, his wonted look of solemnity.

Josiah, now a sturdy boy of thirteen, stood in the dooryard, holding the two saddle ponies from Nebraska which Samson had bought of a drover.  Betsey, a handsome young miss almost fifteen years old, stood beside him.  Sambo, a sober old dog with gray hairs in his head, sat near, looking at the horses.  Sarah, whose face had begun to show the wear of years full of loneliness and hard work, was packing the saddle-bags, now nearly filled, with extra socks and shirts and doughnuts and bread and butter.  As the travelers were saying good-by, Mrs. Lukins handed a package to Samson.

“I heard Philemon Morris readin’ ’bout Chicago in the paper,” said she.  “I want you to take that money an’ buy me some land thar—­jest as much as ye kin.  There’s two hundred an’ fifty dollars in the foot o’ that ol’ sock, and most of it shiny gold.”

“I wouldn’t risk my savings that way,” Samson advised.  “It’s too much like gambling.  You couldn’t afford to lose your money.”

“You do as I tell ye,” the “Colonel’s” wife insisted.  “I alwus obey your orders.  Now I want you to take one from me.”

“All right,” the man answered.  “If I see anything that looks good to me, I’ll buy it if I can.”

As the two men were riding toward the village, Samson said:  “Kind o’ makes my heart ache to leave home even for a little while these days.  We’ve had six long, lonesome years on that farm.  Not one of our friends have been out to see us.  Sarah was right.  Movin’ west is a good deal like dyin’ and goin’ to another world.  It’s a pity we didn’t settle further north, but we were tired of travel when we got here.  We didn’t know which way to turn and felt as if we’d gone far enough.  When we settle down again, it’ll be where we can take some comfort and see lots o’ folks every day.”