“All this was nuts to Mis Bascum, and she kep’ advisin’ and encouragin’ of me, and I didn’t see through her a mite, or guess that settin’ folks by the ears was as relishin’ to her as bitters is to some.  Merciful, suz! what a piece a work we did make betwixt us!  I scolded and moped ’cause I couldn’t have my way; Lisha swore and threatened to take to drinkin’ ef I didn’t make home more comfortable; the children run wild, and the house was gittin’ too hot to hold us, when we was brought up with a round turn, and I see the redicklousness of my doin’s in time.

“One day Lisha come home tired and cross, for bills was pressin’, work slack, and folks talkin’ about us as ef they ‘d nothin’ else to do.  I was dishin’ up dinner, feelin’ as nervous as a witch, for a whole batch of bread had burnt to a cinder while I was trimmin’ a new bunnet, Wash had scart me most to death swallerin’ a cent, and the steak had been on the floor more’n once, owin’ to my havin’ babies, dogs, cats, or hens under my feet the whole blessed time.

“Lisha looked as black as thunder, throwed his hat into a corner, and came along to the sink where I was skinnin’ pertaters.  As he washed his hands, I asked what the matter was; but he only muttered and slopped, and I couldn’t git nothin’ out of him, for he ain’t talkative at the best of times as you see, and when he’s werried corkscrews wouldn’t draw a word from him.

“Bein’ riled myself didn’t mend matters, and so we fell to hectorin’ one another right smart.  He said somethin’ that dreened my last drop of patience; I give a sharp answer, and fust thing I knew he up with his hand and slapped me.  It warn’t a hard blow by no means, only a kind of a wet spat side of the head; but I thought I should have flew, and was as mad as ef I’d been knocked down.  You never see a man look so ’shamed as Lisha did, and ef I’d been wise I should have made up the quarrel then.  But I was a fool.  I jest flung fork, dish, pertaters and all into the pot, and says, as ferce as you please: 

“’Lisha Wilkins, when you can treat me decent you may come and fetch me back; you won’t see me till then, and so I tell you.’

“Then I made a bee-line for Mis Bascum’s; told her the whole story, had a good cry, and was all ready to go home in half an hour, but Lisha didn’t come.

“Wal, that night passed, and what a long one it was to be sure! and me without a wink of sleep, thinkin’ of Wash and the cent, my emptins and the baby.  Next day come, but no Lisha, no message, no nuthin’, and I began to think I’d got my match though I had a sight of grit in them days.  I sewed, and Mis Bascum she clacked; but I didn’t say much, and jest worked like sixty to pay for my keep, for I warn’t goin’ to be beholden to her for nothin’.

“The day dragged on terrible slow, and at last I begged her to go and git me a clean dress, for I’d come off jest as I was, and folks kep’ droppin’ in, for the story was all round, thanks to Mis Bascum’s long tongue.