“‘Strawberries fer supper?’ says she.

“‘Strawberries fer supper,’ says I; ‘but that ain’t it.’

“Jest then Morris’s hoss whinnied in the barn, and she glanced up quick and smilin’ and says, ‘Somebody come to see somebody?’

“‘You’re a-gittin’ warm,’ says I.

“‘Somebody come to see me?’ she says, anxious-like.

“‘No,’ says I, ’and I’m glad of it—­fer this one ’at’s come wants to git married, and o’ course I wouldn’t harber in my house no young feller ‘at was a-layin’ round fer a chance to steal away the “Nest-egg,"’ says I, laughin’.

“Marthy had riz up in the buggy by this time, but as I helt up my hands to her, she sorto’ drawed back a minute, and says, all serious-like and kindo’ whisperin’: 

“‘Is it Annie?’

“I nodded.  ‘Yes,’ says I, ’and what’s more, I’ve give my consent, and mother’s give hern—­the thing’s all settled.  Come, jump out and run in and be happy with the rest of us!’ and I helt out my hands ag’in, but she didn’t ‘pear to take no heed.  She was kindo’ pale, too, I thought, and swallered a time er two like as ef she couldn’t speak plain.

“‘Who is the man?’ she ast.

“‘Who—­who’s the man?’ I says, a-gittin’ kindo’ out o’ patience with the girl.—­’W’y, you know who it is, o’ course.—­It’s Morris,’ says I.  ‘Come, jump down!  Don’t you see I’m waitin’ fer ye?’

“‘Then take me,’ she says; and blame-don! ef the girl didn’t keel right over in my arms—­as limber as a rag!  Clean fainted away!  Honest!  Jest the excitement, I reckon, o’ breakin’ it to her so suddent-like—­’cause she liked Annie, I’ve sometimes thought, better’n even she did her own mother.  Didn’t go half so hard with her when her other sister married.  Yes-sir!” said the old man, by way of sweeping conclusion, as he rose to his feet—­“Marthy’s the on’y one of ’em ’at never married—­both the others is gone—­Morris went all through the army and got back safe and sound—­’s livin’ in Idyho, and doin’ fust-rate.  Sends me a letter ever’ now and then.  Got three little chunks o’ grandchildren out there, and I’ never laid eyes on one of ’em.  You see, I’m a-gittin’ to be quite a middle-aged man—­in fact a very middle-aged man, you might say.  Sence mother died, which has be’n—­lem-me-see—­mother’s be’n dead somers in the neighborhood o’ ten year.—­Sence mother died I’ve be’n a-gittin’ more and more o’ Marthy’s notion—­that is,—­you couldn’t ever hire me to marry nobody! and them has allus be’n and still is the ‘Nest-egg’s’ views!  Listen!  That’s her a-callin’ fer us now.  You must sorto’ overlook the freedom, but I told Marthy you’d promised to take dinner with us to-day, and it ’ud never do to disappint her now.  Come on.”  And, ah! it would have made the soul of you either rapturously glad or madly envious to see how meekly I consented.