“And you could n’t decide which of these would make you the best wife?”

“Nary a once.  The attraction of both was nearly equal.”

“But how about their housekeeping?  I’ve often heard father tell what a splendid housekeeper mother was, and how he would rather have his wife a good housekeeper than beautiful.”

“But the trouble was, I had both.  I’ve described you the charms and grace of each, and when I add that both were elegant housekeepers, ye’ll admit that my dilemma was greater than ever.  They both handled the broom to perfection; they could knock a chap clane across the cabin and out of the window before ye could know what was coming.  Me mither used to say it was the housekeeping qualities that should decide, and she told me to call upon ’em sometime when they was n’t expecting me, and obsarve the manner in which they handled things.  Wal, Bridget was the first one that I sneaked in upon.  I heard a thumping noise as I drew near, as though something was tumbling about the floor, and when I peeped through the door, I saw that Bridget and her mother was havig a delightful love-pat.  They was banging and whaling each other round the room, and, as the old lady had her muscle well up, it was hard to tell which was coming out ahead.  Of course, my sympathies were with the lovely Bridget, and I was desirous that she should win—­but I didn’t consider it my duty to interfere.  I supposed the old lady had been trying to impose too much work on Bridget, and, therefore, she had rebelled, and was lambasting her for the same.  My interest in the little affair was so great, that I pushed the door ajar, and stood with me mouth and eyes wide open.  It wasn’t long before I began to get worried, for, from the way things looked, the owld lady was getting the upper hand.  I was thinking I would have to sail in and lend a helping hand, when Bridget fotched the old lady a whack that made her throw up the sponge.  Wid that I felt so proud that I sung out a word of encouragement, and rushed forward to embrace my angel, but, before I could do so, she give me a swipe that sent me backward through the door, busting it off, and I was out of the ring.

“The interview was very satisfactory,” continued Mickey, “and I wint over to take a sly paap at Molly.  As I drawed near the little hut on the edge of the wood, I did n’t hear any such noise as I noticed over at Bridget’s house.  All was as still as it is here this minute.  Me first thought was that they all had gone away, but when I got nearer, I noted my mistake.  Molly’s mother was busy sewing, and sitting near her was her charming daughter Molly, leaning back in her chair, with her head thrown still further back, her mouth wide open, and she a-snoring.  I’ve no doubt that she had become exhausted from overwork, and was taking a little nap.  The mother looked up as I stepped softly in, and I axed her, in an undertone, how long her pet child had been asleep.  She