and forthwith both mother and daughter proceeded to set the table for dinner.

"The hot bread was cut into huge slices, several bowls of milk were disposed about the board, a pint bowl of yellow pickles, another of apple sauce, and a third containing mashed potatoes, took their appropriate stations, and a dish of cold fried pork was brought out from some recess, heated and re-dished, when Miss Irene proceeded to blow the horn.

"The sound seemed almost as magical in its effects as the whistle of Roderick Dhu; for, solitary as the whole neighborhood had appeared to me in the morning, not many moments elapsed before in came men and boys enough to fill the table completely. I had made sundry resolutions not to touch a mouthful; but I confess I felt somewhat mortified when I found there was no opportunity to refuse.

"After the wash-dish' had been used in turn, and various handkerchiefs had performed, not for that occasion only, the part of towels, the lords of creation seated themselves at the table, and fairly demolished in grave silence every eatable thing on it. Then, as each one finished, he arose and walked off, till no one remained of all this goodly company but the red-faced, heavy-eyed master of the house. This personage used his privilege by asking me five hundred questions, as to my birth, parentage, and education; my opinion of Michigan, my husband's plans and prospects, business and resources; and then said, 'he guessed he must be off.""

We may also mention that the history of Mrs. Danforth is told in a manner which is nature's truth; the whole scene is vividly brought before us, and we know at once a shrewd mind is at work.

The nakedness with which nature reveals itself in these regions is amusingly told:

"To be sure, I had one damsel who crammed herself almost to suffocation with sweetmeats and other things which she esteemed very nice; and ate up her own pies and cake, to the exclusion of those for whom they were intended; who would put her head in at a door, with—' Miss Clavers, did you holler! I thought I heered a yell."

“And another who was highly offended because room was not made for her at table with guests from the city, and that her company was not requested for tea visits. And this latter high-born damsel sent in from the kitchen a circumstantial account in writing, of the instances wherein she considered herself aggrieved; well written it was, too, and expressed with much naiveté, and abundant respect. I answered it in a way which turneth away wrath.' Yet it was not long before this fiery spirit was aroused again, and I was forced to part with my country belle."

The next scene is infinitely comic:

6

"The lady greeted me in the usual style, with a familiar nod, and seated herself at once in a chair near the door.

"Well, how do you like Michigan?"

"This question received the most polite answer which my conscience afforded; and I asked the lady in my turn, if she was one of my neighbors ?

666

Why, massy, yes!' she replied; 'don't you know me? I tho't everybody know'd me. Why, I'm the school ma'am, Simeon Jenkins's sister, Cleory Jenkins.'

"Thus introduced, I put all my civility in requisition to entertain my guest, but she seemed quite independent, finding amusement for herself, and asking questions on every possible theme.

"You 're doing your own work now, a'n't ye?'

"This might not be denied; and I asked if she did not know of a girl whom I might be likely to get.

“Well, I don't know, I'm looking for a place where I can board and do chores myself. I have a good deal of time before school, and after I get back; and I didn't know but I might suit ye for a while.'

"I was pondering on this proffer, when the sallow damsel arose from her seat, took a short pipe from her bosom (not 'Pan's reedy pipe,' reader), filled it with tobacco, which she carried in her 'work pocket,' and reseating herself, began to smoke with the greatest gusto, turning ever and anon to spit at the hearth.

"Incredible again? alas, would it were not true! I have since known a girl of seventeen, who was attending a neighbor's sick infant, smoke the live-long day, and take snuff besides; and I can vouch for it, that a large proportion of the married women in the interior of Michigan use tobacco in some form, usually that of the odious pipe.

"I took the earliest decent opportunity to decline the offered help, telling the school-ma'am plainly, that an inmate who smoked would make the house uncomfortable to me.

666

6

''Why, law!' said she, laughing; that's nothing but pride now folks is often too proud to take comfort. For my part, I couldn't do without my pipe to please nobody.""

The simple philosophy of the woods is charming, after the fish-blooded faith of which the Bank of England is the temple, the directors the apostles, and merchants the priests.

"Mother wants your sifter,' said Miss Ianthe Howard, a young lady of six years' standing, attired in a tattered calico, thickened with dirt; her unkempt locks straggling from under that hideous

substitute for a bonnet, so universal in the western country, a dirty cotton handkerchief, which is used ad nauseam for all sorts of purposes.

"Mother wants your sifter, and she says she guesses you can let her have some sugar and tea, 'cause you 've got plenty.'

"This excellent reason, ''cause you 've got plenty,' is conclusive as to sharing with your neighbors. Whoever comes into Michigan with nothing, will be sure to better his condition; but woe to him that brings with him anything like an appearance of abundance, whether of money or mere household conveniences. To have them, and not be willing to share them in some sort with the whole community, is an unpardonable crime. You must lend your best horse qui que ce soit to go ten miles over hill and marsh, in the darkest night, for a doctor; or your team to travel twenty after a 'gal;' your wheel-barrows, your shovels, your utensils of all sorts, belong, not to yourself, but to the public, who do not think it necessary even to ask a loan, but take it for granted. The two saddles and bridles of Montacute spend most of their time travelling from house to house a-man-back; and I have actually known a stray martingale to be traced to four dwellings two miles apart, having been lent from one to another, without a word to the original proprietor, who sat waiting, not very patiently, to commence a journey."

Mrs. Kirkland does not seem altogether to relish the joke, although she seems thoroughly aware of its comicality. She says:

"But the cream of the joke lies in the manner of the thing. It is so straight-forward and honest, none of your hypocritical civility and servile gratitude! Your true republican, when he finds that you possess anything which would contribute to his convenience,

walks in with, 'Are you going to use your horses to-day?' if horses happen to be the thing he needs.

"Yes, I shall probably want them.'

"O, well; if you want them—I was thinking to get 'em to go up north a piece.'

"Or perhaps the desired article comes within the female depart

ment.

"Mother wants to get some butter: that 'ere butter you bought of Miss Barton this mornin.'

"And away goes your golden store, to be repaid perhaps with some cheesy, greasy stuff, brought in a dirty pail, with, Here's your butter!'

6

"A girl came in to borrow a 'wash-dish,' 'because we've got company. Presently she came back: 'Mother says you 've forgot to send a towel.'

"The pen and ink, and a sheet o' paper and a wafer,' is no unusual request; and when the pen is returned, you are generally informed that you sent an awful bad pen.'

I have been frequently reminded of one of Johnson's humorous sketches. A man returning a broken wheel-barrow to a Quaker, with, 'Here' I 've broke your rotten wheel-barrow usin' on 't. I wish you'd get it mended right off, 'cause I want to borrow it again this afternoon.' The Quaker is made to reply, 'Friend, it shall be done' and I wished I possessed more of his spirit."

We are afraid our quotations are growing upon us, but we cannot resist copying the following scene. Of a truth, America has no more comic pencil than that wielded by the fair hand of Mary Clavers.

"He is quite an old settler, came in four years ago, bringing with him a wife who is to him as vinegar-bottle to oil cruet, or as