For who, when dead, can threaten or Nor one opinion start of food or wine:

No, Tom, you may banter as much as you please;
But it's all the result of the shellin' them peas.
Why, I had n't the slightest idee, do you know,
That so serious a matter would out of it grow.
I tell you what, Tom, I do feel kind o' scared.
I dreamed it, I hoped it, but never once dared
To breathe it to her. And besides, I must say
I always half fancied she fancied Jim Wray,
So I felt kind o' stuffy and proud, and took care
To be out of the way when that feller was there
A danglin' around; for thinks I, if it's him
That Katy likes best, what's the use lookin' grim
At Katy or Jim, - for it's all up with me;

And I'd better jest let 'em alone, do you see?

But you would n't have thought it; that girl never keered
The snap of a pea-pod for Jim's bushy beard.

Well, here's how it was. I was takin' some berries
Across near her garden to leave at Aunt Mary's;

When, jest as I come to the old ellum-tree,

All alone in the shade, that June mornin', was she-
Shellin' peas-setting there on a garden settee.

I swan, she was handsomer 'n ever I seen,
Like a rose all alone in a moss-work o' green.

Well, there wasn't no use; so, says I, I'll jest linger
And gaze at her here, hid behind a syringa.

66

But she heard me a movin', and looked a bit frightened,
So I come and stood near her. I fancied she brightened,
And seemed sort o' pleased. So I hoped she was well;
And would she allow me to help her to shell ?
For she sot with a monstrous big dish full of peas
Jest fresh from the vines, which she held on her knees.
May I help you, Miss Katy?" says I.
As you please,
Mr. Baxter," says she. But you're busy, I guess'
Glancin' down at my berries, and then at her dress.
"Not the least. There's no hurry. It ain't very late;
And I'd rather be here, and Aunt Mary can wait."
So I sot down beside her; an' as nobody seen us,
I jest took the dish, and I held it between us.
And I thought to myself I must make an endeavor
To know which she likes, Jim or me, now or never!
But I couldn't say nothin'. We sot there and held
That green pile between us. She shelled, and I shelled;
And pop went the pods; and I couldn't help thinkin'
Of popping the question. A kind of a sinkin'
Come over my spirits; till at last I got out,

66

"Mister Wray's an admirer of yours, I've no doubt
You see him quite often." Well, sometimes. But why
And what if I did ?" "O, well, nothin'," says I.
"Some folks says you're goin' to marry him, though."
"Who says so ?" says she; and she flared up like tow

66

When you throw in a match. Well, some folks that I know." ""T ain't true, sir," says she. And she snapped a big pod, Till the peas, right and left, flew all over the sod.

Then I looked in her eyes, but she only looked down

With a blush she tried to chase off with a frown.

"Then it's somebody else you like better," says I.

66

No, it ain't though," says she; and I thought she would cry.

Then I tried to say somethin'; it stuck in my throat,

And all my idees were upset and afloat.

But I said I knew somebody 'd loved her so long

Though he never had told her- with feelin's so strong

He was ready to die at her feet, if she chosed,

If she only could love him!-I hardly supposed

That she cared for him much, though. And so Tom,-and so,For I thought that I saw how the matter would go,

With my heart all a jumpin' with rapture, I found

I had taken her hand, and my arm was around
Her waist ere I knew it, and she with her head

On my shoulder, - but no, I won't tell what she said.
The birds sang above us; our secret was theirs;
The leaves whispered soft in the wandering airs.

I tell you the world was a new world to me.

I can talk of these things like a book now, you see.
But the peas? Ah, the peas in the pods were a mess
Rather bigger than those that we shelled, you may guess.
It's risky to set with a girl shellin' peas.

You may tease me now, Tom, just as much as you please.

THE DISPUTE OF THe seven DAYS.
ONCE on a time the days of the week
Quarrelled and made bad weather.
The point was which of the seven
was best;

So they all disputed together.

And Monday said, "I wash the clothes";

And Tuesday said, "I air 'em"; And Wednesday said, "I iron the shirts";

And Thursday said, "I wear 'em."

And Friday, "I'm the day for fish". And Saturday, "Children love me";

And Sunday, "I am the Sabbath day,

I'm sure there are none above me."

"You. Sunday, sir,with your starched cravat,

Black coat, and church-veneering:
Tell me the cause of this angry spat;
Speak loud, I am hard of hearing.

"You are the foremost talker here;
The wisest sure you should be.
I little thought such a deuce of a row
As you are all making, could be."
66 Good Father

Then Sunday said,

Time,

The case is clear as noonday;
For ever since the world was made,
The Lord's day has been Sunday.
Here Monday

"The church—"

started up:

"The folks are glad when you leave 'em;

One said, "I am the fittest for They all want me to give 'em work,

work";

And one,

"I am fittest for leisure."

And the pleasures of which you bereave 'em.'

Another, "I'm best for prayer and
praise";
And another, "I'm best for pleas-

And do them as ne as a fiddle."

Arguing thus, they flapped their And Wednesday, "I am the best of

wings,

And puffed up every feather;
They blew and rained and snowed

and hailed:

There never was seen such weather.

Old Father Time was passing by,
And heard the hurly-burly.
Said he, "Here's something going
wrong;

It's well I was up so early.

you all

Because I stand in the middle."

But Father Tempus cut them short: "My children, why this pother?

"These children of mine have lost There is no best, there is no worst;

To hear your screaming and bawl-"Where Justice lights the passing