“Oh, no kind o’ trouble,” said Isaac, keeping the great secret gallantly.  “You got the things I sent over this mornin’?”

“Bless your heart, yes!  I’d a sight rather have all that good pork an’ potatoes than any o’ your wild meat,” said Mrs. Price, smiling with prosperity.  “You see, now, ’Liza Jane she’s given in.  She didn’t re’lly know but ’twas all talk of ’Bijah ‘bout that dog’s bein’ wuth fifty dollars.  She says she can’t cope with a huntin’ dog same’s he could, an’ she’s given me the money you an’ John York sent over this mornin’; an’ I didn’t know but what you’d lend me another half a dollar, so I could both go to Dipford Centre an’ return, an’ see if I couldn’t make a sale o’ Tiger right over there where they all know about him.  It’s right in the coon season; now’s my time, ain’t it?”

“Well, gettin’ a little late,” said Isaac, shaking with laughter as he took the desired sum of money out of his pocket.  “He seems to be a clever dog round the house.”

“I don’t know’s I want to harbor him all winter,” answered the excursionist frankly, striking into a good traveling gait as she started off toward the railroad station.

NOTES

=Dipford=:—­The New England town in which the scenes of some of Miss Jewett’s stories are laid.

=master hot=:—­In the New England dialect, master is used in the sense of very or extremely.

=bosom-pin=:—­Mourning pins of jet or black enamel were much worn in times past.

=’suage=:—­Assuage, meaning to soften or decrease.

=selectman=:—­One of a board chosen in New England towns to transact the business of the community.

=scattereth nor yet increaseth=:—­See Proverbs, 11:24.

=right o’ dower=:—­The right to claim a part of a deceased husband’s property.

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY

The action takes place in a country district in New England.  Judging by the remarks about the fans, what kind of person do you suppose Old Lady Price to be?  Is there any particular meaning in the word to-day?  How is ’Liza Jane related to Mrs. Price?  What was the character of Mr.  ’Bijah Topliff?  Does the old lady feel grieved at his death?  What does Isaac mean by such, in the last line, page 190?  How does the old lady live?  What is shown of her character when she is called “a chirpin’ old cricket”?  Does she feel ashamed of having gone to the circus?  How does she explain her going?  What can you tell of ’Bijah from what is said of ’Liza’s “memories”?  Would the circus people have cared to buy the dog?  Notice how the author makes you feel the pleasantness of the walk in the woods.  Do you know where coons have their dens?  How does Isaac show his affection for old Rover?  Is it true that “worthless do-nothings” usually have “smart” dogs?  Why does the author stop to tell all about ’Liza Jane’s