to be extravagant, ye'll be likely to be old gals all your days, for men are afeard to marry women who spend money, and never make it."
The Lady expressed her approbation of his correct judgment, and inquired after the welfare of his family.
"All stout and hearty, thank'e Ma'am. My wife sent compliments to you, and Molly tell'd me to say, that she was a thousand times beholden to you, for your good present. She, and all on 'em, wishes you a happy NewYear."
"I thank them for their kind recollections. Molly, I think, is the plump girl with such rosy cheeks."
"Why, as for that matter, they're all in the same situation, as plump as patridges, and swarmin' round like bees. Molly's the oldest on 'em, and as fat as butter. She'll be fourteen years old, come the tenth day o' February—and that will be Sabba-day arter next. She weighs about twice as much as you do, Ma'am, I guess. She's rather more stocky than her mother, and I hope will be as smart for bizness. She'll spin her run o' tow-yarn, or woollen, afore dinner; and she has wove six yards a day, of yardwide sheetin'. She takes in weavin', when any body will hire it done, and so buys herself her bettermost cloes, which is a help to me. Jehoiakim, the oldest boy—he's named arter his grandaddy—and is a stout, stirrin' youngster. He'll hoe nearabout as much corn in an hour, as I can; and cold winter days, he'll chop and sled wood through the snow, without frettin' a bit. But I s'pose 'tant
