Billy Bloodgood was just going out of his gate when Mr. Cutter drove up. Knowing that it would be useless trying to hold a parley with him out there, he told his son to drive close to the door; and taking Mr. Bloodgood by the arm, pulled him along, determined not to let him go, as he was well acquainted with his peculiarities. So, holding on with one hand to the side of the doorway, and with the other to his friend, he entered into Mrs. Bloodgood's sanctum--her kitchen, parlor, and bedroom. Puffing and blowing, he seized the first chair he could find, and bestowed himself upon it. 'Now, woman, do you make this husband of your's sit down, for I want to talk to him; and he'll be running off if you don't see to him.' 'Why, what's the matter, Uncle Sam? you're all in a heat, and out o' breath. Ain't nothing happened to home, has there?' 'Happened? Yes, there has something happened--there's always something or other happening in this world; but that ain't neither here nor there. I can get along with that. The wind will have its blow out, and then it will stop, and so must a woman's tongue. But I tell you, make that man of your's sit down, and do you come and listen to me, and then try to git it into his head, for it's beyond me to do it.' Mrs. Bloodgood did as she was bidden; for she had great respect for Uncle Sam Cutter. She placed a seat close beside him for her husband, and another for herself, immediately before him. 'Do you know that our neighbor Oakum is in jail?' 'In jail! Oh dear, how you _do_ talk!' 'It is true--I tell you so.' 'Then it's Grizzle--I know it is. First, he's 'ticed him to drink, and then he's come upon him. Ain't it so, Uncle Sam?' 'Yes; but hear me. Oakum ain't the man he was--don't you know that? He's a clean changed man. He's to work now every day, and brings home all his earnings every night to his family, and stays to home, and acts like a man; and his wife looks like a new critter, and things all round his house look so you wouldn't hardly know it. And now, jist as they are beginning to be a little like folks, and have things right end up, that old varmint takes the law on him, and puts him in the old cage, among them rapscallions there, jist as if he was a thief or a murderer.' 'Oh dear! jist to think on it.' 'And there's that blessed child of his been through all the rain and thunder and lightning, and went and stayed there all night, because he couldn't bear to leave his father alone--jist think of that; and that poor woman, all stark alone with them little children--jist think of that. Don't it make your heart ache?' 'Oh dear, dear! what are we comin' to?--jist think of it.'