"Why, don't you know, Phillip, when a bird comes into the house it's a sure sign of death in the family? I have never known it to fail. There was Squire Billings died in less than a year after a bird flew in at the winder. Sally told me they was a watching for some one to die and it turned out to be the Squire." "'Tween you and me, Recta, that was singular; now I think on't I've noticed lately that Fanny has looked ruther pimpin. We must not cross her in nuthin. I shan't tech the chicken feed 'til she comes; 'tween you and me, hadn't we better write to the Honey?" "May be she don't believe in signs, some don't," said Recta, reflectively. "'Tween you and me, we might tell her about Squire Billings." "That wouldn't make any difference, Phillip, you can't convince some people. We may as well not write until Fanny is really taken sick. I wonder if she had ever had the measles: Neighbor Wycoff is awful sick with them." "'Tween you and me, I guess we had better write," persists Daddy, struck with a new terror. There is a sudden hush, and Fanny trips in bright as a May morning. CHAPTER XXXVI. MORE NEWS FROM LITTLE WOLF--TOM TINKNOR'S TESTIMONY. Here again is news from Little Wolf. The postmark is San Francisco; a few hurried lines running thus: "We arrived here last evening. Mr. Marsden has the Panama fever. His sister and myself watch over him day and night. His physician is hopeful, but says the disease is exceedingly tedious. We shall probably be detained here for a long time. Please write as soon as you receive this. I am anxious to hear from Daddy and Fanny. Your affectionate LITTLE WOLF." From Mrs. Tinknor's answer we extract the following: "As we had not heard from Daddy for some time, I persuaded Tom to go down and see how they were getting along. He has just returned and stands ready to relieve your anxiety. I will leave him to give an account of affairs in his own language." "I am requested to give my testimony which is this: The house was in apple-pie order. Not a fly had the temerity to approach the parlor. Miss Fanny had learned to knit, and had constructed a pair of stockings. Mrs. Recta says if she _lives_ she will make a good housekeeper. I shall marry her when she is old enough. The old folks are sure she will die 'afore the year is out, 'cause a bird flew in at her winder.' I told them the bird was after Daddy, and the superstitious old man was instantly seized with a violent pain in his big toe. I am afraid he will feel it is his duty to die. He and Recta bill and coo like two old fools. I am ready to swear to the above testimony. T. T. P. S. Daddy saw six ghosts last evening in the pasture where half a dozen sheep were grazing. TOM."