"And then he went on to preach a regular sermon agin swearing, and to quote Scripture like he had the whole Bible by heart. In the course of his argument he undertook to prove the Scriptures to be true, and told us all about the miracles and prophecies, and their fulfilment. The old gentleman with the cane took a part in the conversation, and the Hoosier listened without ever opening his head. "'I've just heard of a gentleman,' says the preacher, 'that's been to the Holy Land and went over the Bible country. It's astonishin' to hear what wonderful things he has seen. He was at Sodom and Gomorrow, and seen the place whar Lot's wife fell!' "'Ah,' says the old gentleman with the cane. "'Yes,' says the preacher, 'he went to the very spot; and what's the remarkablest thing of all, he seen the pillar of salt what she was turned into!' "'Is it possible!' says the old gentleman. "'Yes, sir; he seen the salt, standin' thar to this day.' "'What!' says the Hoosier,'real genewine, good salt?' "'Yes, sir; a pillar of salt, jest as it was when that wicked woman was punished for her disobedience.' "All but the gambler, who was snoozing in the corner of the coach, looked at the preacher--the Hoosier with an expression of countenance that plainly told that his mind was powerfully convicted of an important fact. "'Right out in the open air?' he asked. "'Yes, standin' right in the open field, whar she fell.' "'Well, sir,' says 'Indiany,' 'all I've got to say is, _if she'd dropped in our parts, the cattle would have licked her up afore sundown!_' "The preacher raised both his hands at such an irreverent remark, and the old gentleman laughed himself into a fit of asthmatics; what he didn't get over till he came to the next change of horses. The Hoosier had played the mischief with the gravity of the whole party; even the old maid had to put her handkerchief to her face, and the young lady's eyes were filled with tears for half an hour afterward. The old preacher hadn't another word to say on the subject; but whenever we came to any place or met anybody on the road, the circus man cursed the thing along by asking what was the price of salt." Anne Bache THE QUILTING The day is set, the ladies met, And at the frame are seated; In order plac'd, they work in haste, To get the quilt completed. While fingers fly, their tongues they ply, And animate their labors, By counting beaux, discussing clothes, Or talking of their neighbors. "Dear, what a pretty frock you've on--" "I'm very glad you like it." "I'm told that Miss Micomicon Don't speak to Mr. Micat." "I saw Miss Bell the other day, Young Green's new gig adorning--" "What keeps your sister Ann away?" "She went to town this morning."