But Sister Meechim (onmarried), she is dretful questinin' and inquirin' (men don't like her, they say she prys into subjects she's no business to meddle with). She sez to Josiah: “Why is it, Deacon Allen, that men deacons can carry on all sorts of business and still be deacons, while wimmen deacons are obleeged to give up all other business and devote themselves wholly to their work?” “It is on account of their minds,” sez Josiah. “Men have got stronger minds than wimmen, that is the reason.” And Sister Meechim sez agin-- “Why is it that wimmen deacons have to remain onmarried, while men deacons can marry one wife after another through a long life, that is, if they are took from 'em by death or a divorce lawyer?” “Wall,” sez Josiah, “that, too, is on account of their brains. Their brains hain't so hefty es men's.” But I jest waded into the argument then. I jest interfered, and sez in a loud, clear tone, “Oh, shaw!” And then I sez further, in the same calm, clear tones, but dry as ever a dry oven wuz in its dryest times. Sez I, “If you men can't help us any about the meetin' house, you'd better get out of our way, for we wimmen have got to go to scrubbin' right where you are a-standin'.” “Certainly,” sez Josiah, in a polite axent, “certainly.” And so the rest of the men said. And Josiah added to his remarks, as he went down the steps, “You'd better get home, Samantha, in time to cook a hen, and make some puddin', and so forth.” And I sez, with quite a lot of dignity, “Have I ever failed, Josiah Allen, to have good dinners for you, and on time too?” “No,” sez he, “but I thought I would jest stop to remind you of it, and also to tell you the last news from the Conference, about the deaconesses.” And so they trailed down one after another, and left us to our work in the meetin' house; but as they disapered round the corner, Sister Arvilly Lanfear, who hain't married, and who has got a sharp tongue (some think that is why, but I don't; I believe Arvilly has had chances). But any way, she sez, as they went down the steps, “I'll bet them men wuz a-practisen' their new parts of men superentendents, and look on us as a lot of deaconesses.” [Illustration: “JOSIAH ADDED TO HIS REMARKS.”] “Wall,” sez Sister Gowdy--she loves to put on Arvilly--“wall, you have got one qualificatin', Arvilly!” “Yes, thank the Lord,” sez she. And I never asked what she meant, but knew well enough that she spoke of her single state. But Arvilly has had chances, _I_ think. CHAPTER XXII. I got home in time to get a good supper, though mebbe I ortn't to say it. Sure enough, Josiah Allen had killed a hen, and dressed it ready for me to brile, but it wuz young and tender, and I knew it wouldn't take long, so I didn't care.