"My Martha is something like another Martha we read of in this book," said William Howland, patting his Bible fondly, and speaking kindly, though with a kind of provoking coolness, as I thought; "she is troubled about many things, not that she does not attend to the one thing needful; I don't say that," he added. "And I reckon if Martha's sister Mary had had a family of little children to look after, and no money coming in, she would have been troubled about many things too," retorted Mrs. Howland. "Well, to leave these matters now," said I, as I thought that if peacemakers are to be blessed, they have sometimes a delicate and dangerous task to perform, "I have a little job for you, Howland, which will bring you in a shilling. Will you take this letter for me to ---- (I produced the letter and mentioned the place, about three miles off), and wait for an answer?" To be sure he would, and be glad to oblige me, he said. I thought, but did not say, that possibly I was obliging him by offering him a shilling for what the postman or the post-office would have done for a penny. The truth is, I knew how badly off my neighbours were, and was glad of an opportunity of putting a shilling in their way without making a show of charity. I could have given the shilling without exacting a return; but it was my whim at that time to make the man fairly earn it, so I only said, "Bring the answer to my house, William, and then I will pay you for the journey." "Shall I go at once, sir?" he wanted to know. I told him yes; and so he shut up the book, and took his departure, leaving me in his cottage. "Did you ever see the like of Will?" said Martha, whose wrath was not yet subsided. "There are many worse husbands than Will," I replied. "I don't complain of him as a husband altogether," continued she; "but it isn't much of a husband's part either, when he won't look out for work as he ought, and won't try to keep it when he has got it." "You have told him so, I have no doubt." "Haven't I, sir? I just have. I have been giving him such a dressing!" "I thought so. Now do you think that was quite wise, Mrs. Howland?" I asked. "I don't know what to say about that, sir; but one can't be always wise, you know, when things go so uncommonly crooked." "But, my good friend, you know where it is written, 'The Lord layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous;' and you being one of that class----" "No, no, sir; I never set up for being righteous," said my neighbour, hastily.