Votaries of the great sciences, it is said, while pursuing their studies with a view to some particular facts or truths, often stumble upon others which are quite as important. And in like manner a few days since, while continuing my observations on the mental status of the women of Tweenit village, did I stumble upon some facts in regard to the opposite sex, which are really worth attending to, and which, at the time, reminded me of the proverb about listeners; for I had the mortification--it was one day when Mrs. Melendy and a few of the neighbors dropped in to help Mrs. Fennel quilt--of hearing man discussed in his capacity of light-wood provider. “Men-folks” as kindling-splitters! Are husbands, sons, and brothers ready for the question? Have they clear consciences on this point? How many can fearlessly invoke the spirit of free inquiry? “And now you’re married, you must be good, And keep your wife in _kindling-wood_,” runs the old rhyme. A wise injunction, but one not universally obeyed; that is, if the husbands of Tweenit are representative men in this respect. The heart-rending experiences which were related that day!--the anxieties, perplexities, calamities, agonies! all of which might have been averted by “light wood,” as some of them call it. One _sufferer_ took a “sight o’ pains” with her cake, “separated” the eggs, “braided” the sugar and butter; but--it fell. Green pine was its ruin. Miss Janet’s dumplings “riz right up, light as a feather, the first of it, but came out soggy; and all for lack of a little flash under the pot.” Another “had out-of-town company come unexpected one day; and, because there was no light wood on hand to start up a fire in the front-room, they had to sit right down in the kitchen, and see every thing that was going on.” Mrs. Melendy’s (Mary Melendy’s) Dicky was taken ill in the night; and there was an agonizing delay in steeping the “seeny,” on account of Mr. Melendy’s having forgotten to “split the kindling over night.” And so on, and so on. Men were always apt to forget the kindling, Mrs. Melendy said, but always expected their dinner, _what_ever; and expected light victuals from green pine-wood! Light wood made heavy wood go better. Men didn’t understand how tried a woman was with worrying over her fire, and with not having things convenient. Here the talk diverged, and ran upon things convenient that each would like to have. One wanted a slide-door cut through into the buttery, to save running all the way round with the dishes; another, an oil-carpet, to save washing floor; another, netting in every window and outside door, to save “fighting flies;” another, stationary tubs, with pipes to let the water in and out, such heavy work, lifting tubs! another would have a washer and wringer; another, water let into her sink; and still another wanted her sink-room floor raised up level with the kitchen, it made her back ache so to keep stepping up and down all the time!