The glitter died out of the old lady's eyes; she stopped rocking, and cackled gleefully; this time-worn joke never failed to delight her. With eager, trembling fingers she brought out a cob pipe from a corner behind the stove, and handed it to Calvin, who filled it from his own pouch and returned it to her. Then he lighted his own pipe, and soon they were puffing in concert. In the pantry close by Miss Phrony was rattling dishes; they sounded like dry bones. "There!" said Calvin comfortably. "Now you feel better, don't you, old lady?" The old lady nodded like a Salem mandarin. "Jordan ain't rollin' so fast now, is it?" "Nothin' like!" said the old lady. "Then, since we're all comfortable and peaceful," said Calvin, "I've half a mind to tell you something, old lady." He paused and seemed to listen; his next words were spoken silently. "What say? Oh, you go along! I tell you I've got to tell some one, or I shall bust. I can't fetch hossy into the settin'-room, can I? 'Tis betwixt sawdust and kindlin's with these two, but yet I like the old one best." Then he spoke aloud. "Yes, ma'am! I reelly have--a half a mind to tell you something. Some time or other--not right away, you needn't go thinkin' that, but when I get round to it, you understand--I am thinkin' of--of changin' my condition." The widow uttered an exclamation, and fixed her beady eyes on him eagerly. The rattling of dishes in the pantry stopped suddenly. "Yes!" Calvin went on, musing over his pipe. "I've been a rover and a rambler all my life. Old Ma Sill used to say it, and it's true. When I was at sea I'd hanker for the shore, and sim'lar the other way round. Take last night, now--but no need to go into that. Fact is, it ain't only a woman needs a home of her own," he went on, half to himself. "A man needs it too; his own place and his own folks; yes, sir! And come to find them folks at long last, and find 'em better than what he thought the world contained, why, what I say is, it's a pity if he can't scare up a place. What say, old lady? Ain't that about the way it looked to you and Cap'n along back? You poor old dried up stockfish," he added to himself, "I s'pose you was young once, though no one would suspicion it to look at you." "Dust and ashes!" said the old woman. "Dust and ashes! Jesus'll kerry me through." "I shouldn't wonder!" said Calvin Parks. And just then Miss Phrony Marlin came in from the pantry with shining eyes. CHAPTER XVI TOIL AND TROUBLE "Happy New Year!" said Calvin Parks. "Happy New Year, Mr. Cheeseman! Happy New Year, Lonzo! happy New Year, the whole concern!" "Humph!" said Mr. Ivory Cheeseman. "If this ain't a pretty day to start the new year with, then I never see one, that's all," Calvin went on. "Crisp and clear, everything cracklin' with frost. Hossy's got a white mustash on him like a general. How's trade, Mr. Cheeseman?" "Humph!" said Mr. Cheeseman again.