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 who were standing about the old oak's gnarly trunk. As these few men were quite unconscious of any impropriety in congregating as they had done, they gave no heed to Friend Watson beyond a pleasant greeting, and so were the more surprised that he should interrupt their conversation.

"Is it not most unseemly," he asked, "to idle away such precious time, when the season is so favorable for labor? Is it possible that you have no greater concern upon your minds than idle gossip?"

"I was not aware, Neighbor Watson," remarked Robert Pearson, with some excitement, "that either I or these friends were idling our own time; and what if it were true, for you have yourself said it was our own time that was passing, and so not yours," giving emphasis to the "you" and "yours" with evident satisfaction, for Robert was a churchman of a belligerent stamp.

Matthew Watson had been so successful in worldly affairs that he had become in a measure dictatorial, as is so often the case, and this unfortunate feature had gradually