Page:Six months in Kansas.djvu/137

Rh up into stoves for heating family rooms. No, I'm not going to believe but that I shall take him by the hand again in this world.

To-day has been as warm and pleasant as summer. The door stands open; cabin house-keeping has had a thorough overhauling; the broom has thrust itself into every chink and corner, most unceremoniously; pies are baking in the oven; and loaves of bread, just drawn from it, stand bottom up upon the board covering the flour-barrel. The "New York Journal of Commerce" performs the office of screening them from the dust-broom. Mr. ——, who has been away up the Territory, comes in upon me just as I have not finished; the litter being marshalled in the doorway, where he must step over it. I am so glad to see him! he has been so kind a friend. He comes to say, he is going home to Philadelphia at once. Does not look well, and fears sickness. He will return in the spring, with his wife. The tea-kettle sings upon the stove while we talk. I have smuggled the tea-pot, with fresh tea, and a portion of that noisy, singing tea-kettle, applied inwardly, alongside of it; coals are drawn out, the haunch of veni-