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to be entirely furnished for just so much。〃
But； in spite of this explanation； the lady was not satisfied。
We found ourselves obliged to give up the idea of a furnished
house。 We would have taken an unfurnished one and furnished it
ourselves； but we had not money enough。 We were dreadfully afraid
that we should have to continue to board。
It was now getting on toward summer； at least there was only a part
of a month of spring left； and whenever I could get off from my
business Euphemia and I made little excursions into the country
round about the city。 One afternoon we went up the river； and
there we saw a sight that transfixed us； as it were。 On the bank；
a mile or so above the city； stood a canal…boat。 I say stood；
because it was so firmly imbedded in the ground by the river…side；
that it would have been almost as impossible to move it as to have
turned the Sphinx around。 This boat we soon found was inhabited by
an oyster…man and his family。 They had lived there for many years
and were really doing quite well。 The boat was divided； inside；
into rooms； and these were papered and painted and nicely
furnished。 There was a kitchen； a living…room； a parlor and
bedrooms。 There were all sorts of conveniencescarpets on the
floors； pictures； and everything； at least so it seemed to us； to
make a home comfortable。 This was not all done at once； the
oyster…man told me。 They had lived there for years and had
gradually added this and that until the place was as we saw it。 He
had an oyster…bed out in the river and he made cider in the winter；
but where he got the apples I don't know。 There was really no
reason why he should not get rich in time。
Well； we went all over that house and we praised everything so much
that the oyster…man's wife was delighted； and when we had some
stewed oysters afterward；eating them at a little table under a
tree near by；I believe that she picked out the very largest
oysters she had； to stew for us。 When we had finished our supper
and had paid for it； and were going down to take our little boat
again；for we had rowed up the river；Euphemia stopped and looked
around her。 Then she clasped her hands and exclaimed in an
ecstatic undertone：
〃We must have a canal…boat！〃
And she never swerved from that determination。
After I had seriously thought over the matter； I could see no good
reason against adopting this plan。 It would certainly be a cheap
method of living； and it would really be housekeeping。 I grew more
and more in favor of it。 After what the oyster…man had done； what
might not we do？ HE had never written a book on housekeeping； nor；
in all probability； had he considered the matter； philosophically；
for one moment in all his life。
But it was not an easy thing to find a canal…boat。 There were none
advertised for rentat least； not for housekeeping purposes。
We made many inquiries and took many a long walk along the water…
courses in the vicinity of the city； but all in vain。 Of course；
we talked a great deal about our project and our friends became
greatly interested in it； and； of course； too； they gave us a great
deal of advice； but we didn't mind that。 We were philosophical
enough to know that you can't have shad without bones。 They were
good friends and； by being careful in regard to the advice； it
didn't interfere with our comfort。
We were beginning to be discouraged； at least Euphemia was。 Her
discouragement is like water…cresses； it generally comes up in a
very short time after she sows her wishes。 But then it withers
away rapidly； which is a comfort。 One evening we were sitting；
rather disconsolately； in our room； and I was reading out the
advertisements of country board in a newspaper； when in rushed Dr。
Heareone of our old friends。 He was so full of something that he
had to say that he didn't even ask us how we were。 In fact； he
didn't appear to want to know。
〃I tell you what it is；〃 said he； 〃I have found just the very thing
you want。〃
〃A canal…boat？〃 I cried。
〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃a canal…boat。〃
〃Furnished？〃 asked Euphemia； her eyes glistening。
〃Well； no；〃 answered the doctor； 〃I don't think you could expect
that。〃
〃But we can't live on the bare floor；〃 said Euphemia； 〃our house
MUST be furnished。〃
〃Well； then； I suppose this won't do；〃 said the doctor； ruefully；
〃for there isn't so much as a boot…jack in it。 It has most things
that are necessary for a boat； but it hasn't anything that you
could call house…furniture； but； dear me； I should think you could
furnish it very cheaply and comfortably out of your book。〃
〃Very true；〃 said Euphemia； 〃if we could pick out the cheapest
things and then get some folks to buy a lot of the books。〃
〃We could begin with very little；〃 said I； trying hard to keep
calm。
〃Certainly；〃 said the doctor； 〃you need make no more rooms； at
first； than you could furnish。〃
〃Then there are no rooms；〃 said Euphemia。
〃No； there is nothing but one vast apartment extending from stem to
stern。〃
〃Won't it be glorious！〃 said Euphemia to me。 〃We can first make a
kitchen； and then a dining…room； and a bedroom； and then a parlor
just in the order in which our book says they ought to be
furnished。〃
〃Glorious！〃 I cried； no longer able to contain my enthusiasm； 〃I
should think so。 Doctor； where is this canal…boat？〃
The doctor then went into a detailed statement。 The boat was
stranded on the shore of the Scoldsbury river not far below Ginx's。
We knew where Ginx's was； because we had spent a very happy day
there； during our honeymoon。
The boat was a good one； but superannuated。 That； however； did not
interfere with its usefulness as a dwelling。 We could get itthe
doctor had seen the ownerfor a small sum per annum； and here was
positively no end to its capabilities。
We sat up until twenty minutes past two； talking about that house。
We ceased to call it a boat at about a quarter of eleven。
The next day I 〃took〃 the boat and paid a month's rent in advance。
Three days afterward we moved into it。
We had not much to move； which was a comfort； looking at it from
one point of view。 A carpenter had put up two partitions in it
which made three roomsa kitchen； a dining…room and a very long
bedroom； which was to be cut up into a parlor； study； spare…room；
etc。； as soon as circumstances should allow； or my salary should be
raised。 Originally； all the doors and windows were in the roof； so
to speak； but our landlord allowed us to make as many windows to
the side of the boat as we pleased； provided we gave him the wood
we cut out。 It saved him trouble； he said； but I did not
understand him at the time。 Accordingly； the carpenter made
several windows for us； and put in sashes； which opened on hinges
like the hasp of a trunk。 Our furniture did not amount to much； at
first。 The very thought of living in this independent； romantic
way was so delightful； Euphemia said； that furniture seemed a mere
secondary matter。
We were obliged indeed to give up the idea of following the plan
detailed in our book； because we hadn't the sum upon which the
furnishing of a small house was therein based。
〃And if we haven