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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't the money；〃 remarked Euphemia； 〃it would be of
no earthly use to look at the book。 It would only make us doubt
our own calculations。 You might as well try to make brick without
mortar； as the children of Israel did。〃
〃I could do that myself； my dear；〃 said I； 〃but we won't discuss
that subject now。 We will buy just what we absolutely need； and
then work up from that。〃
Acting on this plan； we bought first a small stove； because
Euphemia said that we could sleep on the floor； if it were
necessary； but we couldn't make a fire on the floorat least not
often。 Then we got a table and two chairs。 The next thing we
purchased was some hanging shelves for our books； and Euphemia
suddenly remembered the kitchen things。 These； which were few；
with some crockery； nearly brought us to the end of our resources；
but we had enough for a big easy…chair which Euphemia was
determined I should have； because I really needed it when I came
home at night； tired with my long day's work at the office。 I had
always been used to an easy…chair； and it was one of her most
delightful dreams to see me in a real nice one； comfortably smoking
my pipe in my own house； after eating my own delicious little
supper in company with my own dear wife。 We selected the chair；
and then we were about to order the things sent out to our future
home； when I happened to think that we had no bed。 I called
Euphemia's attention to the fact。
She was thunderstruck。
〃I never thought of that；〃 she said。 〃We shall have to give up the
stove。〃
〃Not at all；〃 said I； 〃we can't do that。 We must give up the easy…
chair。〃
〃Oh； that would be too bad；〃 said she。 〃The house would seem like
nothing to me without the chair！〃
〃But we must do without it； my dear；〃 said I； 〃at least for a
while。 I can sit out on deck and smoke of an evening； you know。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Euphemia。 〃You can sit on the bulwarks and I can sit
by you。 That will do very well。 I'm sure I'm glad the boat has
bulwarks。〃
So we resigned the easy…chair and bought a bedstead and some very
plain bedding。 The bedstead was what is sometimes called a
〃scissors…bed。〃 We could shut it up when we did not want to sleep
in it； and stand it against the wall。
When we packed up our trunks and left the boarding…house Euphemia
fairly skipped with joy。
We went down to Ginx's in the first boat； having arranged that our
furniture should be sent to us in the afternoon。 We wanted to be
there to receive it。 The trip was just wildly delirious。 The air
was charming。 The sun was bright； and I had a whole holiday。 When
we reached Ginx's we found that the best way to get our trunks and
ourselves to our house was to take a carriage； and so we took one。
I told the driver to drive along the river road and I would tell
him where to stop。
When we reached our boat； and had alighted； I said to the driver：
〃You can just put our trunks inside； anywhere。〃
The man looked at the trunks and then looked at the boat。
Afterward he looked at me。
〃That boat ain't goin' anywhere；〃 said he。
〃I should think not；〃 said Euphemia。 〃We shouldn't want to live in
it； if it were。〃
〃You are going to live in it？〃 said the man。
〃Yes；〃 said Euphemia。
〃Oh！〃 said the man； and he took our trunks on board； without
another word。
It was not very easy for him to get the trunks into our new home。
In fact it was not easy for us to get there ourselves。 There was a
gang…plank； with a rail on one side of it； which inclined from the
shore to the deck of the boat at an angle of forty…five degrees；
and when the man had staggered up this plank with the trunks
（Euphemia said I ought to have helped him； but I really thought
that it would be better for one person to fall off the plank than
for two to go over together）； and we had paid him； and he had
driven away in a speechless condition； we scrambled up and stood
upon the threshold； or； rather； the after…deck of our home。
It was a proud moment。 Euphemia glanced around； her eyes full of
happy tears； and then she took my arm and we went down stairsat
least we tried to go down in that fashion； but soon found it
necessary to go one at a time。 We wandered over the whole extent
of our mansion and found that our carpenter had done his work
better than the woman whom we had engaged to scrub and clean the
house。 Something akin to despair must have seized upon her； for
Euphemia declared that the floors looked dirtier than on the
occasion of her first visit； when we rented the boat。
But that didn't discourage us。 We felt sure that we should get it
clean in time。
Early in the afternoon our furniture arrived； together with the
other things we had bought； and the men who brought them over from
the steamboat landing had the brightest； merriest faces I ever
noticed among that class of people。 Euphemia said it was an
excellent omen to have such cheerful fellows come to us on the very
first day of our housekeeping。
Then we went to work。 I put up the stove； which was not much
trouble； as there was a place all ready in the deck for the stove…
pipe to be run through。 Euphemia was somewhat surprised at the
absence of a chimney； but I assured her that boats were very seldom
built with chimneys。 My dear little wife bustled about and
arranged the pots and kettles on nails that I drove into the
kitchen walls。 Then she made the bed in the bed…room and I hung up
a looking…glass and a few little pictures that we had brought in
our trunks。
Before four o'clock our house was in order。 Then we began to be
very hungry。
〃My dear；〃 said Euphemia； 〃we ought to have thought to bring
something to cook。〃
〃That is very true；〃 said I； 〃but I think perhaps we had better
walk up to Ginx's and get our supper to…night。 You see we are so
tired and hungry。〃
〃What！〃 cried Euphemia； 〃go to a hotel the very first day？ I think
it would be dreadful！ Why； I have been looking forward to this
first meal with the greatest delight。 You can go up to the little
store by the hotel and buy some things and I will cook them； and we
will have our first dear little meal here all alone by ourselves；
at our own table and in our own house。〃
So this was determined upon and； after a hasty counting of the fund
I had reserved for moving and kindred expenses； and which had been
sorely depleted during the day； I set out； and in about an hour
returned with my first marketing。
I made a fire； using a lot of chips and blocks the carpenter had
left； and Euphemia cooked the supper； and we ate it from our little
table； with two large towels for a table…cloth。
It was the most delightful meal I ever ate！
And； when we had finished； Euphemia washed the dishes （the
thoughtful creature had put some water on the stove to heat for the
purpose； while we were at supper） and then we went on deck； or on
the piazza； as Euphemia thought we had better call it； and there we
had our smoke。 I say WE； for Euphemia always helps me to smoke by
sitting by me； and she seems to enjoy it as much as I do。
And