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rooms were large and low； with quite a good deal of furniture in
them。 There was no earthly reason why we should not be perfectly
jolly and comfortable here。 The more we saw； the more delighted we
were at the odd experience we were about to have。 Mrs。 Carson
busied herself in getting things in order for our supper and
general accommodation。 She made Danny carry our trunk to a bedroom
in the second story； and then set him to work building a fire in a
great fire…place； with a crane for the kettle。
When she had done all she could； it was nearly dark； and after
lighting a couple of candles； she left us； to go home and get
supper for her own family。
As she and Danny were about to depart in the cart； she ran back to
ask us if we would like to borrow a dog。
〃There aint nuthin to be afeard of；〃 she said； 〃for nobody hardly
ever takes the trouble to lock the doors in these parts； but bein'
city folks； I thought ye might feel better if ye had a dog。〃
We made haste to tell her that we were not city folks； but declined
the dog。 Indeed； Euphemia remarked that she would be much more
afraid of a strange dog than of robbers。
After supper； which we enjoyed as much as any meal we ever ate in
our lives； we each took a candle； and after arranging our bedroom
for the night； we explored the old house。 There were lots of
curious things everywhere；things that were apparently so 〃old
timey；〃 as my wife remarked； that David Dutton did not care to take
them with him to his new farm； and so left them for his son； who
probably cared for them even less than his father did。 There was a
garret extending over the whole house； and filled with old
spinning…wheels； and strings of onions； and all sorts of antiquated
bric…a…brac； which was so fascinating to me that I could scarcely
tear myself away from it； but Euphemia； who was dreadfully afraid
that I would set the whole place on fire； at length prevailed on me
to come down。
We slept soundly that night； in what was probably the best bedroom
of the house； and awoke with a feeling that we were about to enter
on a period of some uncommon kind of jollity； which we found to be
true when we went down to get breakfast。 I made the fire； Euphemia
made the coffee； and Mrs。 Carson came with cream and some fresh
eggs。 The good woman was in high spirits。 She was evidently
pleased at the idea of having neighbors； temporary though they
were； and it had probably been a long time since she had had such a
chance of selling milk； eggs and sundries。 It was almost the same
as opening a country store。 We bought groceries and everything of
her。
We had a glorious time that day。 We were just starting out for a
mountain stroll when our stage…driver came along on his down trip。
〃Hello！〃 he called out。 〃Want to go back this morning？〃
〃Not a bit of it；〃 I cried。 〃We wont go back for a couple of
weeks。 We've settled here for the present。〃
The man smiled。 He didn't seem to understand it exactly； but he
was evidently glad to see us so well satisfied。 If he had had time
to stop and have the matter explained to him； he would probably
have been better satisfied； but as it was； he waved his whip to us
and drove on。 He was a good fellow。
We strolled all day； having locked up the house and taken our lunch
with us； and when we came back； it seemed really like coming home。
Mrs。 Carson with whom we had left the key； had brought the milk and
was making the fire。 This woman was too kind。 We determined to
try and repay her in some way。 After a splendid supper we went to
bed happy。
The next day was a repetition of this one； but the day after it
rained。 So we determined to enjoy the old tavern； and we rummaged
about everywhere。 I visited the garret again； and we went to the
old barn； with its mows half full of hay； and had rare times
climbing about there。 We were delighted that it happened to rain。
In a wood…shed； near the house； I saw a big square board with
letters on it。 I examined the board； and found it was a sign；a
hanging sign；and on it was painted in letters that were yet quite
plain：
〃FARMERS'
AND
MECHANICS'
HOTEL。〃
I called to Euphemia and told her that I had found the old tavern
sign。 She came to look at it； and I pulled it out。
〃Soldiers and sailors！〃 she exclaimed； 〃that's funny。〃
I looked over on her side of the sign； and； sure enough； there was
the inscription：
〃SOLDIERS
AND
SAILORS'
HOUSE。〃
〃They must have bought this comprehensive sign in some town；〃 I
said。 〃Such a name would never have been chosen for a country
tavern like this。 But I wish they hadn't taken it down。 The house
would look more like what it ought to be with its sign hanging
before it。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Euphemia； 〃let's put it up。〃 I agreed instantly
to this proposition； and we went to look for a ladder。 We found
one in the wagon…house； and carried it out to the sign…post in the
front of the house。 It was raining； gently； during these
performances； but we had on our old clothes； and were so much
interested in our work that we did not care for a little rain。 I
carried the sign to the post； and then； at the imminent risk of
breaking my neck； I hung it on its appropriate hooks on the
transverse beam of the sign…post。 Now our tavern was really what
it pretended to be。 We gazed on the sign with admiration and
content。
〃Do you think we had better keep it up all the time？〃 I asked of my
wife。
〃Certainly；〃 said she。 〃It's a part of the house。 The place isn't
complete without it。〃
〃But suppose some one should come along and want to be
entertained？〃
〃But no one will。 And if people do come； I'll take care of the
soldiers and sailors； if you will attend to the farmers and
mechanics。〃
I consented to this； and we went in…doors to prepare dinner。
CHAPTER XVIII。
OUR TAVERN。
The next day was clear again； and we rambled in the woods until the
sun was nearly down； and so were late about supper。 We were just
taking our seats at the table when we heard a footstep on the front
porch。 Instantly the same thought came into each of our minds。
〃I do believe；〃 said Euphemia； 〃that's somebody who has mistaken
this for a tavern。 I wonder whether it's a soldier or a farmer or
a sailor； but you had better go and see。〃
I went to see； prompted to move quickly by the new…comer pounding
his cane on the bare floor of the hall。 I found him standing just
inside of the front door。 He was a small man； with long hair and
beard； and dressed in a suit of clothes of a remarkable color；
something of the hue of faded snuff。 He had a big stick； and
carried a large flat valise in one hand。
He bowed to me very politely。
〃Can I stop here to…night？〃 he asked； taking off his hat； as my
wife put her head out of the kitchen…door。
〃Why；no； sir；〃 I said。 〃This is not a tavern。〃
〃Not a tavern！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I don't understand that。 You have
a sign out。〃
〃That is true；〃 I said； 〃but that is only for fun； so to speak。 We
are here temporarily； and we put up that sign just to please
ourselves。〃
〃That is pretty poor fun for me；〃 said th