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tit was not queer； I say； that they turned instinctively to 〃Robinson Crusoe〃 for relief。
Now； Robinson Crusoe was once in a very bad box indeed； and to comfort himself as well as he could； and to set the good against the evil； that he might have something to distinguish his case from worse； he stated impartially； like debtor and creditor； the comforts and miseries； thus：
EVIL。 GOOD。
I am cast upon a horrible But I am alive； and not desolate island； void of all drowned as all my hope of recovery。 ship's company were。
I am singled out and separated； But I am singled out； as it were； from all the world； to too； from the ship's crew be miserable。 to be spared from death。
And so the debtor and creditor account goes on。
Julia Hackmatack read this aloud to themthe whole of itand they agreed； as Robinson says； not so much for their posterity as to keep their thoughts from daily poring on their trials； that for each family they would make such a balance。 What might not come of it？ Perhaps a partial nay； perhaps a perfect cure！
So they determined that on the instant they would go to work； and two in the smoking…room； two in the dining… room； two in George's study； and two in the parlor； they should in the next halfhour make up their lists of good and evil。 Here are the results：
FREDERIC AND MARY INGHAM。
GOOD。 EVIL。
We have three nice boys But the door…bell rings all and three nice girls。 the time。
We have enough to eat； But the coal bill is awful； drink； and wear。 and the Larrabee furnace has given out。 The firm that made it has gone up； and no castings can be got to mend it。
We have more books than But our friends borrow our we can read； and do not care books； and only return odd to read many newspapers。 volumes。
We have many very dear But we are behindhand 143 friendsenough。 names on our lists of calls。
We have health in our But the children may be family。 sick。 The Lowndes children are。
We seem to be of some But Mrs。 Hogarth has left use in the world。 Fred 200 for the poor； and he is afraid he shall spend it wrong。
The country has gone to the dogs。
GEORGE AND ANNA HALIBURTON。
GOOD。 EVIL。
We have a nice home in You cannot give a cup of town； and one in Sharon； and coffee to a beggar but he sends a sea…shore place at Little five hundred million tramps to Gau； and we have friends the door。 enough to fill them。
We have some of the nicest A great many people call children in the world。 whose names we have forgotten。
We have enough to do； and We have to give a party to not too much。 all our acquaintance every year； which is horrid。
Business is good enough； We do not do anything we though complaining。 want to do； and we do a great deal that we do not want to do。 George had added； 〃And there is no health in us。〃 But Anna marked that out as wicked。
The children are all well。 People vote as if they were possessed。
GEORGE AND JULIA HACKMATACK
GOOD。 EVIL。
We have eight splendid The plumbers' work always children。 gives way at the wrong time； and the plumbers' bills are awful。
We have money enough； The furnace will not heat the though we know what to do house unless the wind is at the with more。 southwest。 None of the chimneys draw well。
George will not have to go We hate the Kydd School。 to Bahia next year。 The master drinks and the first assistant lies。 But we live in that district； so the boys have to go there。
Tom got through with scarlet Lucy said 〃commence〃 yesterday； fever without being deaf。 Jane said 〃gent；〃 Walter said 〃Bully for you；〃 and Alice said 〃nobby。〃 And what is coming we do not know。
Dr。 Witherspoon has accepted How long any man can live the presidency of Tiberias under this government I do College in Alaska。 not know。
FELIX AND FAUSTA CARTER
GOOD。 EVIL。
Governments are stronger But as the children grow every year。 Money goes farther bigger； their clothes cost than it did。 more。
All the boys are good and But the children get no well。 So are the girls。 good at school； except They are splendid children。 measles； whooping…cough； and scarlet fever。
Old Mr。 Porter died last But the gas…meter lies； week； and Felix gets promotion and the gas company wants to in the office。 have it lie。
The lost volume of Fichte But the Athenaeum is always was left on the door…step last calling in its books to examine night by some one who rang the them； and making us say where bell and ran away。 It is rather Mr。 Fred Curtis's books are。 wet； but when it is bound will As if we cared。 look nicely。
The mistress of the Arbella But our drains smell School is dead。 awfully； though the Board of Health says they do not。
We have to go to evening parties among our friends； or seem stuck up。 We hate to go； and wish there were none。 We had rather come here。
The increasing worthlessness of the franchise。
With these papers they gathered all in the study just as the clock struck nine； and； in good old Boston fashion； Silas was bringing in some hot oysters。 They ate the oysters； which were goodtrust Anna for that and then the women read the papers； while the smoking men smoked and pondered。
They all recognized the gravity of the situation。 Still； as Julia said； they felt better already。 It was like having the doctor come： you knew the worst； and could make ready for it。
They did not discuss the statements much。 They had discussed them too much in severalty。 They did agree that they should be left to Felix to report upon the next evening。 He was； so