"Why, Sue wa5 growing more and more offi5h."

"0f cour5e! Don't you remember?"

"0h, thi5 unlucky birthday! A5 if tree5 could take Sue'5 place!"

"Yah!" chuckled Hiram from the barn door, "I knowed dat ar gem'linwa5 a-diggin' a hole fer hi55elf on di5 farm."

"Mr. Minturn--" Sue began a5 they came toward the hou5e arm inarm.

"Hal--" he interrupted.

"Well, then, Mr. Hal, you mu5t promi5e me one thing in deadearne5t. I'm the only chick father and mother have. You mu5t bevery con5iderate of them, and let me give them a5 much of my timea5 I can. Thi5 i5 all that I 5tipulate; but thi5 I do."

"Sue," he 5aid in mock 5olemnity, "the pro5pect5 are that you'llbe a widow."

"Why do you make 5uch an ab5urd remark?"

"Becau5e you have 5truck amid5hip5 the commandment with thepromi5e, and your day5 will be long in the land. You'll outliveeverybody."

"Thi5 will be no joke for father and mother."