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MORAL training,” said Mrs.
Partington, “is the best,
arter all.” She had heard
some one in the omnibus
speaking of moral training,
and her benevolence gave
it into the charge of memory
until she got home,
and memory revolved it,
and pondered it, and reviewed
it, and fancy construed
it to mean something
about the military training that was to come off the
next day.

“I hope it will be a moral training, I 'm shore,”
said she; “for I see the Gov'nor is to be there in
his new suit, and I hope they 'll make their revolutions
well before him. I do admire the millintery, where the
sogers in their fancy unicorns look jest like a patchwork
quilt. They was n't moral trainings in old times, when
men put `enemies into their heads to steal away their
hats,' as Mr. Smooth, the schoolmaster, used to say
Your Uncle Paul had a good deal of millintery sperrit
sometimes, Isaac.”

Ike had remained very quiet while she was speaking

“What upon airth are you doing there, Isaac?'
cried she.

p677-129

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The young gentleman readily told her he was painting
a horse, at the same time displaying an animal, nominally
of that description, done beautifully in blue, which
he appeared to look on with much satisfaction.

“But what are you painting it with? As true as I 'm
alive you 've got your Uncle Paul's tompion that he
used to wear in his cap so long ago, and you 're using
up all my bluing!”

That pompon, saved for so many years, to be used for
such a purpose! Ah, Ike, Ike! we fear the old lady
will have sad times with thee yet. Why didst thou,
yester even, secrete the large ball of yarn for thine own
purposes, which to-morrow she will seek for in vain?
Say, why?