[figure description] Page 245.[end figure description]

“I wonder what this `itch theology' is,” said Mrs.
Partington, giving a somewhat novel pronunciation of the
old science, as she read the announcement of the lecture
by Professor Agassiz; “what in the name of Old Scratch
can it be? I suppose it must mean the itch for meddling
with politics and things that does n't concern 'em, and
running down their own country and relations, and praising
up everybody else, and at war with everything, all
the time they are preaching peace.”

Some one explained that it was the science of fishes.

“Well, well,” said the lady, “it 's just as well; for
a minister preaching politics is like a fish out of water —
he is out of his ailment.”

She passed over to the deaths and marriages, and Ike
ganged his hook, with an afternoon's smelting in his eye,
and a ball of Mrs. Partington's piping-cord in his pocket
for contingencies.

p677-271

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