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“Dear me!” exclaimed Mrs. Partington sorrowfully,
“how much a man will bear, and how far he will go, to
get the soddered dross, as Parson Martin called it when
he refused the beggar a sixpence, for fear it might lead
him into extravagance! Everybody is going to California
and Chagrin arter gold. Cousin Jones and the three
Smiths have gone; and Mr. Chip, the carpenter, has left
his wife and seven children and a blessed old mother-in-law,
to seek his fortin, too. This is the strangest yet,
and I don't see how he could have done it; it looks so
ongrateful to treat Heaven's blessings so lightly. But
there, we are told that the love of money is the root of
all evil, and how true it is! for they are now rooting
arter it, like pigs arter groundnuts. Why, it is a perfect
money mania among everybody!”

And she shook her head doubtingly, as she pensively
watched a small mug of cider, with an apple in it, simmering
by the winter fire. She was somewhat fond of
drink made in this way.