What's it for ?" "For ?" Mr.Smalley seemed surprised.

"It's to pray for rain, that's what.

You know it, Cap'n, as well's I do.

Ain't everybody's garden dryin' up and the ponds so low that we shan't be able to get water for the cranberry ditches pretty soon?
There's need to pray, I should think!" "Humph! Seems a roundabout way of gettin' a thing, don't it?
Why don't you telegraph to Heman and ask him to fix it for you?
Save time." This remark was received in horrified silence.

Tad Simpson was the first to recover.
"Cap'n," he said, "you ain't met Mr.Atkins yet.