Miss Patsy she's learnin' to milk the cow, an' Miss Beth takes care o' the chickens all by herself.

They're reg'lar girls, Marthy Clark, an' money hain't spiled 'em a bit." This report tended to waken a great ambition in the widow's heart.

Or perhaps the ambition had already taken form and this gossip confirmed and established it.

Before she left the farm she had a chance to secretly observe the girls, and they met with her full approval.
At supper that evening she said to her hopeful: "Skim, I want ye to go courtin'." Skim looked up in amazement.
"Me, ma ?" he asked.
"Yes, you.

It's time you was thinkin' of gittin' married." Skim held his knife in his mouth a moment while he thought over this startling proposition.