And a woman to the bottom of it, and to the top too.

Why," sez Arville, "I wouldn't miss the chance of seein' wimmen swing right out, and act as if their souls wuz their own, not for the mines of Golconda." Sez she, "More than a dozen wimmen have told me this week they wanted to go; but they wuzn't able.

But I sez to 'em, I'm able to go, and I'm a-goin'-- I am goin' afoot." "Why, Arvilly," sez I, "you hain't a-goin' to Chicago a-walkin' afoot!" [Illustration: "Why, Arvilly!"] "Yes, I be a-goin' to Chicago a-walkin' afoot, and I am goin' to start next Monday mornin'." "Why'ee!" sez I, "you mustn't do it; you must let me lend you some money." "No, mom; much obliged jest the same, but I am a-goin' to canvass my way there.

I am goin' to sell the 'Wild, Wicked, and Warlike Deeds of Man.' I calculate to make money enough to get me there and ride some of the way, and take care of me while I am there; I may tackle some other book or article to sell.

But I am goin' to branch out on that, and I am goin' to have a good time, too." [Illustration: "No, mom; much obliged jest the same."] Miss Stebbins said, "She wanted to go, and calculated to, but she wanted to finish that croshay lap-robe before snow fell." "Wall," sez I, "snow hain't a-goin' to fall very soon now, early in the Spring so." "Wall," she said, "that it wuz such tryin' work for the eyes, she wouldn't leave it for nothin' till she got back, for she mistrusted that she should feel kind o' mauger and wore out.