CHAPTER XXI. TIFF'S PREPARATIONS.

esoutatrying.But,yousee,you'sgotitinyouyouwasborntoit,honey.It'sindebloodandwhat'sindebloodmustcomeout—ho!ho!ho!"Andwiththisfinallaugh,Tiffdrewuptohisdwelling. AbusydaywasbeforeOldTiffforhewastosethishouseinorderforaweek'scampaign.Therewashiscorntobehoed,hisparsleytobeweeded,therewashisorphanfamilyofyoungpartridgestobecaredfor.AndTiff,aftersomeconsiderableconsideration,resolvedtotakethemalongwithhiminabasketthinking,intheintervalsofdevotion,heshouldhaveanabundantopportunitytoministertotheirwants,andsuperintendtheireducation.Thenhewenttooneofhisfavoritespringes,andbroughtfromthence,notafattedcalf,tobesure,butafattedcoon,whichheintendedtotakewithhim,toserveasthebasisofasavorystewonthecamp-ground.Tiffhadathrivingcompanyofpot-herbs,andaflourishingyoungcolonyofonionssothat,whatevermightbetrueofthesermons,itwasevidentthatthestewwouldlacknosavor.Teddy'sclothes,also,weretobepassedinreviewwashingandironingtobedonethebabyfitteduptodohonortohisname,orrathertothenameofhisgrandfather.Withallthesecaresuponhismind,theoldcreaturewasevenmorethanusuallyalert.Thedaywaswarm,andheresolved,therefore,toperformhiswashingoperationsinthemagnificentkitchenofnature.Heaccordinglykindledasplendidbonfire,whichwassooncracklingatashortdistancefromthehouse,slungoverithiskettle,andproceededtosomeothernecessaryavocations.Thepine-wood,whichhadbeenimperfectlyseasoned,servedhimtheungracioustrickthatpine-woodisapttodoitcrackledandroaredmerrilywhilehewaspresent,butwhilehewasdownexamininghistrapsinthewoodswententirelyout,leavingonlytheblackenedsticks. "UncleTiff,"saidTeddy,"thefireisallgoneout!" "Ho!ho!ho!—Hasit?"saidTiff,comingup."Curusenough!Well,bressdeLord,gotalldewoodleft,anywayhadarealbrightfire,beside,"saidTiff,intentonupholdingthesunniestsideofthings."Lord,it'sdesundatputsdefireouto'countenance.Didyoueverseefiredatwouldn'tgooutwhendesun'sshiningrightinit'sface?Datarisacurusfact.I'smindeditheapso'times.Well,I'lljisthavetocomeoutwidmylight-woodkindlings,dat'sall.BressdeLord,ho!ho!ho!"saidTiff,laughingtohimself,"ifdeseyeran'ttheverysp'ritofdecamp-meetingprofessors!Deyblazesawayatdecamp-meeting,anddendey'sblackalldeyearround!See'ematdecamp-meetings,you'dsaydeywargwinerightintodekingdom,sureenough!Well,Lordhavemarcyonusall!Our'ligion'sdreffulpoorstuff!Wedon'knowbutadespertleetle,andwhatwedoesknowwedon'do.DegoodMas'rabovemusthavehishandsfull,withus!"