SCENE IV.—_Sitting-room. MRS. M. present, R.

MRS. M. I can’t stand boarding here much longer, that’s a fixed fact. Mrs. Jones sets a most wretched table, and the children are really growing thinner every day. If it hadn’t been for the name of it I should have left Hillsdale before this. The reputation of going to the country for the summer is hardly sufficient to pay for living in small rooms, sleeping on stifling feather-beds, and enduring such execrable cookery, and not a book but the Farmer’s Almanac to be found in the house.

(_FLORENCE runs in L., with a terrified expression of countenance. Her hat is hanging down from her neck, and her hair flying in all directions._)

FLOR. Oh! oh! I’m so scared. (_Runs to her mother._)

MRS. M. Why, Florence Malvina, what a fright you make of yourself! Pray what is the matter?

FLOR. I guess you’d be frightened if you’d been where I was. I just went outside of the road to find some blackberries, when I thought I heard somebody coming. I looked round, and there was a great ugly-looking cow running after me. I ran as fast us I could till I couldn’t go any further, and then I crept underneath the bars, and came up through the field.

MRS. M. It’s a shame for people to allow their cows to run around the streets in such a way. It’s lucky that you were not killed.

FLOR. The cow would have taken me up on her horns if she had caught me, I know she would. She held her head down all ready to do it. (_Enter GEORGE, L., covered with mud and water_). Why George, did you almost get drowned? Just look, mother. George is just as wet as he can be. (_GEORGE looks askance at his mother, but says nothing._)

MRS. M. (_severely_). Well, George Alexander, this is a pretty plight for you to be in. What have you been doing now?

GEO. (_defiantly_). I wasn’t doing anything, only building a dam down by the spring, and pretty soon some boys came along, and they laughed at me, and said they bet I couldn’t jump the ditch there. So I meant to show them I could, and I did do it too; but the ground was all soft and wet the other side, and when I tried to jump back again I fell into the ditch.

MRS. M. What boys were they?

GEO. The Dunn boys. They knew it was wet the other side, and when I fell in, you ought to have heard them laugh.

MRS. M. They are nothing but ill-bred country blockheads. (_To GEORGE._) But don’t stand there any longer with those wet clothes on. Go and change them at once.

(_Exit GEORGE, L. FLORENCE follows him._)

MRS. M. (_sola_). What a wretched place this is! If I was obliged to live in such a way at home, I shouldn’t think I could bear it. The family here haven’t even _decent_ accommodations for keeping boarders.

(_Enter FLORENCE, L., in state of great excitement._)

FLOR. O mother, two men are coming, and they are bringing father in. I’m afraid he’s killed.

MRS. M. (_starting up_). What do you mean, child? (_Enter men, L., bearing MR. M. MRS. M. clasps her hands in anxious suspense; goes up to her husband._) What is the matter, Henry? Has there been an accident? (_The men place MR. M. on sofa and exit L._)

MR. M. It isn’t quite as bad as it seems. I was a little tired and thought I’d ride up from the village to-night, instead of walking. But the stage broke down, and I was thrown out. I was a good deal bruised, but I believe there are no bones broken. Dr. Bryant examined me, and said I would be all right in a few days.

MRS. M. Well, as soon as you are able to leave, I’m going back to the city. I can’t stay here any longer.

MR. M. (_smiling_). You don’t mean that you are willing to go back to the city, and endure all its discomforts again.

MRS. M. I’ve come to the conclusion that there are as many annoyances in the country as in the city.

MR. M. But you forget that the children cannot have country fare after our return.

MRS. M. No, I do not. I find that the country fare we sought is all sent to the city, and we must return there in order to enjoy it. After two weeks’ trial of living in the country, I am thoroughly tired of it, and I think a long time will elapse before I again wish to try the experiment of Boarding on a Farm.

(_Curtain falls._)

TAMING A WIFE.

CHARACTERS.

MR. GROVER, a Merchant. MRS. GROVER, his Wife. MRS. ROSS, Mrs. G.’s Mother. BRIDGET, their Servant. MR. FARWELL, ⎫ MR. HUNTLY, ⎭ Mr. G.’s Friends.