"At any rate, he asked me if I were married, and then handed me this
envelope for you. I am not quite sure whether I ought to allow
gentlemen to write letters to my wife."

Mrs. Crump opened the envelope with considerable curiosity, and
uttered an exclamation of surprise, as a bank-note fluttered to the
carpet.

"By gracious, mother," said Jack, springing to get it, "you're in
luck. It's a hundred dollar bill."

"So it is, I declare," said Mrs. Crump, joyfully. "But, Timothy, it
isn't mine. It belongs to you."

"No, Mary, it shall be yours. I'll put it in the Savings Bank for
you."

"Merriam's a trump, and no mistake," said Jack. "By the way, father,
when you see him again, won't you just insinuate that you have a
son? Ain't we in luck, Aunt Rachel?"

"'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a
fall,'" said Rachel.

"I never knew Aunt Rachel to be jolly but once," said Jack, under
his breath; "and that was at a funeral."