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house through the windows and doors, and act with that disregard of all the proprieties of life which characterizes ill-bred people when on a journey.
The professor had been driven well-nigh distracted by these migratory bipeds.
One day, when one of them broke a branch from an orange tree directly before his eyes, and was bearing it off in triumph with all its load of golden fruit, he leaped from his chair, and addressed the astonished individual on those fundamental principles of common honesty, which he deemed outraged by this act. The address was vigorous and truthful, but of a kind which will not bear repeating.
“Why,” said the horror-stricken culprit, “I thought that this was
Mrs. Stowe's place!”
“You thought it was
Mrs. Stowe's place!”
Then, in a voice of thunder, “I would have you understand, sir, that I am the proprietor and protector of
Mrs. Stowe and of this place, and if you commit any more such shameful depredations I will have you punished as you deserve!”
Thus this predatory Yankee was taught to realize that there is a God in
Israel.
In April, 1869, Mrs. Stowe was obliged to hurry North in order to visit Canada in time to protect her English rights in Oldtown folks, which she had just finished.
About this time she secured a plot of land, and made arrangements for the erection on it of a building that should be used as a schoolhouse through the week, and as a church on Sunday.
For several years Professor Stowe preached during the winter in this little school house, and Mrs. Stowe conducted Sunday-school, sewing classes, singing classes, and various other gatherings
