NE day a man came along the road pushing in front of him a wheelbarrow containing a bushel of rye, which he intended to bring to the mill. He met another man, with whom he fell to talking.

"Good-morning, my friend! Is the road good?"

"I did not taste it."

"Was the mill agoing?"

"I did not meet her."

"Why!" cried the first, "you are a funny fellow, aren't you?"

"I am no fellow, for I am a married man, and so I was for the last twenty years."

"Good enough for you!"

"No, it was not so very good."

"Why not?"

"Because my wife was too old."

"Too bad, wasn't it?"

"No, it might ha' been much worse."

"How so?"

"Because she had a house and a heap of money."

"Pretty good for you, then!"