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CHAPTER XXVI.
WHAT"S to be done?

The events of the last few days caused a very great excitement in the town. There was scarcely a family, or an individual, who did not hear and speak of them over and over again, as often as any chanced to meet. This continued for several days. Directly and indirectly the poor-house affairs came in for a large share of the talk; and the selectmen were much blamed for allowing the Tuckers to roam about as they did, and for not insisting on more attention to the poor generally. Indeed, you would think, during the period of eight or nine days, that the whole town of Crampton was going to cast all its sins on the shoulders of the selectmen, and begin immediately a new and a better life.

So are the first impressions, when one peruses a well-written novel, a mere fiction of the imagination, designed to picture forth some human suffering to move the sympathies of the reader. But though the public feeling of Crampton soon subsided to its customary level, the minds of individuals were more than ever aroused and resolved.

"Well, now, Mrs. Stout," said Squire Ben, "this is a very unfortunate and -- dreadful kind of business -- isn't it?"

"So it is, and I have just this minute said the same thing to sister Emeline. It is really quite a melancholy and disgraceful affair."

"Something ought to be done -- that's certain -- there ought to be done -- something, -- ought there not something to be done -- Mrs. Stout?" inquired the Squire.

"So Emeline was telling me and Mrs. Shire, who dropped in yesterday evening. Said Emeline, ' One thing is true, something ought to be done.' And Mrs. Shire and I both exclaimed, 'there ought certainly something to be done!'"

"Question is -- precisely, what?" said the Squire, looking between his legs, that were a little yawning and relaxed from the thighs to the feet, where the limbs again came together. The Squire was leaning his left elbow on his knee, and with his left hand was gently rubbing his eyebrows. His right hand grasped the top of another chair, and thus supported right and left, he was evidently studying out the path of duty.

"Precisely what often gives men some perplexity. Squire Ben was relieved of one part of his quandary by the coming in of his confederate, Mr. Jonas Savage.

"Bad business this," said that gentleman.

"Terrible! terrible!" replied the Squire. "I was just saying so to Mrs. Stout."

"Well, I met her myself outside, and said the same thing," replied the second selectman.

"I believe it is the -- very -- general impression, Mr. Savage."

"Oh, it's as bad as murder, just about," said the other, "and so I told Haddock."

"Ah! and what said brother Haddock?"

"Oh! Haddock said it was all 'off the same piece,' and that it was the natural result of bad management."

"Ah! ha! And -- what now -- neighbor Savage, is your real honest opinion about it -- yourself -- yes, eh?"

"To be up and down about it," said Savage," I think the selectmen could be indicted by the Grand Jury for mismanagement and neglect of duty -- and a smart thing grow out of it against us."

The Squire mused over this a little, twisting his watch-key. At length he said --

"I -- rather -- think not -- towns can't be responsible for individual misfortunes, and especially when they usually attend to matters -- about and about -- as they ought!"

"So I reckon on," replied Savage. "But Haddock and that gang have a leetle the joke on us now, haven't they. Squire Ben?"

"A very 'little' -- not to say -- any more than that, I grant."

"Yes, confound the business, I just wish old Tucker and Poll had died twenty years ago, than to have had this happen," said Savage, with considerable warmth of manner and feeling.

"Why, yes, said the other, "that would indeed have been -- comparatively -- a light misfortune to us -- and just so to them. But then we can't have things always just as we think best,"

"No, sir-ee," replied Savage, "if we could, Squire, I'd go in for a regular reform in the town of Crampton."

"So, so! Savage."

"Yes, I would."

"What would you do?"

"Do? I would go in for another cent tax on the grand list year in and year out, for an action at law before the courts against every one of these foreign State paupers. They make a deuced amount of fuss for us. Captain Bunce says he's had more trouble growing out of folks sympathizing with Boyce, and -- er -- I don't know who, than all the rest put together."

"Well, what does the Captain say about Tucker's affair?"

"Oh, he says it will all blow over in a few days."

"And is that your notion?"

"Yes -- that's my opinion. You see. Squire, the state of the case is just here -- It is done and can't he helped. Poll is badly scorched -- the house is torn up. The whole concern is in a new shape. It's bad -- bad for them, bad for us, bad for Bunce. But the only cure is to let her slide. Things will come up right by and bye."

"Then you think we can't do any thing better than that, eh?"