There was a good deal of head-shaking done thereupon; for every human barometer among them advised him to wait a day or so, and hardly any two of them gave him the same reason for doing it.
Ford Foster was at the house when Ham made his report, and was a little surprised to see how promptly Dab Kinzer yielded his assent to the verdict.
"Such warm, nice weather as this is," he remonstrated; "and there isn't any wind to speak of." "There's too much of it coming," was Ham's response; and there was no help for it after that, not even when the mail brought word from "Aunt Maria" that both of her dear boys would arrive in a day or two.
"Our last chance is gone, Annie," said Ford, when the news came.
"O mother!" she said despondingly, "what shall we do ?" "Have your sail, just the same, and invite your cousins." "But the Kinzers"-- "Why, Annie! Mrs.Kinzer will not think of neglecting them.

She's as kind as kind can be." "And we are to pay her with Joe and Fuz," said Ford.

"Well, I wish Ham Morris's storm would come along." He only had to wait until the next day for it, and he felt quite contented to be safe on shore while it lasted.

There was no call for any laughter at the prophecies of the fishermen after it began to blow.
Still the blow was not a long one, and Ham Morris remarked,-- "This is only an outside edge of it.

It's a good deal worse than this out at sea.