Me he never noticed, except when I ate less than usual; then he peered into my face, and said, "What ails you ?" We had the benefit of his taciturn presence continually, for he rarely went out; and although he did not interfere with Aunt Mercy's work, he supervised it, weighed and measured every article that was used, and kept the cellar and garden in perfect order.
It was approaching the season of killing the pig, and he conferred often with Aunt Mercy on the subject.

The weather was watched, and the pig poked daily, in the hope that the fat was thickening on his ribs.
When the day of his destiny arrived, there was almost confusion in the house, and for a week after, of evenings, grand'ther went about with a lantern, and was not himself till a new occupant was obtained for the vacant pen, and all his idiosyncracies revealed and understood.
"Grand'ther," I asked, "will the beautiful pigeons that live in the pig's roof like the horrid new pig ?" "Yes," he answered, briskly rubbing his hands, "but they eat the pig's corn; and I can't afford that; I shall have to shoot them, I guess." "Oh, don't, grand'ther." "I will this very day.

Where's the gun, Mercy ?" In an hour the pigeons were shot, except two which had flown away.
"Why did you ask him not to shoot the pigeons ?" said Aunt Mercy.

"If you had said nothing, he would not have done, it." "He is a disagreeable relation," I answered, "and I am glad he is a tailor." Aunt Mercy reproved me; but the loss of the pigeons vexed her.

Perhaps grand'ther thought so, for that night he asked after her geraniums, and told her that a gardener had promised him some fine slips for her.