She was , out and out , the very best filler of a pipe , I should say , in the four quarters of the globe . To see her put that chubby little finger in the bowl , and then blow down the pipe to clear the tube , and , when she had done so , affect to think that there was really something in the tube , and blow a dozen times , and hold it to her eye like a telescope , with a most provoking twist in her capital little face , as she looked down it , was quite a brilliant thing . As to the tobacco , she was perfect mistress of the subject ; and her lighting of the pipe , with a wisp of paper , when the Carrier had it in his mouth -- going so very near his nose , and yet not scorching it -- was Art , high Art . And the Cricket and the Kettle , turning up again , acknowledged it ! The bright fire , blazing up again , acknowledged it ! The little Mower on the clock , in his unheeded work , acknowledged it ! The Carrier , in his smoothing forehead and expanding face , acknowledged it , the readiest of all . And as he soberly and thoughtfully puffed at his old pipe , and as the Dutch clock ticked , and as the red fire gleamed , and as the Cricket chirped , that Genius of his Hearth and Home -LRB- for such the Cricket was -RRB- came out , in fairy shape , into the room , and summoned many forms of Home about him . Dots of all ages and all sizes filled the chamber . Dots who were merry children , running on before him , gathering flowers in the fields ; coy Dots , half shrinking from , half yielding to , the pleading of his own rough image ; newly-married Dots , alighting at the door , and taking wondering possession of the household keys ; motherly little Dots , attended by fictitious Slowboys , bearing babies to be christened ; matronly Dots , still young and blooming , watching Dots of daughters , as they danced at rustic balls ; fat Dots , encircled and beset by troops of rosy grandchildren ; withered Dots , who leaned on sticks , and tottered as they crept along . Old Carriers , too , appeared with blind old Boxers lying at their feet ; and newer carts with younger drivers -LRB- `` Peerybingle Brothers '' on the tilt -RRB- ; and sick old Carriers , tended by the gentlest hands ; and graves of dead and gone old Carriers , green in the churchyard . And as the Cricket showed him all these things -- he saw them plainly , though his eyes were fixed upon the fire -- the Carrier 's heart grew light and happy , and he thanked his Household Gods with all his might , and cared no more for Gruff and Tackleton than you do . * * * * * But what was that young figure of a man , which the same Fairy Cricket set so near Her stool , and which remained there , singly and alone ? Why did it linger still , so near her , with its arm upon the chimney-piece , ever repeating `` Married ! and not to me ! '' Oh , Dot ! Oh , failing Dot ! There is no place for it in all your husband 's visions . Why has its shadow fallen on his hearth ? CHIRP THE SECOND Caleb Plummer and his Blind Daughter lived all alone by themselves , as the Story Books say -- and my blessing , with yours , to back it I hope , on the Story Books , for saying anything in this work-a-day world !
-- Caleb Plummer and his Blind Daughter lived all alone by themselves , in a little cracked nutshell of a wooden house , which was , in truth , no better XXXXX a pimple on the prominent red-brick nose of Gruff and Tackleton .
at for in on than that though to upon with