The family had returned from church one Sunday, and as they had company
to dinner, and dinner was a little later than usual, the six-year-old
Robert was very hungry and could hardly wait any longer. He had been
very much interested in the sermon, which was a very graphic account of
the creation of woman. He had listened wide-eyed while the minister
told how God had put Adam to sleep and had taken a rib out of his side
and made it into a wife for the lonely man. But just now he was more
interested in the dinner, especially in its conclusion, mince pie and
cakes.
An hour later he was missed from the company, and being searched for was
found sitting in a corner of another room, groaning softly, with his
hands pressed against his side and an air of solemn anxiety on his face.
"Why, Robert, what in the world is the matter?" asked his mother in
alarm.
"Mamma, dear," said he, "I'm afraid I'm getting a wife."