Well, after I left Bunch that afternoon, I ducked for the depot,
and reached Ruraldene just in time to witness the beginning of a
most painful episode.

The house was lighted up from cellar to attic. As soon as I opened
the door I found our respected Mayor, Uncle Peter, and he was also
lit up.

"It's a surprise, Johnny," he whispered hoarsely. "Clara J. is
giving an entertainment for the benefit of the Christian Soldiers'
League, and it's going to cost you two dollars to come into your
own house."

It made an awful hit with Uncle Peter to see me cough up those two
bones, but I said nothing and made good.

My wife called it a musicale, but to me it looked more like a fight.

With the help of Aunt Martha and Alice Grey, my wife arranged the
programme and kept it dark to surprise the rest of the family.

It was such a surprise to me that I felt like doing a glide to the
woodlands.

It was my second experience with a musicale, and this one cured me
all right.

You know I don't care much for society--especially when it breaks
into our bungalow and begins to scratch my furniture with its
high-heeled shoes. But just to please Peaches I promised to go in