As he spoke the words a deep, heavy sigh came from his great, honest
heart, heard only by the leaflless trees through which the winter wind
moaned as if in sympathy.

What was going on in the little red schoolhouse? The occasion was the
last rehearsal of the Eastborough Singing Society, which had been
studying vocal music assiduously for the last three months under the
direction of Professor Obadiah Strout, and was to give its annual
conceit the following evening at the Town Hall at Eastborough.

A modest sum had been raised by subscription. A big barge had been hired
in Cottonton, and after the rehearsal there was to be a sleigh ride to
Eastborough Centre and return. It was evident from the clamor and
confusion that the minds of those present were more intent upon the ride
than the rehearsal, and when one girl remarked that the Professor was
late, another quickly replied that, "if he didn't come at all 'twould be
early enough."

There were about two score of young persons present, very nearly equally
divided between the two sexes. Benjamin Bates was there and Robert Wood,
Cobb's twins, Emmanuel Howe, and Samuel Hill. Among the girls were Lindy
Putnam, the best dressed and richest girl in town, Mandy Skinner, Tilly
James, who had more beaus than any other girl in the village; the Green
sisters Samanthy and Betsy, and Miss Seraphina Cotton, the village
schoolteacher.

Evidently all the members of the society had not arrived, for constant
inquiries were being made about Huldy Mason and 'Zekiel Pettengill. When
Betsy Green asked Mandy Skinner if Hiram Maxwell wa'n't comin', the
latter replied that he'd probably come up when Miss Huldy and the new