doll clad in blue satin, on which was painted a device of Neptune
sailing down the Mississippi amid a storm of fireworks.
The doll stood in a boat arched about with lantern-decked hoops,
and while Nelson halted, unable to proceed, he could hear the voluble
explanation of the proud citizen who was interpreting to strangers.

This, Nelson thought, was success. Here were the successful men.
The man who had failed looked at them. Eve roused him by a
shrill cry, "There they are. There's May and the girls.
Let me out quick, Uncle!"

He stopped the horse and jumped out himself to help her.
It was the first time since she came under his roof that she
had been away from it all night. He cleared his throat for some
advice on behavior. "Mind and be respectful to Mrs. Arlington.
Say yes, ma'am, and no, ma'am ----" He got no further,
for Eve gave him a hasty kiss and the crowd brushed her away.

"All she thinks of is wearing fine clothes and going with the fellers!"
said her brother, disdainfully. "If I had to be born a girl,
I wouldn't be born at all!"

"Maybe if you despise girls so, you'll be born a girl the next time,"
said Nelson. "Some folks thinks that's how it happens with us."

"Do YOU, Uncle?" asked Tim, running his mind forebodingly
over the possible business results of such a belief.
"S'posing he shouldn't be willing to sell the pigs to be killed,
'cause they might be some friends of his!" he reflected,
with a rising tide of consternation. Nelson smiled rather sadly.