WHO SPOKE NEXT

BY MRS. FOLLEN


With Illustrations by Billings and others





THE OLD GARRET




Boys are not apt to forget a promise of a story. Frank and Harry did
not fail to call upon their mother for the history of the old
musket.

"It appeared to me," said the mother, "that the old musket was not
very willing to tell his story. He had a sort of old republican
pride, and felt himself superior to the rest of the company in
character and importance. When he had made himself heard in the
world hitherto, it had always been by one short, but very decided
and emphatic word; he despised any thing like a palaver; so he began
very abruptly, and as if he had half a mind not to speak at all,
because he could not speak in his own way.

"None but fools," said he, "have much to say about themselves--