BILLY'S foreign policy proved most satisfactory, and after the
annexation of Cuba many additional dimes found their way into the
tin box on top of the wardrobe. But it took them all, besides Mrs.
Wiggs's earnings, to keep the family from the awful calamity of
"pulling agin a debt."

One cold December day Billy came in and found his mother leaning
wearily on the table. Her face brightened as he entered, but he
caught the tired look in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Ain't nothin' the matter, Billy," she said, trying to speak
cheerfully; "I'm jes' wore out, that's all. It'll be with me like
it was with Uncle Ned's ole ox, I reckon; he kep' a-goin' an'
a-goin' till he died a-standin' up, an' even then they had to push
him over."

She walked to the window, and stood gazing absently across the
commons. "Do you know, Billy," she said suddenly, "I 've got the
craziest notion in my head. I'd jes' give anythin' to see the show
at the Opery House this week."

If she had expressed a wish for a diamond necklace, Billy could not
have been more amazed, and his countenance expressed his state of
mind. Mrs. Wiggs hastened to explain:

"Course, I ain't really thinkin' 'bout goin', but them show-bills
started me to studyin' about it, an' I got to wishin' me an' you
could go."