bounding out with a whoop.

"Jolly! where'd you get that, and where are you going?" all in one
breath, as he swung himself up behind.

"Deacon Brown brought it over just now," cried Polly.

"As a surprise," furnished Percy. "Isn't he a fine old chap? Here's for
the very jolliest go!"

"We're going to see dear Mr. Beebe, and dear Mrs. Beebe," announced
Phronsie, smiling through her tears, and leaning out of the old
gentleman's lap to nod at him.

"Hurrah!" screamed Joel. "Good-by, Grandma," to the old lady, whose cap-
frills were framed in the small window. "I've had a fine time in there,"
he condescended to say, but nothing further as to the details could they
extract from him; and so at last they gave it up, and lent their
attention to the various things to be seen as the wagon spun along. And
so over and through the town, and to the very door of the little shoe-
shop, and there, to be sure, was Mr. Beebe the same as ever, to welcome
them; and Joel found to his immense satisfaction that the stone pot was
as full of sugary doughnuts as in the old days; and Phronsie had her
pink and white sticks, and Mrs. Beebe "Oh-ed" and "Ah-ed" over them all,
and couldn't bear to let them go when at last it was time to say "good-
by." And at last they all climbed into the old wagon, and were off again
on their round of visits.

It was not till the gray dusk of the winter afternoon settled down
unmistakably, so that no one could beg to stay out longer, that they