to his regular evening chores. The cow, the hens, and even the pigs
came in for a share of his unusually kind attention; and as he fed
them all the big tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought that
perhaps never again would he see any of them. These dumb animals
had all been Toby's confidants; he had poured out his griefs in
their ears, and fancied, when the world or Uncle Daniel had used
him unusually hard, that they sympathized with him. Now he was
leaving them forever, and as he locked the stable door he could
hear the sounds of music coming from the direction of the circus
grounds, and he was angry at it, because it represented that which
was taking him away from his home, even though it was not as pleasant
as it might have been.

Still, he had no thought of breaking the engagement which he had
made. He went to his room, made a bundle of his worldly possessions,
and crept out of the back door, down the road to the circus.

Mr. Lord saw him as soon as he arrived on the grounds, and as he
passed another ticket to Toby he took his bundle from him, saying,
as he did so: "I'll pack up your bundle with my things, and then
you'll be sure not to lose it. Don't you want some candy?"

Toby shook his head; he had just discovered that there was possibly
some connection between his heart and his stomach, for his grief
at leaving home had taken from him all desire for good things. It
is also more than possible that Mr. Lord had had experience enough
with boys to know that they might be homesick on the eve of starting
to travel with a circus; and in order to make sure that Toby would
keep to his engagement he was unusually kind.