he now possessed. 'I don't
know,' he thought, 'but the best way is to drown myself at once.' So he
walked to the river, but found it was not deep enough to drown him.

"As he emerged from the river uncomfortably wet, he saw a man timidly
approaching him. It proved to be the manager of the show.

"'Hello!' said he hesitatingly.

"'Hello!' returned Tubbs disconsolately.

"'Would you like to enter into a business engagement with me?'

"'Of what sort?' asked Tubbs, brightening up.

"'To be exhibited,' was the reply. 'You're the largest man living in
the world. We could make a pretty penny together.'

"Tubbs was glad enough to accept this proposition, which came to him
like a plank to a drowning man. Accordingly an agreement was made that,
after deducting expenses, he should share profits with the manager.

"It proved to be a great success. From all quarters people flocked to
see the great prodigy, the wonder of the world, as he was described in
huge posters. Scientific men wrote learned papers in which they strove
to explain his extraordinary height, and, as might be expected, no two
assigned the same cause.

"At the end of six months Tubbs had five thousand dollars as his share
of the profits. But after all he was far from happy. He missed
the society of his wife and children, and shed many tears over his
separation from them.

"At the end of six months his singular customer again made his
appearance.

"'It seems to me you've altered some since I last saw you,' he said,
with a smile.

"'Yes,' said Tubbs dolefully.

"'You don't like the change, I judge?'

"'No,' said Tubbs. 'It separates me from my wife and children, and that
makes me unhappy.'

"'Would you like to be changed back again!'

"'Gladly,' was the reply.

"Presto! the wonderful giant was changed back into the little tailor. No
sooner was this effected than he returned post-haste to Webbington. His
wife received him with open arms.

"'Oh, Thomas,' she exclaimed, 'how could you leave us so? On the day of
your disappearance a huge brute of a man came here and pretended to be
you, but I soon sent him away.'

"Thomas wisely said nothing, but displayed his five thousand dollars.
There was great joy in the little dwelling. Thomas Tubbs at once took a
larger shop, and grew every year in wealth and public esteem. The
only way in which he did not grow was in stature; but his six months'
experience as a giant had cured him of any wish of that sort.