hen a humorist
told some of his own funny stories and an elocutionist recited a bit
from Shakespeare effectively. The band played a popular air and the
amused audience began singing the song. It was fine!

"I'm just as excited as I can be," whispered Jessie to Nell and Amy.
"Isn't it better than our talking machine? Why! it is almost like
hearing the real people right in the room. And an amplifier of this
kind is not scratchy one bit."

"There is no static to-night," said Mr. Brandon, who overheard the
enthusiastic girl. "But it is not always so clear."

Jessie and Amy were too excited over this new amusement to heed
anything that suggested "a fly in the ointment." When they drove home
they were so full of radio that they chattered like magpies.

"I would put up the aerials and get a set myself," Nell declared,
"only we don't really need any more talking machines of any kind at
our house. Dear me! I sometimes wonder how the Reverend can write his
sermons, there is so much noise and talk all the time. I have tacked
felt all around his study door to try to make it sound-proof. But when
Bob comes in he bangs the outer door until you are reminded of the
Black Tom explosion. And Fred never comes downstairs save on his
stomach--and on the banisters--and lands on the doormat like a load of
brick out of a dumpcart. Then Sally squeals so!" She sighed.

"Nell Stanley," Amy said, "certainly has her own troubles."

"I do not see how the doctor stands it," commented Mrs. Brandon
sympathetically.

"The Reverend is the greatest man in the world," declared Nell, with
conviction. "He is wonderful. He takes the most annoying things so
composedly. Why, you remember when he went to Bridgeton a month ago to
speak at the local Sunday School Union? Something awfully funny
happened. It would have floored any man but the Reverend."

"What happened?" asked Amy. "I bet it was a joke. Your father, Nell,
always tells the most delightful stories."

"This isn't a story. It is so," chuckled Nell. "But I suppose that was
why they asked him to amuse and entertain the little folks at one
session of the Union. Father talked for fifteen minutes, all about
Jacob's ladder, and those old stories. And not a kid of 'em went to
sleep.

"He said he was proud to see them so wide awake, and when he was
closing he thought he would find out if they really had been
attentive. So he said:

"'And now, is there any little boy or any little girl who would li