ak at a dinner-table, but his thoughts refused to go back
for him, and the silence was actually becoming painful. Finally, and
with the greatest effort, he managed to say, with a very perceptible
stammer, and while his face was growing very red:

"I know I ought to say something to pay for this big dinner that you
said was gotten up for me, but I don't know what to say, unless to thank
you for it. You see I hain't big enough to say much, an', as Uncle Dan'l
says, I don't amount to very much 'cept for eatin', an' I guess he's
right. You're all real good to me, an' when I get to be a man I'll try
to do as much for you."

Toby had risen to his feet when he began to make his speech, and while
he was speaking Mr. Stubbs had crawled over into his chair. When he
finished he sat down again without looking behind him, and of course sat
plump on the monkey. There was a loud outcry from Mr. Stubbs, a little
frightened noise from Toby, an instant's scrambling, and then boy,
monkey, and chair tumbled off the platform, landing on the ground in an
indescribable mass, from which the monkey extricated himself more
quickly than Toby could, and again took refuge on the top of the
tent-pole.

Of course all the guests ran to Toby's assistance; and while the Fat
Woman poked him all over to see that none of his bones were broken, the
skeleton brushed the dirt from his clothes.

All this time the monkey screamed, yelled, and danced around on the
tent-pole and ropes as if his feelings had received a shock from which
he could never recover.

"I didn't mean to end it up that way, but it was Mr. Stubbs's fault,"
said Toby, as soon as quiet had been restored, and the guests, with the
exception of the monkey, were seated at the table once more.

"Of course you didn't," said Mrs. Treat, in a kindly tone. "But don't
you feel bad about it one bit, for you ought to thank your lucky stars
that you didn't break any of your bones."

"I s'pose I did," said Toby, soberly, as he looked back at the scene of
his disaster, and then up at the chattering monkey that had caused all
the trouble.

Shortly after this, Mr. Stubbs having again been coaxed down from his
lofty position, Toby took his departure, promising to call as often
during the week as he could get away from his exacting employers.

Just outside the tent he met Old Ben, who said, as he showed signs of
indulging in another of his internal laughing spells:

[Illustration: TOBY SITS DOWN ON M