ns to the
theatre," said Mopsey, much as if he had been speaking of a gold-mine.

"Not long!" echoed Ben, almost contemptuously; "it'll take him longer
than you think for if he depends on that. I asked him yesterday to
figger up an' see how much every one would have after payin' Mother
Green, an' he made it a dollar'n seventy cents. Now that's a healthy
pile ter go to Chicager on, ain't it?"

"Well, how can he fix it any other way?" asked Dickey, in considerable
surprise, not understanding what Ben was trying to get at.

"I'll tell you how we can. We can all turn to, Mother Green an' all,
an' give him the whole of the money. Then he won't have to git only a
little over two dollars to fix him right, an' I reckon me an' Johnny
can fix him out on that."

The partners looked at each other in surprise as this startling
proposition of Ben's was understood by them. For some moments no one
spoke, and then Dickey said, as if his mind was made up so firmly that
it would be impossible for any one to try to change it,

"He can have my share, an' I'll 'gree to put in enough more to make up
as much as he's got to have jest as soon as I kin earn it."

"Good for you, Dickey," said Nelly, admiringly, knowing that the
ruined merchant's offer meant a great deal, coming at a time when he
was almost penniless. "Mother an' I'll put in our share, won't we,
mother?"

"Indeed we will," replied Mrs. Green; and before she could say any
more Johnny spoke up,

"Of course I'm in for anything Ben is, 'cause he's my partner, an' I'm
mighty glad he thought of such a thing."

Mopsey was the only one who appeared to be at all averse to the
generous deed, and there seemed to be a great struggle going on in his
mind, when he should have been the first to agree to it, since he had
more money than all the others save Mrs. Green.

"Shame on you, Mopsey, for not speaking right up, and saying that
you'll do as much as the others will," cried Nelly, in great
excitement, lest one of the party should frustrate the others in their
good work.

"Why don't you give a feller a chance to say what he'll do?" replied
Mopsey, angry with himself for having hesitated at such a time. "I'm
willin' to come in with the rest, only I want to think it over first."

"Then you'll agree to it, will you?" asked Ben, anxious for the
success of his plan.

"Of course I will; didn't I say so?" asked the pea-nut merchant,
sulkily.

"Then it's all right," said Ben, joyfull