rprise in store for them; and if they will come
to the hotel at nine o'clock in the morning, Paul and I will show them
what it is."

There was very little opportunity for any one to make a reply, for as
Mr. Weston spoke he arose from the table, and then added,

"Now go and see all that you can until five o'clock, and then we will
start for home."

It was a tired party who landed in New York quite early that evening,
some going to Mrs. Green's and two to the hotel; but they were quite
as happy as they were weary, and had had such a day of enjoyment as
they had never even dreamed of before, which could be set down to the
credit of the kind act of befriending a homeless boy.

CHAPTER XV.

THE GREAT SURPRISE.

If Mrs. Green had been able to have understood what five children were
saying to her at one time, she would have had a very clear idea of
that day of pleasure; but as it was, when each was eager to tell the
story, and all spoke together, she had only a general idea until she
was alone with Nelly.

After the attempt to enlighten her as to where they had been and what
they had seen, the conversation turned upon the surprise which Mr.
Weston said he had for Ben and Johnny, and many were the speculations
as to what it might be. Mopsey was very certain that he had purchased
one of the largest theatres in the city, and was to present it to them
in due form; and so positive did he become as to the correctness of
his idea, that he would persist in talking about what they would do
after the two boys were installed there, to the exclusion of
everything else. He even awakened them after they had gone to sleep
that night, in order to make them promise that they would let him
direct the entertainments, in case he was right regarding the gift of
a theatre. Of course the two most interested were in a high state of
excitement as to the gift, although they did not try to guess what it
might be. It was a difficult matter for them to go to sleep after they
went to bed, so anxious were they to know what good-fortune was to be
theirs; and after Mopsey had awakened them, they remained in anything
but a sleepy condition for several hours.

But the morning came at last, as all mornings do come, and they were
the first ones up and dressed, although they spent a great deal of
time on their toilet. Mopsey proposed that the others escort the two
fortunate ones to the hotel, in order that they might learn what this
great surpri