bore a faint resemblance to opened scissors.
A great contention arose among the children for the possession of these
"scissors." Mr. Sieppe was obliged to intervene. He reflected gravely.
It was a matter of tremendous moment. The whole party halted, awaiting
his decision.

"Attend now," he suddenly exclaimed. "It will not be soh soon. At der
end of der day, ven we shall have home gecommen, den wull it pe adjudge,
eh? A REward of merit to him who der bes' pehaves. It is an order.
Vorwarts!"

"That was a Sacramento train," said Marcus to Selina as they started
off; "it was, for a fact."

"I know a girl in Sacramento," Trina told McTeague. "She's forewoman in
a glove store, and she's got consumption."

"I was in Sacramento once," observed McTeague, "nearly eight years ago."

"Is it a nice place--as nice as San Francisco?"

"It's hot. I practised there for a while."

"I like San Francisco," said Trina, looking across the bay to where the
city piled itself upon its hills.

"So do I," answered McTeague. "Do you like it better than living over
here?"

"Oh, sure, I wish we lived in the city. If you want to go across for
anything it takes up the whole day."

"Yes, yes, the whole day--almost."

"Do you know many people in the city? Do you know anybody named
Oelbermann? That's my uncle. He has a wholesale toy store in the
Mission. They say he's awful rich."

"No, I don' know him."

"His stepdaughter wants to be a nun. Just fancy! And Mr. Oelbermann
won't have it. He says it would be just like burying his child. Yes,
she wants to enter the convent of the Sacred Heart. Are you a Catholic,
Doctor McTeague?"

"No. No, I--"

"Papa is a Catholic. He goes to Mass on the feast days once in a while.
But mamma's Lutheran."

"The Catholics are trying to get control of the schools," observed
McTeague, suddenly remembering one of Marcus's political tirades.

"That's what cousin Mark says. We are going to send the twins to the
kindergarten next month."

"What's the kindergarten?"

"Oh, they teach them to make things out of straw and toothpicks--kind of
a play place to keep them off the street."

"There's one up on Sacramento Street, not far from Polk Street. I saw
the sign."

"I know where. Why, Selina used to play the piano there."

"Does she play the piano?"

"Oh, you ought to hear her. She plays fine. Selina's very accomplished.
She paints, too."

"I can play on the concertina."

"Oh, can you? I wish you'd