Ann Maria could not restrain herself, as broad smiles came over the
faces of all the party.

"Why, that is the Poor-house!" she exclaimed.

"The town farm," Mr. Sylvester explained, deprecatingly.

The Peterkins were silent for a while. The Sylvesters tried not to
laugh.

"There certainly were some disagreeable old men and women there!" said
Elizabeth Eliza, at last.

"But we have surely been made very comfortable," Mrs. Peterkin
declared.

"A very simple mistake," said Mr. Sylvester, continuing his amusement.
"Your trunks arrived all right at the 'Old Farm,' two days ago."

"Let us go back directly," said Elizabeth Eliza.

"As directly as our horse will allow," said Agamemnon.

Mr. Sylvester helped them into the wagon. "Your rooms are awaiting
you," he said. "Why not come with us?"

"We want to find Mr. Peterkin before we do anything else," said Mrs.
Peterkin.

They rode back in silence, till Elizabeth Eliza said, "Do you suppose
they took us for paupers?"

"We have not seen any 'they,'" said Solomon John, "except Mr. Atwood."

At the entrance of the farm-yard Mr. Peterkin met them.

"I have been looking for you," he said. "I have just made a
discovery."

"We have made it, too," said Elizabeth Eliza; "we are in the
poor-house."

"How did you find it out?" Mrs. Peterkin asked of Mr. Peterkin.

"Mr. Atwood came to me, puzzled with a telegram that had been brought
to him from the station, which he ought to have got two days ago. It
came from a Mr. Peters, whom they were expecting here this week, with
his wife and boys, to take charge of the establishment. He
telegraphed to say he cannot come till Friday. Now, Mr. Atwood had
supposed we were the Peterses, whom he had sent for the day we
arrived, not having received this telegram."

"Oh, I see, I see!" said Mrs. Peterkin; "and we did get into a muddle
at the station!"

Mr. Atwood met them at the porch. "I beg pardon," he said. "I hope you
have found it comfortable here, and shall be glad to have you stay
till Mr. Peters' family comes."

At this moment wheels were heard. Mr. Sylvester had arrived, with an
open wagon, to take the Peterkins to the "Old Farm."

Martha was waiting within the door, and said to Elizabeth Eliza, "Beg
pardon, miss, for thinking you was one of the inmates, and putting you
in that room. We thought it so kind of Mrs. Peters to take you off
every day with the other gentlemen, that looked so wandering."

Elizabeth Eliza d