r two pages of phrases, and she was
astonished to find how much she could understand already of what the
French teacher said to her; and he assured her that when she went to
Paris she could at least ask the price of gloves, or of some other
things she would need, and he taught her, too, how to pronounce
"garcon," in calling for more.

Agamemnon thought that different members of the family might make
themselves familiar with different authors; the little boys were already
acquainted with "Mother Goose." Mr. Peterkin had read the "Pickwick
Papers," and Solomon John had actually seen Mr. Longfellow getting into
a horse-car.

Elizabeth Eliza suggested that they might ask the Turk to give lectures
upon the "Arabian Nights." Everybody else was planning something of the
sort, to "raise funds" for some purpose, and she was sure they ought not
to be behindhand. Mrs.

Peterkin approved of this. It would be excellent if they could raise
funds enough to pay for their own tickets to the carnival; then they
could go every night.

Elizabeth Eliza was uncertain. She thought it was usual to use the funds
for some object. Mr. Peterkin said that if they gained funds enough they
might arrange a booth of their own, and sit in it, and take the carnival
comfortably.

But Agamemnon reminded him that none of the family were authors, and
only authors had booths. Solomon John, indeed, had once started upon
writing a book, but he was not able to think of anything to put in it,
and nothing had occurred to him yet.

Mr. Peterkin urged him to make one more effort. If his book could come
out before the carnival he could go as an author, and might have a booth
of his own, and take his family.

But Agamemnon declared it would take years to become an author. You
might indeed publish something, but you had to make sure that it would
be read. Mrs.

Peterkin, on the other hand, was certain that libraries were filled with
books that never were read, yet authors had written them. For herself,
she had not read half the books in their own library. And she was glad
there was to be a Carnival of Authors, that she might know who they
were.

Mr. Peterkin did not understand why they called them a "Carnival"; but
he supposed they should find out when they went to it.

Mrs. Peterkin still felt uncertain about costumes. She proposed looking
over the old trunks in the garret. They would find some suitable
dresses there, and these would suggest what charact