ows, or catching a glimpse through the open doors
of the gay scene within, and as one after another of these lively scenes
passed before him, he began to think that all the strange and wonderful
things in the world must be collected in these rich stores.
Next, he came to a place of public amusement. Crowds were entering
constantly, and Paul, from curiosity, entered too. He passed on to a
little wicket, when a man stopped him.
"Where's your ticket?" he asked.
"I haven't got any," said Paul.
"Then what business have you here?" said the man, roughly.
"Isn't this a meeting-house?" asked Paul.
This remark seemed to amuse two boys who were standing by. Looking up
with some indignation, Paul recognized in one of them the boy who had
cheated him out of the oysters.
"Look here," said Paul, "what made you go off and leave me to pay for
the oysters this morning?"
"Which of us do you mean?" inquired the 'governor's son,' carelessly.
"I mean you."
"Really, I don't understand your meaning. Perhaps you mistake me for
somebody else."
"What?" said Paul, in great astonishment. "Don't you remember me, and
how you told me you were the Governor's son?"
Both boys laughed.
"You must be mistaken. I haven't the honor of being related to the
distinguished gentleman you name."
The speaker made a mocking bow to Paul.
"I know that," said Paul, with spirit, "but you said you were, for all
that."
"It must have been some other good-looking boy, that you are mistaking
me for. What are you going to do about it? I hope, by the way, that the
oysters agreed with you."
"Yes, they did," said Paul, "for I came honestly by them."
"He's got you there, Gerald," said the other boy.
Paul made his way out of the theater. As his funds were reduced to
twelve cents, he could not have purchased a ticket if he had desired it.
Still he moved on.
Soon he came to another building, which was in like manner lighted up,
but not so brilliantly as the theater. This time, from the appearance
of the building, and from the tall steeple,--so tall that his eye could
scarcely reach the tapering spire,--he knew that it must be a church.
There was not such a crowd gathered about the door as at the place he
had just left, but he saw a few persons entering, and he joined them.
The interior of the church was far more gorgeous than the plain village
meeting-house which he had been accustomed to attend with his mother. He
gazed about him with
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