people made happy as well as you do."

"And so do I too!" said Hal; "let me come with you. I almost wish my
uniform was not gone to the tailor's, so I do."

And when he saw the look of delight and gratitude with which the poor
boy received the clothes which Ben gave him; and when he heard the
mother and children thank him, Hal sighed, and said, "Well, I hope Mamma
will give me some more pocket-money soon."

Upon his return home, however, the sight of the _famous_ bow and arrow
which Lady Diana Sweepstakes had sent him, recalled to his imagination
all the joys of his green and white uniform; and he no longer wished
that it had not been sent to the tailor's.

"But I don't understand, cousin Hal," said little Patty, "why you call
this bow a _famous_ bow; you say _famous_ very often; and I don't know
exactly what it means--a _famous_ uniform--_famous_ doings--I remember
you said there are to be _famous_ doings the first of September upon the
Downs--What does _famous_ mean?"

"Oh, why _famous_ means--Now don't you know what _famous_ means? It
means--it is a word that people say--It is the fashion to say it. It
means--it means _famous_."

Patty laughed, and said, "_This_ does not explain it to me."

"No," said Hal, "nor can it be explained: if you don't understand it,
that's not my fault: everybody but little children, I suppose,
understands it; but there's no explaining _those sorts_ of words, if you
don't _take them_ at once. There's to be _famous_ doings upon the Downs
the first of September; that is, grand, fine. In short, what does it
signify talking any longer, Patty, about the matter? Give me my bow; for
I must go upon the Downs, and practise."

Ben accompanied him with the bow and the three arrows which his uncle
had now given to him; and every day these two boys went out upon the
Downs, and practised shooting with indefatigable perseverance. Where
equal pains are taken, success is usually found to be pretty nearly
equal. Our two archers, by constant practice, became expert marksmen;
and before the day of trial they were so exactly matched in point of
dexterity, that it was scarcely possible to decide which was superior.

The long-expected first of September at length arrived.

"What sort of a day is it?" was the first question that was asked by Hal
and Ben, the moment that they awakened.

The sun shone bright; but there was a sharp and high wind.

"Ha!" said Ben, "I shall be glad of my good great-coat to