n seemed to cause Toby's grief to burst forth
afresh, and, clasping the monkey around the neck, hugging him close to
his bosom, he sobbed:

"Oh, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Stubbs, how lonesome we are! If we was only at
Uncle Dan'l's we'd be the two happiest people in all this world. We
could play on the hay, or go up to the pasture, or go down to the
village; an' I'd work my fingers off if I could only be there just once
more. It was wicked for me to run away, an' now I'm gettin' paid for
it."

He hugged the monkey closely, swaying his body to and fro, and
presenting a perfect picture of grief. The monkey, not knowing what to
make of this changed mood, cowered whimperingly in his arms, looking
up into his face, and licking the boy's hands whenever he had the
opportunity.

It was some time before Toby's grief exhausted itself; and then, still
clasping the monkey, he hurried out of the woods toward the town and the
now thoroughly hated circus tents.

The clocks were just striking one as Toby entered the inclosure used by
the show as a place of performance, and, remembering his engagement
with the skeleton and his wife, he went directly to their tent. From the
odors which assailed him as he entered, it was very evident that a feast
of no mean proportions was in course of preparation, and Toby's keen
appetite returned in full vigor. Even the monkey seemed affected by the
odor, for he danced about on his master's shoulder, and chattered so
that Toby was obliged to choke him a little in order to make him present
a respectable appearance.

When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the
extent of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around him in
surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman were in
the habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table, loaded with
eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs were ranged around
it, Toby understood that he was not the only guest invited to the feast.
Some little attempt had also been made at decoration by festooning that
end of the tent where the platform was placed with two or three flags
and some streamers, and the tent poles also were fringed with tissue
paper of the brightest colors.

Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced
toward him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said, as he
took him by the hands with a grip that made him wince:

"It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welco