ipers, with singers
and players upon stringed instruments, to welcome the pilgrims
as they went up and followed one another in at the gates of the
Beautiful City. Here the young ladies, with lighted lamps,
passed in. As Pilgrim disappeared, Palmer, with great effect,
ended the scene with the eloquent words: "Now, while he was thus
in discourse, his countenance changed; his strong man bowed
under him and, after he had said: 'Take me, for I come unto
thee,' he ceased to be seen of them."

ALFRED GRIFFITH HATFIELD.

FOOTNOTES:

[B] Bacon.

[C] Gravy.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Do not believe all that you hear,
For hot air men are hawking;
And even keep a cautious ear
When you, yourself, are talking.

BROWNSVILLE, PA.

MY DEAR SON:

I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines hoping that they
may find you as well as we all are here. Mother reads your
letters to us at dinner time. I hope you are living better. I
never knew a genius that cared much about his eating, therefore,
I do not suppose Palmer ever gave it a thought that you were
suffering. He is a good fellow and I know he will make out well,
except in the eating line.

You need not worry about your shotgun; I have it and will look
after it until such time as I feel you should be permitted to
handle dangerous weepuns. Turner Simpson says your Cousin
Charley got that hound pup weeks ago; he claims Charley said you
sent him after the pup.

All your friends inquire about you. Bill Johnston told me he was
sorry he had to have you arrested for overturning his hay stack;
that he did not believe you was to blame, the boys with you led
you into oversetting the haystack to catch the rabbit.

Your Uncle Joe was in town Saturday, got tite and carried on
high. He is getting worse as he gets older. Betsy is mortified
to death. They were just at communion afore it happened.

How is Palmer doing? Is he making money? Did he get my letter?
Hoping to hear from you very often and that you will remember
that your father and mother and all the children think of you
daily and all look forward to the time when we shall see you
again,

Your affectionate father,
J. C. H.

Alfred was living in a little world all his own. Jake, Bedford Tom, Mrs.
Palmer, Gideon, Tom White, were its inhabi