"You surprise me," he said,--"you surprise me. Dead and buried. Dead and
buried. I had sometimes thought that--at some future period, after I was
gone, it might--but I hardly know what to say about your suggestions.
But here is my young friend, Mr. Hopkins, who would like to talk with
you, and I will leave him in your hands. I am at the Planet Hotel, if
you should care to call upon me. Good morning. Mr. Hopkins will explain
everything to you more at his ease, without me, I am confident."

Master Gridley could not quite make up his mind to stay through the
interview between the young poet and the publisher. The flush of hope
was bright in Gifted's eye and cheek, and the good man knew that
young hearts are apt to be over-sanguine, and that one who enters a
shower-bath often feels very differently from the same person when he
has pulled the string.

"I have brought you my Poems in the original autographs, sir," said Mr.
Gifted Hopkins.

He laid the manuscript on the table, caressing the leaves still with one
hand, as loath to let it go.

"What disposition had you thought of making of them?" the publisher
asked, in a pleasant tone. He was as kind a man as lived, though he
worked the chief engine in a chamber of torture.

"I wish to read you a few specimens of the poems," he said, "with
reference to their proposed publication in a volume."

"By all means," said the kind publisher, who determined to be very
patient with the protege of the hitherto little-known, but remarkable
writer, Professor Gridley. At the same time he extended his foot in an
accidental sort of way, and pressed it on the right hand knob of three
which were arranged in a line beneath the table. A little bell in a
distant apartment--the little bell marked C--gave one slight note; loud
enough to start a small boy up, who looked at the clock, and knew that
he was to go and call the publisher in just twenty-five minutes. "A,
five minutes; B, ten minutes; C, twenty-five minutes ";--that was
the youngster's working formula. Mr. Hopkins was treated to the full
allowance of time, as being introduced by Professor Gridley.

The young man laid open the manuscript so that the title-page,
written out very handsomely in his own hand, should win the eye of the
publisher.

BLOSSOMS OF THE SOUL.
A WREATH OF VERSE; Original.

BY GIFTED HOPKINS.

"a youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown."--Gray.

"Shall I read you som