used here, and you could then gauge your manufacture of
the articles accordingly. Aha! I have it!" added the inventive lady,
after a moment's reflection. "We'll take the line of cars running
entirely around the city, and so we'll be sure of viewing all sides of
the question."

"The very thing!" exclaimed her husband.

In due course the famous national holiday arrived, and at about nine
o'clock in the morning the family sallied forth on their memorable
expedition. The two Eds went first, hurling torpedoes as if they were
trade-marks, and now and then touching off a cracker, after having
assured themselves that there was no policeman near. Then came the
father and mother, arm in arm, under a great cotton umbrella, which Mrs.
Rovering always insisted should be carried during their excursions, for
fear rain might come on and spoil the silk one.

On reaching the corner where they were to take the car, a discussion
arose as to which direction they should go.

"It doesn't make a particle of difference, so long as we get off,"
affirmed Mr. Rovering.

"Well, then," rejoined the originator of the expedition, "let's take
whichever car comes first." And this decision would certainly have
finally disposed of the matter if at that instant Edward had not
shouted, "Oh, ma, here's a car coming up!" and Edgar, "Oh, pa, here's a
car coming down!" and if, moreover, these two cars had not arrived at
that identical corner at one and the same moment.

They both stopped, and Mr. Rovering cried, "Dear me, Dolly, which shall
we take?--which shall we take?" while Edward hopped up and down on the
step of one, and Edgar practiced jumping on and off the platform of the
other.

"Take the one that isn't a 'bobtail,'" returned Mrs. Rovering,
composedly.

"But they're both 'bobtails!'" exclaimed her poor husband, in an agony
of apprehension lest the cars should start off, and cause his sons to
fall on their pocketfuls of torpedoes.

Finally Mrs. Rovering said, quietly, "We shall ride in the empty one,"
and this proving to be the up-bound conveyance, they got in and were
off.

"Now, Robert," Mrs. Rovering began, as soon as they had recovered from
the shock of starting, which had sent them all down on the seat like a
row of bricks, "don't make a mistake in putting our fares in the box.
Let me see, five, five--yes, both the boys are over five. Have you got
it right?"

But sad to relate, Mr. Rovering had not got it right, for, owing to his