about two pounds of
candy. Besides the old woman, there were a great many little children,
who only wanted a penny's worth each; but they hesitated so long whether
to have "taffie" or "molasses," a lemon-candy horse, or a cinnamon-candy
trumpet, that they were the most troublesome customers of anybody. Then
there were several older boys and girls; some, I am sorry to say,
picking up a loose bit of candy every time the shopman turned away--as
if that were not stealing; and finally, there was Neighbor Nelly and I,
who did none of these things, but just looked on, and waited until the
shopman came to serve us.

I bought some lemon candy, as clear as a bit of yellow glass, and some
pungent cinnamon, and delectable chocolate; and then I popped the papers
into Neighbor Nelly's satchel, and we hurried on to school. We had not
far to go now, and when we came to the house, my little new friend bid
me good-by, and thanked me so sweetly, that I went away quite a happy
old bachelor.

In the evening I was looking out of my window as usual, when I saw the
servant girl come in to light the gas in the back parlor at No. 9, with
Neighbor Nelly and the little brother Jimmy behind her. While she was
setting the tea table, the children came running to the window, and both
nodded and smiled at me. Presently the little boy thrust both hands in
his pockets, and held them up crammed full of candy. "Thank you, Mr. Old
Bachelor!" he shouted; "we like you real well!"

That made me real happy; for I am not a crabbed old bachelor by any
means. In a minute more their father came home; and as they all sat
around the pleasant tea table, I hope they talked of their lonely old
neighbor, who watched them from his window.

The next morning, as I was reading the paper, in came the servant and
gave me the funniest little note! It was addressed on the outside, "To
my neighbor Oldbird," and ran thus:

"MY DEAR NEIGHBOR:

"Mamma says I may take a walk with you this
morning, because you are a good old bachelor.
Jimmy wants to go, and Gipsey. Gipsey is my dog.
He is black and tan, and his tail curls round so,
that papa says you might use it for a cork-screw.
Jimmy and I mean to try some time. Gipsey likes to
be on the seashore, and so does baby. We are going
there next week--to Long Branch. I hope you will
write me a letter when I am gone, and I am