satisfaction;
from that to one of mirthfulness; thence he advanced rapidly to one of
joviality; and he was now fast verging upon one of uproariousness.
Something must be done! Excessive steam bursts a boiler; why should not a
similar surplus of delight burst a man? He wouldn't risk it! He must find
some vent for it. Ha! ha! It just occurred to him that the widow hadn't
heard the news. He clapped on his hat, seized his cane, and sallied out
into the street, in his haste shutting in Spite, who had started to follow
him, and who yelped mournfully for an hour afterward, to the great
edification of a thin maiden lady, who resided next door, and was
indulging herself with a nervous head-ache.

There must have been something in the expression of Harson's face which
bore the stamp of his feelings; for as he trudged along, with a free
independent air, striding as lustily as if only twenty instead of sixty
years had passed over his head, and as if every sinew were as well strung,
and every muscle as firm as ever; not a few turned to take a second look
at his hearty, honest face; for such an one was not often met with; and as
they did so, observed: 'There goes a jolly old cock.'

Rap! rap! rap! went the head of his cane against the door of Mrs.
Chowles's blinking old house; but he was too much at home to think of
waiting for a reply, and had gone through the ceremony only for the
purpose of removing from his entrance all appearance of being underhanded
or surreptitious; for no sooner had he knocked with one hand, than with
the other he raised the latch and walked without hesitation toward the
widow's little parlor.

'Ah, ha! my visit will be a surprise to her!' thought he, as he took the
knob of the door in his hand. He was a true prophet. A faint scream
escaped the lady, for she was opening the door to come out at the very
moment he was doing the same to enter; and as the movements of both were
rapid, the lady precipitated herself into his arms, which in a most
unexpected manner closed about her, while three hearty smacks were
deposited on her forehead before she well knew where she was.

'Mr. Harson!' exclaimed she, extricating herself, though without any
appearance of anger; 'is it you?'

'By Jove, I believe it is!' replied Harson. 'If it isn't, it's some gay
fellow of twenty or thereabout, for I haven't been so young for thirty
years as I am to-day.'

Mrs. Chowles saw from his manner, and knew from the unusual hour of h