of my readers have seen.
They got very good seats, fronting the stage, though some distance
back. When the curtain rose Jimmy's attention was at once absorbed. It
was the first time he had ever seen a play, and it seemed to him a
scene of rare enchantment. To Paul, however, it was much less of a
novelty. He had frequently been to Barnum's and the Old Bowery, though
not as often as those boys who had no home in which to spend their
evenings. Mrs. Hoffman was scarcely less interested than Jimmy in the
various scenes of the play. It was not particularly well acted, for
most of the actors were indifferent in point of talent; but then none
of the three were critics, and could not have told the difference
between them and first-class performers.

Both laughed heartily over the eccentricities of Topsy, probably the
most original character in Mrs. Stowe's popular story, and Jimmy was
affected to tears at the death of little Eva. To his unaccustomed eyes
it seemed real, and he felt as if Eva was really dying. But, taking it
altogether, it was an afternoon of great enjoyment to Jimmy, whose
pleasures were not many.

"Well, Jimmy, how did you like it?" asked Paul, as they were working
their way out slowly through the crowd.

"It was beautiful, Paul. I am so much obliged to you for taking me."

"I am glad you liked it, Jimmy. We will go again some time."

They were stepping out on the sidewalk, when a boy about Paul's size
jostled them rudely.

"There's Limpy!" said he, with a rude laugh.

"You'd better not say that again, Peter Blake," he said menacingly.

"Why not?" demanded Peter defiantly.

"It won't be safe," said Paul significantly.

"I'll call you Limpy if I like."

"You may call me so, and I won't mind it. But don't you call my little
brother names."

"I don't mind, Paul," said Jimmy.

"But I do," said Paul. "No boy shall call you names when I am near."

Paul's resolute character was well understood by all the boys who knew
him, and Peter would not have ventured to speak as he did, but he did
not at first perceive that Jimmy was accompanied by his brother. When
he did discover it he slunk away as soon as he could.

They were walking up Park Row, when Jim Parker, once an enemy, but now
a friend of Paul, met them. He looked excited, and hurried up to meet
them.

"When were you home, Paul?" he asked abruptly.

"Two or three hours since. I have just come from Barnum's."

"Then you don't know what's happen