ple seem to be payin' us all this
attention, an' I don't know's 't would be dignified for us to go to
one o' them circus places."

"I don't care; we shan't live but once. I ain't comin' to New York an'
confine myself to evenin' meetin's," answered Abel, throwing away
discretion and morality together. "I tell you I'm goin' to spend this
sugar-money just as we've a mind to. You've worked hard, an' counted a
good while on comin', and so've I; an' I ain't goin' to mince my steps
an' pinch an' screw for nobody. I'm goin' to hire one o' them hacks
an' ride up to the Park."

"Joe Fitch said we could go right up in one o' the elevated railroads
for five cents, an' return when we was ready," protested
Mary Ann, who had a thriftier inclination than her husband; but
Mr. Pinkham was not to be let or hindered, and they presently found
themselves going up Fifth Avenue in a somewhat battered open landau.
The spring sun shone upon them, and the spring breeze fluttered the
black ostrich tip on Mrs. Pinkham' s durable winter bonnet, and
brought the pretty color to her faded cheeks.

"There! this is something like. Such people as we are can't go
meechin' round; it ain't expected. Don't it pay for a lot o' hard
work?" said Abel; and his wife gave him a pleased look for her only
answer. They were both thinking of their gray farmhouse high on a long
western slope, with the afternoon sun full in its face, the old red
barn, the pasture, the shaggy woods that stretched far up the
mountain-side.

"I wish Sarah an' little Abel was here to see us ride by," said Mary
Ann Pinkham, presently. "I can't seem to wait to have 'em get that
newspaper. I'm so glad we sent it right off before we started this
mornin'. If Abel goes to the post-office comin' from school, as he
always does, they'll have it to read to-morrow before supper-time."

III.

This happy day in two plain lives ended, as might have been expected,
with the great Barnum show. Mr. and Mrs. Pinkham found themselves in
possession of countless advertising cards and circulars next morning,
and these added somewhat to their sense of responsibility.
Mrs. Pinkham became afraid that the hotel-keeper would charge them
double. "We've got to pay for it some way; there. I don't know but I'm
more 'n willin'," said the good soul. "I never did have such a
splendid time in all my life. Findin' you so respected 'way off here
is the best of anything; an' then seein' them dear little babies in
their