A Little Girl in Old New York

was on the other side in politics and they had some warm discussions. Ophelia, the oldest girl, was engaged and deeply absorbed with her lover. Frances went away early in the mornin

un itself, with the aid of De

s wide, but she was always laughing, and she had such splendid teeth. Then her eyes were so full of fun, and her voice had a sort of rollicking sound. She knew all kinds of boys' play, and was grea

he did Lily or Rosa, but Jim was quite divided. He, like the other poor man with two charmers, sometimes wished there was only one of them. But Lily was a

d called him "country" at first and teased him in different ways until small skirmishes had begun. And one day there was a stand-up fight at recess. Jim thrashed the bully of his class. It was a forbidden thing to fight in the school-yard, or in school hours, and so Jim was thrashed again for his

as much. But some of the boys delighted to "pick" at Benny Frank, who

side and little Nora Whitney on the other, was quite out of Lily's reach. And she did enjoy Delia immensely, though she

or Jim was so full of "capers." So he had done errands for his mother, blackened the boots and shoes-the bootblack brigade had not then come in fashion, a

ing in, eager

eve to her big brother. "The brought home four tickets. My cousin, Walter Hay, is here, and he will go with us and then go down home. And Nora does so want Hanny to go. Oh,

and I wouldn't want to go sponging on a girl anyhow! Oh, mother, d

a breath of remembered delig

e so earnest, so full of entreaty. Jim

rive clear up to the sidewalk, you know. Walter is fourteen and he takes his little sisters out, and

the little girl's voice was

I'll see that nothi

would be so disappointed

three she would take the drive to Harlem with him. Of course s

mans' spending the day, their last week on the farm. Of course Jim could go-and

n at that hour. However they caught a stage out on the Bowery an

ed the place preeminently for children. People who would have been horrifie

," advised Delia. "We can do that aft

tain, and the young lad in a supposedly green satin costume, with a long white feather in his hat, who was just stepping into a gondola where a ver

Then there were some acrobatic per

ls. They cut the seat out of the chair, and when he went to sit down he doubled up equal to any modern folding-bed, and he kicked and turned summersaults until the maid came out and rescued him. Then he spied the author of the mischief asleep on a grassy bank, and he found a big strap and went creeping up cautiously, when-whack! and the little boy flew all to pieces, and the old man was so amazed at his cruelty that he sat down and began to weep and bewail when the little lad peeped from behind a tree and, seeing poor grandfather's grief, ran out, hugged him and kisse

the marvel of all! Four beautiful Shetland ponies with the daintiest carriage and six lads in livery. There sat General Tom Thumb, the curiosity of the time, the smallest dwarf known. He was not much bigger than a year-old baby, but he dismounted fr

n there was so much else to see. The various stuffed animals, the giraffe with his three-story neck, the mermaid, the wax figures, t

to thin out. They had no

aimed Walter. "There's a great roof-g

oxes stood around, and there were wooden arm-chairs, beside some settees. It was rather chilly, though the day had been very pleasant. And oh, how splendid the lights of Broadway looked to them, two long rows stretching up and up until l

" said Jim. He was not grudging his qua

s end," and Walter laughed. "W

ver," suggested

turned Jim, "and all

in sudden surprise. The glory of a

ter. "Won't I just brag of that at sc

to eat. Hanny, are you hungry? I don't believe Nora ever knows whether she has

supper. It's ever so much more

I'd a hundred times rather stay,"

wered Hanny. "It's all so b

it. Dele, yo

riosities that had escaped their attention before. They espied the diorama and it interested them very much. H

rest were in the habit of doing quite as they liked, a

ain was swung aside and out stepped Tom Thumb, to be received with cheers. He sang a song and went through with some mi

fectual efforts to make herself taller, "will you let me hold you up

d Dele in her eager young

his arms and she smiled hesitatingly. As she met th

l came dow

hands with you," the gentleman said,

allant little general hoped she was well. Then he made a bow and retired behind the cur

aning her head on Dele's shoulder went sound asleep. Hann

sang many popular songs of the day, "Old Dan Tucker," "Lucy Long," "Zip Coon," and several patriotic songs. There was more dancing than in the afternoon, and the boys

e had had a splendid time, and Dele must thank Cousin The again. The four others bundled into the stage, which

ght not have stayed. But nothing had happened, and Hanny was all right, and-wel

little grace." But when seven o'clock came she went down to Whitney's to inquire. The table was still standing. Mrs. Whitne

unt's, and she'll never let them come home without their supper. She's the greatest hand for children I ever saw. And Dele's so us

l could not take

n. "And there is no use looking, for we shouldn't know where they are; Jim'

e had not let Hanny go! What could she h

at halted at the corner. Men, women, and children alighted, but no little gir

the same time stepped out on the side

father!"

emed to him he had never been so glad and relie

e you stay

nd oh, father, we saw Tom Thumb and he's just as little and cunning as a baby! And h

o used to taking care of children. Why, when we lived down town I used to take out the neighbors' children-over to Staten Island and to Williamsburg, and always brought t

ight. Jim tried to make some explanations and take part of the blame, but Delia talked them

a shawl about her shoulders. The little gir

one, for I was the eldest, except Cousin Walter, and it was my place to think, but I didn't one bit. It seemed awful funny, you know, to have it all over for the same money, and we not paying anything at all! And I did take good care of

The idea! I wouldn't have believed any child of mine c

ace and heard the story, he thought it very boylike and rather amusing. Besides, it seemed a pity to spoil the good time. So h

the omnibus ride. He must pay me t

ttance. I didn't see any notice about not staying, and

r a lawyer. You have such a way o

all l

children some suppe

s. We had Mexican sixpences and shillings in those days. "You'll have enoug

neys feel worried? O

. Underhill. "There Mrs. Wh

exercise," interrupted Stev

t use false pretences. And to put a story in the fatal color made it as reprehensible to most people as a yellow aster. "And such a table!" Mrs. Underhill caught her breath. "Everything at

deal of strength in not worrying. And they k

of my sons to marry girls b

im. You are f

rned s

ess many a year than thinking of gir

red at first whether it wouldn't rather even up things if he went without his supper, but the biscuits and the boiled beef were so tempting, and in those days boys could eat the

Hanny will be sick to-morrow! And Jim

a smile, "Joe has promised

im wanted a good laugh, but he t

hey were all well and bright the next morning. Mr. Theodore Whitney took occasion to say that he hoped th

rs. Underhill has an ounce of fat on her bones if she's worried that wa

te a hero. But some of the boys had crawled unde

nvy, "I shouldn't have thought you would

ought my own ticket. And

e Whitney has no more figure than a post! I wouldn't be suc

wish we could go to the Museum together, just us two

ified Lil

hen you once get real well acquainted-intimate like-well, you know I like you bette

d the smile always conquered

ou kno

friends now than I can attend to." And Miss Margaret seemed to hold up her head so high. Then Mr. Stephen was going to marry i

t after a few days she announced that a mistake had been made in the calculation-some people