street. It was full and
murmurous. The lights were bright in the shop windows, and the scuffling
of footsteps, more audible than during the day, when it is drowned by the
roar of carriage-wheels upon the pavement, had a friendly, social sound.

"Broadway is never so pleasant as in the early evening," said Mr. Bennet;
"for then the rush of the day is over, and people move with a leisurely
air, as if they were enjoying themselves. What is that?"

They were going down the street, and saw lights, and heard music and a
crowd approaching. They came nearer; and Mr. Bennet and his wife turned
aside, and stood upon the steps of a dwelling-house. A band of music came
first, playing "Hail Columbia!" It was surrounded by a swarm of men and
boys, in the street and on the sidewalk, who shouted, and sang, and ran;
and it was followed by a file of gentlemen, marching in pairs. Several of
them carried torches, and occasionally, as they passed under a house,
they all looked up at the windows, and gave three cheers. Sometimes,
also, an individual in the throng shouted something which was received
with loud hi-hi's and laughter.

"What is it?" asked Mrs. Bennet.

"This is a political procession, my dear. Look! they will not come by us
at all; they are turning into Grand Street, close by. I suppose they are
going to call upon some candidate. I never see any crowd of this kind
without thinking how simple and beautiful our institutions are. Do you
ever think of it, Lucia? What a majestic thing the popular will is!"

"Let's hurry, and we may see something," said his wife.

The throng had left Broadway, and had stopped in Grand Street under a
balcony in a handsome house. The music had stopped also, and all faces
were turned toward the balcony. Mr. Bennet and his wife stood at the
corner of Broadway. Suddenly a gentleman took off his hat and waved
it violently in the air, and a superb diamond-ring flashed in the
torch-light as he did so, while he shouted,

"Three cheers for Newt!"

There was a burst of huzzas from the crowd--the drums rolled--the boys
shrieked and snarled in the tone of various animals--the torches
waved--one excited man cried, "One more!"--there was another stentorian
yell, and roll, and wave--after which the band played a short air. But
the windows did not open.

"Newt! Newt! Newt!" shouted the crowd. The young gentleman with the
diamond-ring disappeared into the house, with several others.

"Why, Slugby, where the