uds clost, and I see that it didn't do no more than to mist
some, and I felt as if it wuz a-goin' to clear off before long.

So I said that I wuz a-goin' to venter out.

Josiah opposed me warmly, and brung up the dangers that might befall me
with no pardner to protect me.

He brung up a hull heap on 'em and laid 'em down in front of me, but I
calmly walked past 'em, and took down my second-best dress and bunnet,
and a good deep water-proof cape, and sot off.

Wall, I got to the Fair ground with no casualities worth mentionin', and
I sauntered round there with my faithful umbrell as my only gardeen,
and see a sight, and took considerable comfort.

I had a good honorable lunch at noon, and I wuz a-standin' on the steps
of one of the noble palaces, when I see a sedan chair approachin' shaped
jest like them in my old Gography, borne by two of the men who carry
such chairs. Curius-lookin' creeters they be, with their gay turbans and
sashes, and long colored robes lookin' some like my long night-gowns,
only much gayer-lookin'.

As it approached nearer I see a pretty girlish face a-lookin' out of the
side from the curtains that wuz drawed away, a sweet face with a smile
on it.

And I sez to myself, "There is a good, wholesome-lookin' girl, who don't
care for the rain no more than I do," when I heard a man behind me say
in a awe-strucken voice, "That is the Princess! that is the Infanty!"

[Illustration: "There is a good, wholesome-lookin' girl."]

And I sez to myself, here is a chance to put yourself right in her eyes.
For I wuz afraid that she would think that I hadn't done right by her
sence she come over from Spain to see us.

And I didn't want her to go back with any false impressions. I wanted
Spain to know jest where I stood in matters of etiquette and
politeness.

So it happened jest right--she descended from her chair and stood
waitin' on the steps for the rest of her folks, I guess.

And I approached with good nater in my mean, and my umbrell in my hand.

And sez I, a-holdin' out my hand horsepitably, sez I, "Ulaley, I am
dretful glad of a chance to see you." Sez I, "You have had so much
company ever sence you come to America, that I hain't had no chance to
pay attention to you before.

"And I wanted to see you the worst kind, and tell you jest the reason I
hain't invited you to my house to visit." Sez I, a-bowin' deep, "I am
Josiah Allen's Wife, of Jonesville."

"Of Jonesville?" sez she, in a silver