gh to pay for
their own tickets to the carnival; then they could go every night.

Elizabeth Eliza was uncertain. She thought it was usual to use the
funds for some object. Mr. Peterkin said that if they gained funds
enough they might arrange a booth of their own, and sit in it, and
take the carnival comfortably. But Agamemnon reminded him that none
of the family were authors, and only authors had booths. Solomon John,
indeed, had once started upon writing a book, but he was not able to
think of anything to put in it, and nothing had occurred to him yet.

Mr. Peterkin urged him to make one more effort. If his book could come
out before the carnival he could go as an author, and might have a
booth of his own, and take his family.

But Agamemnon declared it would take years to become an author. You
might indeed publish something, but you had to make sure that it would
be read. Mrs. Peterkin, on the other hand, was certain that libraries
were filled with books that never were read, yet authors had written
them. For herself, she had not read half the books in their own
library. And she was glad there was to be a Carnival of Authors, that
she might know, who they were.

Mr. Peterkin did not understand why they called them a "Carnival"; but
he supposed they should find out when they went to it.

Mrs. Peterkin still felt uncertain about costumes. She proposed
looking over the old trunks in the garret. They would find some
suitable dresses there, and these would suggest what characters they
should take. Elizabeth Eliza was pleased with this thought. She
remembered an old turban of white mull muslin, in an old bandbox, and
why should not her mother wear it?

Mrs. Peterkin supposed that she should then go as her own grandmother.

[Illustration]

Agamemnon did not approve of this. Turbans are now worn in the East,
and Mrs. Peterkin could go in some Eastern character. Solomon John
thought she might be Cleopatra, and this was determined on. Among the
treasures found were some old bonnets, of large size, with waving
plumes. Elizabeth Eliza decided upon the largest of these.

She was tempted to appear as Mrs. Columbus, as Solomon John was to
take the character of Christopher Columbus; but he was planning to
enter upon the stage in a boat, and Elizabeth Eliza was a little
afraid of sea-sickness, as he had arranged to be a great while finding
the shore.

[Illustration]

Solomon John had been led to take this character by di