y to
establish his shop in the next place that seemed promising.

"All unknowing, Laddie," he said to the dog, as he sat down to his
simple breakfast, "we've come into competition with a woman who keeps a
shop like ours, which we didn't mean to do. It's for this that we were
making a new set of price tags all day of yesterday, which happened to
be the Sabbath. It wouldn't be becoming of us to charge less than she
and take her trade away from her, so we've started out on an even basis.

"Poor lady," laughed the Piper, "she was not willing for us to know her
prices, thinking we were going to sell cheaper than she. 'T is a hard
world for women, Laddie. I'm thinking 'tis no wonder they grow
suspicious at times."

The dog sat patiently till Piper Tom finished his breakfast, well
knowing that a generous share would be given him outside. While the
dog ate, his master put the shop into the most perfect order, removing
every particle of dust, and whistling meanwhile.

When the weather permitted, the shop was often left to keep itself, the
door being hospitably propped open with a brick, while the dog and his
master went gypsying. With a ragged, well-worn book in one pocket, a
parcel of bread and cheese in another, and his flute slung over his
shoulder, the Piper was prepared to spend the day abroad. He carried,
too, a bone for the dog, well wrapped in newspaper, and an old silver
cup to drink from.

Having finished his breakfast, the dog scampered about eagerly,
indicating, by many leaps and barks, that it was time to travel, but
the Piper raised his hand.

"Not to-day, Laddie," he said. "If we travel to-day, we'll not be
going far. Have you forgotten that 't was only day before yesterday we
found our work? Come here."

The dog seated himself before the Piper, his stubby tail wagging
impatiently.

"She's a poor soul, Laddie," sighed the Piper, at length. "I'm
thinking she's seen Sorrow face to face and has never had the courage
to turn away. She was walking in the woods, trying to find the strange
music, and was disappointed when she saw 't was only us. We must make
her glad 't was us."

After a long time, the Piper spoke again, with a lingering tenderness.
"She must be very beautiful, I'm thinking, Laddie; else she would not
hide her face. Very beautiful and very sad."

When the sun was high, Piper Tom climbed the hill, followed by his
faithful dog. On his shoulder he bore a scythe and under the othe