ny and the old lady.

For dinner we had a small piece of tainted beef-steak with some warmed
over sour potatoes and warm biscuit and butter.

I praised the dinner and especially the biscuit. The children never
failed to occupy their customary places nor to perform their usual
evolutions.

For supper the cup of tea and molasses cake were again brought out.

The third day Johnny once more asked me how I liked the boarding-house.
I said:

"Well, Johnny, I think it is nice. Every thing is neat and clean and
nice and tidy. The old lady is a splendid cook, a good conversationalist
and has a nice family of well-bred children, and as for myself _I like
it, it's so home-like_."

We made several successful auction sales, and I kept canvassing with the
polish.

Johnny found considerable difficulty in passing the time pleasantly at
the boarding-house. Having previously stopped at first-class hotels, the
contrast was far from agreeable, and I could see he was getting restive
and dissatisfied.

I had determined to use every effort in trying to keep him there as long
as possible. My experience had taught me that a cheap boarding-house was
no place to stop at, and I thought the sooner he learned the lesson the
better it would be for him.

On the fifth day, when he asked how I liked it by that time, I again
repeated:

"Why, Johnny, I think it's nice. Everything is neat and clean and nice
and tidy, the old lady is a splendid cook and a good conversationalist,
and has a nice family of well-bred children; and as for myself, _I like
it, it's so home-like_."

I noticed he eyed me very closely this time, but as I managed to get
through without a smile, and appeared thoroughly in earnest, he seemed
to consider it best not to express his opinion; and as I asked no
questions he said nothing, but looked pale and haggard, and appeared
nervous and anxious.

Matters went on as usual, with no improvement at the boarding-house,
except on Sunday for dinner we had flour gravy, which I was very fond
of, and complimented the old lady on her way of making it.

Johnny had nothing to say; and as he cared nothing for gravy, ate but
little, and looked silly.

As we passed into the sitting-room together I remarked:

"That's the kind of a dinner I like; _it's so home-like_."

He eyed me closely, said nothing, but looked bewildered.

On the seventh day at noon, as I was coming in from canvassing, I met
him down town. He looked haggard and h