oy dan dot Jack Ogden. He knows
not mooch yet, alretty, but den he ees a very goot boy."

"We like him," said Mr. Gifford, smiling.

"So do I, und so does Mrs. Guilderaufenberg, und Miss Hildebrand, und
Miss Podgr-ms-chski," said the German. "Some day you lets him visit us
in Vashington? So?"

"I don't know. Perhaps I will," said Mr. Gifford; but he afterward
remarked grimly to Mr. Jones: "If I should, and he should meet the
President, Ogden would never let him go until he bought some of our tea
and coffee!"

That day was a notable one in both Crofield and Mertonville. Jack's
first long letter, telling that he was in the grocery business, had
been almost a damper to the Ogden family. They had kept alive a small
hope that he would come back soon, until Aunt Melinda opened an
envelope that morning and held up samples of paper bags, cards, and
circulars of Gifford & Company, while Mrs. Ogden read the letter that
came with them. Bob and Jim claimed the bags next, while Susie and
Bessie read the circulars, and the tall blacksmith himself straightened
up as if he had suddenly grown prouder.

"Mary!" he exclaimed. "Jack always said he'd get to the city. And
he's there--and earning his living!"

"Yes, but--Father," she said, with a small shake in her voice, "I--wish
he was back again. There'd be almost room for him to work in Crofield,
now."

"Maybe so, maybe so," he replied. "There'll be crowds of people coming
in when they begin work on the new rail way and the bridge. I signed
the deeds yesterday for all the land they're buying of Jack and me. I
won't tell him about it quite yet, though. I don't wish to unsettle
his mind. Let him stay where he is."

"This will be a trying day for Mary," said Aunt Melinda, thoughtfully.
"The Academy will open at nine o'clock. Just think of what that child
has to go through! There'll be a crowd there, too,--oh, dear me!"

Mary Ogden sat upon the stage, by previous orders from the Academy
principals, awaiting the opening exercises; but the principals
themselves had not yet arrived. She looked rather pale, and she was
intently watching the nickel-plated gong on the table and the hands of
the clock which hung upon the opposite wall.

"Perhaps the principals are here," Mary thought as the clock hands
crept along. "But they said to strike the bell at nine, precisely, and
if they're not here I must do it!"

At the second of time, up stood Mary and the gong sounded