wink his eye, and
so deaf that it was all he could do to hear with an ear-trumpet as big
as the cornucopia belonging to the wooden young lady over the provision
stores.

"Just you step out and walk!" roared old Joe in the ear-trumpet. And the
queer thing is that old Peter did begin to get out; and not only began,
but went on; and stood on the pavement; and then took Joe's arm; and the
three went careering down the street together!

The whole place came out to stare open-mouthed at those three old boys
bouncing down the street together.

Half-way down old Joe Wilkings stopped with a jerk, and turned on old
Peter.

"What, in the name of goodness, _do_ you want with that trumpet
machine?" he roared. "A young 'un like you! Lookee here--let's get rid
of it." And Joe snatched the ear-trumpet out of his hand, and jerked it
over a shed into the field behind. It was a good long jerk; and most of
the young men of the place would have been proud to do it.

"Can hear just as well as I can; that's what _you_ can do! Can't he,
young George?"

Old Peter looked dazed; but old Joe stood nodding at him so decisively
that old George took it up and nodded decisively too; and they were so
convincing about the matter that old Peter began to believe he _could_
hear; and from that moment, if you'll believe me, he _did_ hear quite
comfortably!

[Illustration: "THE THREE WENT CAREERING DOWN THE STREET."]

Then the inhabitants collected in little knots, and talked the matter
over; and decided that there must be something wrong, in the witchcraft
line; and shook their heads doubtfully; but those three old boys trotted
into the "Bun and Bottle" and ordered--ah! and drank off--a pint of beer
apiece; a thing they had not done those ten years. Drank it off at a
draught, if you'll believe me.

Well, then they went the round and beat up all the old folks of that
place to bid them to the picnic. Those old people stared, and shook
their heads, and scoffed; but old Joe Wilkings hadn't talked to them for
five minutes before they were up on their feet and trotting about as if
they were acrobats, though perhaps it's hard to believe.

"We'll have a row on the river," said old Joe; "and then we'll picnic on
the bank, and see who can climb trees best; and then we'll have a room
at an hotel, and finish up with a dance, and just show 'em how it ought
to be done."

[Illustration: "AUNT SUSAN'S MOTHER."]

I tell you he had to busy himself, had old Jo