o weep
for joy. She opened the little package and her eyes sparkled. When she
felt that speech was entirely safe, she said:--

"The little package is as prim and neat as Billy Little himself. Dear,
sweet, old Billy Little."

Dic, whose heart was painfully inflamed, was almost jealous of Billy,
and said:--

"I suppose you would not have accepted them from me?"

"Why not?" she responded. "Of course I would." Her eyes grew wide when
she looked up to him and continued, "Did you get them for me and tell me
that Billy Little sent them?"

"No," answered Dic, regretfully, as he began to see possibilities, even
on Blue. One possibility, at least, he saw clearly--one that he had
lost.

"It was more than a possibility," he said to himself, as he rode
homeward. "It was a ready-made opportunity, and I did not see it. The
sooner I go to New York or some place else and get my eyes opened, the
better it will be for me."

* * * * *

The church social opened with a long, sonorous prayer by the Baptist
preacher, Mr. Wetmore. Then followed a psalm, which in turn was followed
by a "few words." After the few words, Rev. Wetmore said in soft,
conciliatory tones, "Now, brethren, if Deacon Moore will be so kind as
to pass the hat, we will receive the offering."

Wetmore was not an ordained minister, nor was he recognized by the
church to which he claimed to belong. He was one of the many itinerant
vagabonds who foisted themselves upon isolated communities solely for
the sake of the "offering."

Deacon Moore passed his hat, and when he handed it to Wetmore that
worthy soul counted out two large copper pennies. There were also in the
hat two brass buttons which Tom, much to Sukey's amusement, had torn
from his clothing for the purpose of an offering. Sukey laughed so
inordinately at Tom's extravagant philanthropy that she convinced De
Triflin' he was a very funny fellow indeed; but she brought upon her
pretty flaxen head a reprimand from Wetmore.

"Undue levity," said he, "ill becomes even frivolous youth at this
moment. Later you will have ample opportunity to indulge your mirth; but
for the present, the Lord's business--" at the word "business" he
received the hat from Deacon Moore, and looked eagerly into it for the
offering. Disappointment, quite naturally, spread itself over his sallow
face, and he continued: "Buttons do not constitute an acceptable
offering to the Lord. He can have no use for th