was on hand to put up
the horses, and told Quincy in a whisper that some of the boys thought
it was mighty mean not to invite the Pettengill folks and their boarder.

The sharp air had whetted the appetites of the travellers during their
six-mile ride, and they did full justice to the nicely-cooked food that
the Deacon's wife placed before them. Supper was over at quarter before
seven, and in half an hour the dishes were washed and put away and the
quartette of young folks adjourned to the parlor.

Quincy took his seat at the piano and began playing a popular air.

"Oh, let us sing something," cried Huldy. "You know I have been taking
lessons from Professor Strout, and he says I have improved greatly. If
he says it you know it must be so; and, did you know Alice, that 'Zekiel
has a fine baritone voice?"

"We used to sing a good deal together," said Alice, "but I was no judge
of voices then."

"Well, 'Zeke don't know a note of music," continued Huldy, "but he has a
quick ear and he seems to know naturally just how to use his voice."

"Oh, nonsense," said 'Zekiel, "I don't know how to sing, I only hum a
little. Sing us something, Mr. Sawyer," said he.

Quincy sang a song very popular at the time, entitled "The Jockey Hat
and Feather." All four joined in the chorus, and at the close the room
rang with laughter. Quincy then struck up another popular air, "Pop Goes
the Weasel," and this was sung by the four with great gusto. Then he
looked over the music on the top of the piano, which was a Bourne &
Leavitt square, and found a copy of the cantata entitled, "The
Haymakers," and for half an hour the solos and choruses rang through the
house and out upon the evening air.

Mrs. Mason looked in the door and said, "I wouldn't sing any more now,
it is nearly eight o'clock."

And thus admonished they began talking of Tilly James's engagement to
Sam Hill and the sale of the grocery store, which was to come off the
next day.

"I wonder who will buy it?" asked Huldy.

"Well, I hear Strout has got some backers," said 'Zekiel, "but I don't
see what good it will be to him unless he is appointed postmaster. They
say he has written to Washington and applied for the position."

Quincy pricked up his ears at this. He had almost forgotten this chance
to put another spoke in Mr. Strout's wheel. He made a mental memorandum
to send telegrams to two Massachusetts congressmen with whom he was well
acquainted to hold up Strout's appoi