ceeded:

"I feel, when I say that we like and admire Mr. Tyler, all present will
agree with me and all would like to hear him say a word for himself."

The skeleton seemed to have expressed the views of those present
remarkably well, judging from their expressions of pleasure and assent,
and all waited for the honored guest to speak.

Toby knew that he must say something, but he couldn't think of a single
thing; he tried over and over again to call to his mind something which
he had read as to how people acted and what they said when they were
expected to speak at a dinner table, but his thoughts refused to go back
for him, and the silence was actually becoming painful. Finally, and
with the greatest effort, he managed to say, with a very perceptible
stammer, and while his face was growing very red:

"I know I ought to say something to pay for this big dinner that you
said was gotten up for me, but I don't know what to say, unless to thank
you for it. You see, I hain't big enough to say much, an', as Uncle
Dan'l says, I don't amount to very much, 'cept for eatin', an' I guess
he's right. You're all real good to me, an' when I get to be a man I'll
try to do as much for you."

Toby had risen to his feet when he began to make his speech, and while
he was speaking Mr. Stubbs had crawled over into his chair. When he
finished he sat down again without looking behind him, and of course sat
plump on the monkey. There was a loud outcry from Mr. Stubbs, a little
frightened noise from Toby, an instant's scrambling, and then boy,
monkey, and chair tumbled off the platform, landing on the ground in
an indescribable mass, from which the monkey extricated himself more
quickly than Toby could, and again took refuge on the top of the tent
pole.

Of course all the guests ran to Toby's assistance; and while the fat
woman poked him all over to see that none of his bones were broken, the
skeleton brushed the dirt from his clothes.

All this time the monkey screamed, yelled, and danced around on the tent
pole and ropes, as if his feelings had received a shock from which he
could never recover.

"I didn't mean to end it up that way, but it was Mr. Stubbs's fault,"
said Toby, as soon as quiet had been restored and the guests, with the
exception of the monkey, were seated at the table once more.

"Of course you didn't," said Mrs. Treat, in a kindly tone. "But don't
you feel bad about it one bit, for you ought to thank your lucky stars