ent is quite as morally effective and
instructively entertaining as ever," said Mr. Treat, interrupting his
wife to speak a good word for the exhibition.

Toby ran out quickly, that he might not delay the regular business any
longer than was absolutely necessary; and at the very entrance of the
tent, looking at the pictures in wonder that almost amounted to awe, he
found Abner with his partners, and about a dozen other boys.

"Come right in quick, fellers," said Toby, breathlessly, "an' you can
see the whole show before it commences."

CHAPTER VIII

THE DINNER PARTY

The invitation was no sooner given than accepted; and in a twinkling
every one of those boys was inside the tent, looking at the skeleton and
the fat woman as though they had been old acquaintances.

Toby had told Mr. and Mrs. Treat of the little circus they were
intending to have, and he introduced to them his partners in the
enterprise.

The fleshy Lilly smiled encouragingly upon them, and the skeleton,
moving his chair slightly to prevent his wife from interrupting him,
said:

"I am pleased to meet you, gentlemen, principally, and I might almost
say wholly, because you are the friends of my old friend, Mr. Tyler.
Whatever business relations you may have with him, whether in the great
profession of the circus, or in the humbler walks of life, I am sure he
will honor the connection."

From appearances Mr. Treat would have continued to talk for some time,
but his wife passed around more doughnuts, and the attention of the
visitors was so distracted that he was obliged to stop.

"And this is Abner," said Toby, taking advantage of the break in the
skeleton's speech to lead forward his crippled friend.

Abner limped blushingly towards the gigantic lady, and when both she and
her thin husband spoke to him kindly, he was so covered with confusion
at the honor thus showered upon him that he was hardly able to say a
word.

But the time was passing rapidly, and as there were many persons
outside, probably, waiting for an opportunity to pay their money to see
the varied attractions of the show, Mrs. Treat gave the signal for the
snake-charmer to begin the entertainment, which was given as a mark of
respect, as the skeleton explained, to their friend Toby Tyler.

[Illustration: MR. AND MRS. TREAT EXHIBIT PRIVATELY]

This private exhibition lasted about fifteen minutes, and when, at its
close, the doors were thrown open to such of the public