nt conception
what the story is, yet you don't like to say so, because it seems to be
intimated that every intelligent person ought to know it; so you hold
your peace. My dear, don't do it. Don't hold your peace. Don't let
yourself be put down in that way. Don't be deceived. Half the time
these people never knew it themselves, I dare say, more than a week
before-hand, and have been puzzling their brains ever since for a
chance to get it in.)

The Individual came at length to the conclusion that something must be
done. Masterly inactivity must give way to the exigencies of the case.
She had recourse to the "oldest inhabitant." A series of questions
disclosed the important fact that--

"Well, there was a store at Sonose, about fourteen miles away; and Mr.
Williams, he kept candy, and slate-pencils, and sich--"

"Do you suppose be keeps good thick boots?"

"O la! no."

"Do you suppose he keeps any kind of boots? You see I have worn mine
out, and what am I to do?"

"Well, now, I thinks likely you can get 'em mended."

Individual brightens up. "O, do you?"

"Yes, there's Mr. Jacobs, lives right out there, under the hill; he
makes men's boots. I do' know as he could do yours, but you might try.
Thinks likely he ain't got the tools, nor the stuff to do that sort of
work with."

I didn't care for the tools or the stuff. All I wanted was the
shoemaker; if I could find HIM, little doubt that all the rest would
follow naturally from the premises. So I arranged my "sandal shoon and
scallop-shell," and departed on my pilgrimage. The way had been
carefully pointed out to me, but I never can remember such things more
than one turn, or street, ahead; so I made a point of inquiring of
every one I met, where Mr. Jacobs lived. Every one, by the way,
consisted of a little girl with a basket of potatoes, and a man
carrying the United States mail on his arm.

At length the Individual found the house as directed, and found also
that it was no house, but a barn, and the shoemaker's shop was
upstairs, and the stairs were on the outside. If they were firm and
strong, their looks were against them. Neither step nor balustrade
invited confidence. The Individual stood on the lower one in a
meditative mood for a while, and then gave a jump by way of test,
thinking it best to go through the one nearest the ground, if she must
go through any. An ominous creaking and swaying and cracking followed,
but no actual rupture.