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1. Thomas. WHAT's your hurry, Frank? Stop a

minute.

2. Frank. I can't stay! Father sent me with this letter to the railroad depot.

3. Th. Well, the depot won't run away.

4. Fr. But the cars will; there's a gentleman going to New York, who promised to carry this letter, and there's money in it for my brother.

5. Th. But don't you see it's but ten minutes past three? and the cars don't start till four, and you have time enough for what I want of you.

me.

6. Fr. Well, what do you want?

you

?

7. Th. Just step in here to see the wild beasts with You have never been have 8. Fr. No: I'll go when I come back from my errand.

9. Th. No, you can't; for then it will be time to go to the writing-master.

10. Fr. Then I'll go with you to-morrow.

11. Th. No, you can't; for this is the last day of the exhibition.

12. Fr. Is it? That's too bad! I did not know there were any beasts in town till to-day. How many are there?

13. Th. Ever so many; there's a polar bear, and an elephant, and a most beautiful rhinoceros1

14.

Fr. I have seen a rhinoceros, and he is the ugliest creature that ever was; his skin sits as loosely upon him as a sailor's trousers.

15. Th. Well, there's a royal tiger

16. Fr. Is there? I never saw a royal tiger.

17. Th. O, he's a beauty!—all yellow, and covered with black stripes. Then there are little leopards,

playing just like kittens; and There! there! do you hear that? That's the lion roaring!

18. Fr. What a loud noise he makes! How long will it take to see them all?

19. Th. O, not half an hour; and it won't take you five minutes to go down to the depot afterwards, if you run as fast as you can.

20. Fr. Are there any monkeys?

21.

Th. Plenty of them! the funniest monkeys you ever saw; they make all sorts of faces.

22. Fr. Well,—I don't know, — what if I should be too late for the cars?

23. Th. No danger of that, I tell you; the town clock up there is too fast; it's all out of order; and, besides, you might see half the beasts while you are standing here thinking about it,-looking up the street and down the street.

24. Fr. Well, come along, then. money?

Where's your

25. Th. O, I don't pay! I got acquainted with the door-keeper after I had been in twice, and now he lets me in for nothing every time I bring a fellow that does pay.

26. Fr. O, ho! Well, I suppose it's a quarter of a

dollar, and I have one somewhere in my pockets. [Pulling out his handkerchief to search for the money, drops the letter.] Ah, here it is! Ah, here it is! Come, Tom; no time to be lost. Mind you do not let me stay too long.

[They go into the exhibition booth. Frank's father, passing along, picks up the letter, examines it, looks round for Frank, and passes hastily away. After some

time the boys come out.]

27.

Th. You did not see half of them, you were in such a hurry and worry.

28. Fr. I know it. Are you sure that clock is too fast, Tom?

29.

Th. I don't know. I suppose so. The clocks are wrong half the time.

30. Fr. Why, you told me it was too fast, Tom! and now I'm very sure that I shall be too late. I wish I hadn't gone in.

31. Th. Well, why don't you move, then? What are you rummaging after?

32. Fr. Why, after my letter. I'm sure I put it in this pocket. What in the name of wonder has become of it?

33. Th. Look in the other pocket.

34. Fr. It isn't there; nor in my hat. What shall I do?

35.

36.

Th. Why, you can't have lost it, can you? Fr. I have lost it; I am as sure as can be I had it in this very pocket just before I met you; and now it's gone.

37. Th. Maybe somebody stole it in the crowd.

38. Fr. That's comfort! There was ever so much money in it, for I heard father talking about it at dinner time.

39. Th. O, I'll tell you what's become of it.

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41. Th. Why, I guess the elephant took it out of your pocket.

42. Fr. You ought to be ashamed to stand there laughing, after you have got me into such a scrape! I have a great mind to go in again and look all round. 43. Th. They won't let you in again unless you pay. 44. Fr. O Tom, what will my father say to me? Where shall I look? I wish I had never heard of the beasts. There was no comfort in looking at them, for I was thinking of the cars all the time; and now my letter is lost, and brother Henry's money, and all; and what will father do to me?

45. Th. What's the use of telling him any thing about it? He'll never know whether the letter went or not, if you don't say a word.

46. Fr. Yes, he will; my brother will write to inquire for the money.

47. Th. Well, and can't you say you gave the letter to the gentleman ?

48. Fr. No, Tom; I can't do that. I can't tell a lie, and, above all, to my father.

49. Th. The more fool you! But you needn't look so sad about it. There's your father coming Run and tell him, quick, and get a whipping! 50. Fr. He will punish me, Tom; that he will. What shall I do?

now.

51. Th. Take my advice. I'll tell a fib for you, and do you hold to it.

52. Fr. I never told a lie in my life, Tom.

53. Th. Then it's high time you did; you'll have to tell a great many before you die.

54. Fr. I don't believe that.

55. Th. Well, here's your father. Now see how I'll get you out of the scrape.

That's right! keep

staring up at the handbill on the wall.

(Enter Father: Frank stares at the handbill.)

56. Father. Why, Frank, you have run yourself out of breath. I trust that letter will go safely, for your brother wants the money very much.

57. Th. Frank was just in time, sir. The cars were just starting.

58. Fath. O, you went with him—did you?

59. Th. Yes, sir; and I saw the gentleman put the letter in his pocket-book very carefully. I fancy it will go safe enough.

60. Fath. I fancy it will. What is in that handbill, Frank, that interests you so much?

61. Fr. I don't know, sir.

62.

Fath. What's the matter, my boy?

63. Fr. I can't stand it, father! I can't stand it! I had rather take ten whippings, Tom, any day, than

- than

64. Fath. Ho, ho! What is all this?

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65. Fr. I know I am a fool; but I can't tell a lie. I lost the letter, father. I went to see the wild beasts with Tom, and lost the letter.

4

67. Fath. And this precious fellow wanted you to deceive me about it did he?

68.

69.

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Th. Why, I thought

Fath. Frank, I would willingly lose a dozen letters, with ten times as much money in them, for the pleasure of finding you resist this temptation! Come

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