CHAPTER XV—SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES IN A “CORNET BRASS BAND”

AS FIGURED BY ITS PROMOTER, HIRAM LOOK

Open order and forward march!

Major in bearskin and stiffer than starch,

Knees like a thoroughbred—he’s the kind!

And all the musicianers marchin’ behind,

Then poum-ta-roum! Oh, ain’t it grand

To march with the Atkinson Full Brass Band?

—From “Village Ballads.”

When Hiram turned in at the dooryard of the Look place next day it was late in the afternoon, and he was riding in the rear of a farmer’s beach waggon, his long legs dangling over the tail-board. Imogene followed docilely at the end of a rope, her affectionate gaze on her master.