Sadie did not exactly understand what the old gentleman was saying so earnestly; but she knew it all meant an invitation to visit the farm, and little persuasion was needed to gain her consent.
Just then Master Bartlett took charge of the matter by adding:—
“I’ll go down to Mother Hunter’s with her, an see that she’s ready to leave with you an’ Josiah, Mr. Shindle. When it’s time to start, we’ll be waitin’ for you at the court.”
CHAPTER XVII.
AT HOME.
This arrangement was immediately carried into effect, because Tom did not wait for an expression of opinion regarding it.
He led Sadie across the square, and the other members of the party were left alone, Farmer Shindle saying, when the child was hidden from view by the throng of pedestrians:—
“You’ve done a good deed, ’Siah, no matter what mother says. It’s a burnin’ shame for that poor little thing to have to earn her livin’ sellin’ matches on the street. I’ll pay for the railroad tickets, an’ you can spend your money as you like.” Then, conscious of having obeyed a kindly impulse, and feeling better because of it, the farmer bethought himself of the plans he had made for enjoying this brief visit, and asked, “Ain’t there a wax figger show somewhere ’round here?”
“Yes, sir,” Bob replied. “I know of a big one way up town; but it costs fifty cents to go in.”
“I don’t care if they tax six shillings apiece, we’re goin’ with the whole crowd. It’s the first time I’ve been in the city with nothin’ to do, for more’n two years. I’ve begun by agreein’ to pay that little girl’s way out home, an’ I guess I can stand three or four dollars more. Show us where it is, Bob, an’ I’ll buy the tickets.”
Under Master Green’s guidance the party walked toward Broadway until Farmer Shindle remembered that Tom was in danger of losing his share of the sight-seeing, and suddenly halted as he said:—