“There’s a good many of ’em ain’t got any, an’ that’s a fact. If you’re so stuck on seein’ Sadie agin, we’ll make it our business to flash her up when there’s nothin’ on hand; but as I said this mornin’, she’d better stay where she is while we’re busy.”
Josiah realized that his friends were not at all pleased by his frequent reference to the little match-girl, and he remained silent; but there was beginning to spring up in his mind a plan which he hoped might be carried into execution.
It is just possible that the friends of the young gentleman from Berry’s Corner made a mistake in introducing him to the Brooklyn Bridge during the evening, or perhaps he was too tired to appreciate that wonderful structure; but certain it is, he did not evince the surprise or admiration which Tom and Bob had expected, and even complained of the distance, saying, after they had walked with him across and back, that he would have “liked it a good deal better if it wasn’t more’n half as long.”
Upon their return to Baker’s Court it was not necessary for Mrs. Bartlett to urge the party to retire.
There was nothing the visitor could think of that would be so refreshing as a bed just then; and he believed no pleasure could be greater than that of being able to lie down in his own room, with the knowledge that his mother was within call, even though by such change in his surroundings his visit to the city would be materially shortened.
When Josiah awakened next morning the first thought in his mind was that of the money spent during the previous day, his second as to whether Sadie had had any breakfast, and the third, regarding the amount he would receive for the fur.
“We’re goin’ down to Coney Island to-day,” Bob cried as his guest awakened him. “Tom an’ me’ll see to the tickets, an’ we’re countin’ on the biggest kind of a time.”
“But I must go up to the fur store, else I’ll spend all my money, an’ won’t have any left to buy presents for father an’ mother.”
“Well, we’ll do that right after breakfast,” Tom replied.
An hour later the three boys left Baker’s Court, Josiah carrying the fruits of his labor as a trapper closely wrapped in an old newspaper, and feeling just a trifle uneasy about entering the city shops.