204. TROTTY’S WEDDING TOUR.

“1 don’t know, ma’am,” said Deb. “I never saw anybody
ride but the grocer and the baker. I ain’t like the grocer
and the baker.”

“You could be lifted, I mean,’ said the young lady,
eagerly. “There is somebody who lifts you?”

‘“ Mother sets me gener’lly,”’ said Deb. ‘Once when she
was very bad with a lame ankle Jim McMahoney set me.
He’s first floor — Jim McMahoney.”’

“‘T shall be back here,”’ said the young lady, still speaking
very quickly, but speaking to Deb’s mother now, “ in just an
hour. I shall come in an easy sleigh with warm robes. - If
you will have your daughter ready to take a ride with me, I
shall be very much, obliged to you.”

The young lady finished her sentence as if she did n’t know
what to say, and so said the truest thing she could think of,
— which is what we are all in danger of doing at times. ,

“Well, I’m sure!”’ said Deb’s mother. “ Dabittra, tell
the lady —”’

But Dabittra could not tell the lady, for she was already
out of the door, and down stairs, and away into the street.
And indeed Deb could not have told the lady —has never
told the lady — can never tell the lady.

If all the blue of summer skies and the gold of summer
sunlight and the shine of summer stars fell down into your
hands at once, for you to paint scrap-books with, should you
know what to say ?

Into the poor little scrap-book of Deb’s life the colors of