60 CAROLINE.

 

Beechnut in Boston. His plans for going home.

CHAPTER V.
BEECHNUT’S RETURN.

Own the morning of the third day after Phonny wrote
his composition-letter describing the imaginary fire, which
was sent to the post-office by mistake, Beechnut on look-
ing out from his window at the hotel where he was lodg-
ing in the city, saw that it was raining fast. The first
gong had already sounded. In half an kour the gong
would sound again, he knew, for breakfast. He dressed
himself, thinking, while thus employed, about the busi-
ness which he had still to do in the city, and considering
whether the rain would prevent his finishing it, and setting
out for home the next day, as he had intended todo. He
came to the conclusion that he might perhaps get through
with his business notwithstanding the storm.

Immediately after breakfast he took his umbrella and
went out into the street, intending, first of all, according
to his usual custom, to go to the post-office. His hotel was
at some distance from the post-office. As he came out
upon the side-walk from the door of the hotel, he said to
himself, thinking,

“ Let me see,—shall I walk to the post-office or take an
omnibus? Let me calculate a litle. My board at the
hotel is two dollars a day. My time in Franconia is
worth to Mrs. Henry say one dollar more. So that every
day that I stay in Boston, costs her three dollars. Now