Zom makes a Speech. 215

 

 

were doing, but he was just as happy running
anyway in and out among them, stopping to
jump whenever the music played specially
loud, and at last got nearly as hot and red
in the face as the farmer’s wife, and ran quite
out of breath as she had.

“Tom!” called his papa’s voice again from
the other end of the room; “come here.”

He was still standing by the table, on which
was a great round cake covered with sugar,
like a birthday cake. Jim and Matty also
stood near. They both looked very happy,
even though they were not dancing.

“Tom,” said his papa, handing him a wine-
glass of cider, “you must drink Matty and
Jim’s health.”

The music stopped suddenly.

“Well,” said his papa, “we're all waiting.”

Tom did not exactly know what to do, but
he emptied his glass and said—

“Matty and Matty’s husband, I hope your
health will be as good as this cider.”

And everybody laughed, so he saw he had
not made a mistake. Then all the others