THE NEW SUIT. OF CLOTHES, ~ 63

' Merry; and by ten o'clock I was quite out of business.
How many wheelbarrows full I carried to the inner
wood-house and piled up I knew not, but I had plenty
of work for three hours. I had just brought back the
batrow, and there. was not enough to fill it. Mr. Merry
_ stopped his saw and looked up.

“You may be off and. rest ye,” said he, in a plea-
santer tone than was usual for him.

. They were the first words he had spoken, and most
promptly were they obeyed. In a few moments I was
in my mother’s kitchen.

“Ts that you, Robert?” said my mother, in surprise. °

“Why, Robert!” exclaimed Jane and Mary at once.
a Have you not gone?”

“We saw your bread, and cheese, and pie in the
closet, and we did not know what it all meant; but we
missed your bag. Why, Robert, tell us how it is that
you did not go!” ;

I stated the case. Jane and Mary had many com-
ments to make. In turn they. blamed Mr. Merry, the

boys, and myself. Jane cried,