"
"And if, after helping the children towards the close of this
dismal day, your heart should relent towards us," added Stanton,
"you will find two worthy objects of your charity."
"Oh what a falling off is here!" she exclaimed, following the
impatient children. "Knights at first, then philosophers, and now
objects of charity."
Miss Burton evidently kept her word, and told a "jolly story," for
the friends saw through the parlor windows that the circle around
her grew larger and more hilarious continually. Then would follow
moments of rapt and eager attention, showing that the tale gained
in excitement and interest what it lost in humor. Young people,
who did not like to be classed with children, one by one yielded
to the temptation. There was life and enjoyment in that corner
and dulness elsewhere, and nothing is so attractive in the world
as genuine and joyous life.
Even elderly ladies looked wistfully up at the occasional bursts
of contagious merriment, and then sighed that they had lost the
power of laughing so easily.
At last the marvelous legend came to an end amid a round of prolonged
applause.
"Another, another!" was the general outcry.
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