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“HOW WE GOT OUR SPEEDLE.”

We were dawdling over the relics of our breakfast, and making plans for the amusements of the day, when my Uncle, who had gone into his study to open the post-bag, came into the room with an open letter in his hand, and said, with evident glee, “Guess, girls, what this tells me?”

My Cousins began all kinds of possible and impossible guesses; but their father stood silent and amused. At last, turning to me, he said,—

“Well, you little mouse, what do you guess?”

“I guess,” said I, “that you have heard of a Speedle?”

“Right,” said he; “Thompson of Pontefract knows of one; but there is one drawback. It is blue and there are no straps.”

“It won't matter much, Papa,” said Emily; “particularly at this time of year.”

“True,” said my Uncle, “I shall certainly send for it.”

“But how about Aunt Do-do?” said Fred.

“Ah! I forgot,” said my Uncle, looking very grave. “Yes, yes; her infirmity prevents anything of the kind from being very acceptable; but still, if we got some wide red tape, and bound it in squares, I don't fancy she would mind so much. At any rate, we will have it, and see what can be done.”

This news caused great excitement among us, which may, perhaps, to those accustomed to Speedles appear odd; but it must be remembered that the fact of so many of my Aunts being in Nova Zembla, of course, had prevented us from having a Speedle before. However, a month or so before the time of which I am writing, the Board of Directors of Toronto had issued amended rules; and we were no longer obliged to be so particular.

“It would be awkward, and a little unseemly,” said our elderly Cousin, Sampson Lightfoot, “if it should come on a Tuesday.”

We all agreed that this must be prevented; and I ran into my Uncle's study to remind him.

“Yes,” said he; “nor would it be advisable that it should arrive at the house between three and five; but I will give full directions, and I dare say there will be no danger.”

My Uncle wrote very fully by the night's post, and enclosed sufficient stamps to pay for the Speedle, directing that it was to be carefully packed in damp bran.

During the afternoon our good old Rector called. He looked rather grave and uneasy, and after a few remarks about the weather, he said,—

“I hear that you expect a Speedle.”

“Yes,” we said.

“Well, my dears,” said he, “I am getting old, and perhaps a little old-fashioned, but after the Dean's sermon last Sunday week, I can only view such matters in a serious light. I am the more vexed,” he continued, “because of course the whole parish looks up so much to your father.”

“But, Mr. Doxford,” said I, “it has only five holes.”

My dear,” he exclaimed, “you have taken a great weight off my mind. If I had known that, I should, of course, have made no objection. It is soft, I presume?”

“Partly so,” said I.

“That's well, that's well!” said he, as he wished us all good day.

The next morning brought a telegram:

“Boston. Pontefract to Jones.—Clackton will send Speedle. Do you want knobs and sliding-gear?”

Of course we must have the proper number of knobs, but the sliding-gear, unless attached by ebony joints, and dove-tailed into the back, would only increase the pressure, and induce leakage. So my Uncle replied:

“Jones. Clackton. Boston—Pontefract. Send knobs, but not sliding-gear, unless perforated obliquely.”

We waited in great expectation until the second day after, when a Railway-porter came up to say that there was a Speedle waiting at the station for us, and the Station-master begged that it might be fetched away directly, as the Company's orders regarding Speedles were very strict. We immediately directed Johnson, the gardener, to take the largest cart, and fetch the Speedle with great care.

Most unfortunately, our elderly Cousin, Sampson Lightfoot, had dropped a hint to Aunt Do-do, and it was as much as we could to prevent her leaving the house. We most earnestly assured her that it was a very small soft Speedle.

“Was it moist?” she asked.

“Of course it must be a little moist,” we said.

“Then I will not have it in the house,” said she.

So we had to get the coach-house ready for it.

At last, after waiting a long time, it arrived just before dinner, and we all went into the coach-house to see it unpacked.

It was an ordinary, medium Speedle, with fewer red spots than usual, but with larger screws and more yellow pulp than are generally found in blue Speedles. But it seemed in very fair order; and those who know the value of true Speedles, working eight to the half-inch, and split up the centre, will appreciate our delight and enthusiasm.

Not long afterwards, our elderly Cousin, Sampson Lightfoot, was recalled to Timbuctoo, and Aunt Do-do, having died at the advanced age of ninety-four, we had the Speedle brought into the spare room, where it now remains.

We often pay it a visit, especially on Thursday evenings: and few can listen to it, or touch its elongated, octagonal gauge without feeling glad that we were able, at last, to procure a Speedle.