Our Odd-men 



do you, Father ? He has a very tidy one, 

 and he is so proud of it." 



'' Bless the lad! " said my Father in his 

 hearty way, "why should I mind? I'm 

 sure he's welcome, poor fellow ; he may 

 wear what hat he pleases, white, blue, or 

 red, if he will." 



" But you seem to forget," chimed in 

 Mary, ''that you spoke so crossly to poor 

 Sprightly about his new hat." 



" No, did I then ? " said the old man in 

 a tone of great surprise. " Why, what an 

 old bear I must be ! And then to go and 

 forget all about it, too," he added, shaking 

 his head and with his eyes a-twinkle. 



I told Sprightly what my Father had said, 

 and before the "Alert" started next morn- 

 ing the coachmaster, with rather red face, 

 be it said, found occasion to call him from 

 his post at the horses' heads. 



" Turn that rein over, boy — there, 

 thankee," he said, adding hurriedly, ''that's 

 a very smart hat of yours, Sprightly, and 

 suits you uncommon well." 



Sprightly touched the hat in question 

 several times and beamed with pleasure. 



Several years before he came about our 



office he had been employed by two French 



milliners in Brighton. He had evidently 



served them well, for they complimented 



i8o 



