My Boyhood and Youth 



When he craned his neck through the win- 

 dow and got a glimpse of my bundle, he cried 

 excitedly, "Oh! you don't need a ticket, 

 come right in." 



When I inquired of the agent where such 

 things as mine should be exhibited, he said, 

 "You see that building up on the hill with a 

 big flag on it? That's the Fine Arts Hall, and 

 it 's just the place for your wonderful invention." 



So I went up to the Fine Arts Hall and looked 

 in, wondering if they would allow wooden 

 things in so fine a place. 



I was met at the door by a dignified gentle- 

 man, who greeted me kindly and said, "Young 

 man, what have we got here?" 



"Two clocks and a thermometer," I replied. 



"Did you make these? They look wonder- 

 fully beautiful and novel and must, I think, 

 prove the most interesting feature of the fair." 



"Where shall I place them?" I inquired. 



"Just look around, young man, and choose 

 the place you like best, whether it is occupied 

 or not. You can have your pick of all the 

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