The Black Swans 



were for the time being wholly centered 

 in that blessed "whopper" out there in 

 the cornfield. I was so afraid that 

 something would happen to it that 

 I could scarcely sleep o' nights. Some- 

 body or something, I was sure, might 

 break the fragile stem upon which my 

 visions of winning. that dollar offered 

 for the best of its kind on exhibition 

 all depended. Early and late I noted 

 with ever increasing wonder and satis- 

 faction the extraordinary belt line of 

 that one great pumpkin of its day and 

 generation. Nothing like it had ever 

 developed before within the range of 

 my very limited observation, and I had 

 a lot of trouble trying to make up my 

 mind as to the particular use to which 

 I should put that dollar. 



There were two red letter occasions 

 each year when I never, never had 

 half enough small change available. 

 One was Christmas-time; the other 

 the Fourth of July — saying nothing 

 about circus day. Sometimes I had 

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