The others, and more especially
Toby, proceeded in a leisurely and more dignified manner.
A seat had been placed by the side of the one intended for Toby for
the accommodation of Mr. Stubbs, who suffered a napkin to be tied
under his chin, and behaved generally in a manner that gladdened
the heart of his young master.
Mr. Treat cut generous slices from the turkey for each guest, and
Mrs. Treat piled their plates high with all sorts of vegetables,
complaining, after the manner of housewives generally, that the
food was not cooked as she would like to have had it, and declaring
that she had had poor luck with everything that morning, when she
firmly believed in her heart that her table had never looked better.
After the company had had the edge taken off their appetites --
which effect was produced on the sword swallower only after he had
been helped three different times, the conversation began by the
fat woman asking Toby how he got along with Mr. Lord.
Toby could not give a very good account of his employer, but he
had the good sense not to cast a damper on a party of pleasure by
reciting his own troubles; so he said, evasively:
"I guess I shall get along pretty well, now that I have got so many
friends."
Just as he had commenced to speak the skeleton had put into his
mouth a very large piece of turkey -- very much larger in proportion
than himself -- and when Toby had finished speaking he started to
say something evidently not very complimentary to Mr.
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