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hem； and she said not at all； and I was so glad； for I had been so afraid for them； and then she told about how much they were enjoying Macaulay。 Then I asked her if the new anvil factory on the other side of the street did not trouble her； and she said not at all。 And when I said； ‘How can that be？' she said； ‘Why； Julia dear； we do not let these things trouble us； don't you see。 If I were you； I would not let such things trouble me。'〃
George Haliburton laid down his knife as Julia told the story。 〃Do you remember Rabia at Mecca？ Yes； they all remembered Rabia at Mecca：
〃Oh heart； weak follower of the weak； That thou shouldst traverse land and sea； In this far place that God to seek Who long ago had come to thee！〃
〃Why should we not stay here； and not let these things trouble us？〃
Why not； indeed？
And they stayed。
ONE CENT
A CHRISTMAS STORY
DOWN
Mr。 Starr rose very early that day。 The sun was not up。 Yet； certainly； it was too light to strike a match。 Ah； Mr。 Starr； a match may be an economy！
So it was that when； as always； the keys jingled out from his trousers pockets upon the floor； and the money as well； one cent rolled under the bureau unseen by Mr。 Starr。 He went down to his work now； after he had gathered up the rest of the money and the keys； and answered yesterday's letters。
Then； of course； he could loiter over his breakfast。
But not too long。 Clara； his wife； was in good spirits； and the boys were very jolly； but Mr。 Starr； all the same； did the duty next his hand。 He 〃kissed her good…by；〃 and started down…town。 Edgar stopped； him to ask for fifty cents for his lunch； the postman wanted fifteen for an underpaid parcel； Susan； the maid； asked for ten for some extra milk； and then he kissed his hand to the parlor window； and was off。
No！ He was not off。
For Clara threw up the window and waved her lily hand。 Mr。 Starr ran back to the door。 She flung it open。
〃My dear John； here is your best coat。 That coat you have on has a frayed button。 I saw it yesterday； and I cannot bear to have you wear it at the Board。〃
〃Dear Clara； what a saint you are！〃 One more kiss； and Mr。 Starr departed。
And loyally he did the duty next his hand。 He stopped and signed the sewerage petition； he looked in on poor Colt and said a cheerful word to him； he bade Woolley； the fruit man； send a barrel of Nonesuches to old Mrs。 Cowen； he was on time at the Board meeting； took the chair； and they changed the constitution。 He looked in at the office and told Mr。 Freemantle he should be late； but that he would look at the letters when he came back； and then； ho！ for East Boston！
If only you knew； dear readers； that to East Boston you must go by a ferry…boat； as if it were named Greenbush； or Brooklyn； or Camden。
As Mr。 Starr took the street car after he had crossed the ferry； to go into the unknown parts of East Boston； he did notice that he gave the conductor his last ticket。 But what of that？ 〃End of the route〃 came； and he girded his loins； trudged over to the pottery he was in search of； found it at last； found the foreman and gave his orders； and then； through mud unspeakable； waded back to the street car。 He was the only passenger。 No wonder！ The only wonder was that there was a car。
〃Ticket； sir；〃 said the conductor； after half a mile。
MR。 STARR （SMILING）。 I have no ticket； but you may sell me a dollar's worth。 （FEELS FOR POCKETBOOK。） Hello！ I have not my pocketbook； changed my coat。
CONDUCTOR （SAVAGELY）。 They generally has changed their coats。
MR。 STARR （WITH DIGNITY； OFFERING A FIVE…CENT NICKEL）。 There's your fare； man。
CONDUCTOR。 That won't do； mud…hopper。 Fare's six cents。
MR。 STARR （WELL REMEMBERING THE CENT； WHICH IS； ALAS UNDER THE BUREAU； AND GROVELLING FOR IT IN BOTH POCKETS）。 I have a cent somewhere。
CONDUCTOR （STOPPING CAR AND RETURNING FIVE…CENT PIECE）。 We've had enough of you tramps who change your coats and cannot find your pennies。 You step offand step off mighty quick。
Mr。 Starr declines； when they come to Maverick Square he will report the man to the superintendent； who knows him well。 Slight scuffle。 Mr。 Starr resists。 Conductor calls driver。 Mr。 Starr is ejected。 Coat torn badly and hat thrown into mud。 Car departs。
TABLEAU。
SCENE II
UP
（MUDDY STREET IN EAST BOSTON。 Mr。 STARR； WIPING HIS HAT WITH HIS HANDKERCHIEF； SOLUS。）
MR。 STARR。 If only Clara had not been so anxious about the Board meeting！ （EYES FIVE…CENT PIECE。） Where can that penny be？ （SEARCHES IN POCKETS； IS SEARCHING WHEN） （ENTER R。 H。 U。 E。 SPAN OF WILD HORSES； SWIFTLY DRAGGING A CARRYALL。 IN THE CARRYALL TWO CHILDREN SCREAMING。 SPEED OF HORSES； 2。41。）
MR。 STARR。 Under the present circumstances life is worthless； or nearly so。 Let me bravely throw it away！
（RUSHES UPON THE SPAN。 CATCHES EACH HORSE BY THE BIT； AND BY SHEER WEIGHT CONTROLS THEM。 HORSES ON THEIR METTLE； Mr。 Starr ON HIS。 ENTER； RUNNING； JOHN CRADOCK。）
JOHN CRADOCK。 Whoa； whoa！ Ha！ they stop。 How can I thank you； my man？ You have saved my children's lives。
MR。 STARR （STILL HOLDING BITS）。 You had better take the reins。
John Cradock mounts the seat； seizes reins； but is eager to reward the poor； tattered wretch at their heads。 Passes reins to right hand； and with left feels for a half eagle； which he throws； with grateful words； to Mr。 Starr。 Mr。 Starr leaves the plunging horses； and they rush toward Prescott Street。 （EXEUNT JOHN CRADOCK； HORSES AND CHILDREN。）
Half amused； half ashamed； Mr。 Starr picks up the coin； which he also supposes to be half an eagle。
It proves to be a bright penny； just from the mint。
Mr。 Starr lays it with delight upon the five…cent nickel。 （ENTER A STREET CAR； L。 H。 L。 E。 Mr。 STARR WAVES HIS HAND WITH DIGNITY； AND ENTERS CAR。 PAYS HIS FARE； SIX CENTS； AS HE PASSES CONDUCTOR。）
In fifteen minutes they are at Maverick Square。 Mr。 Starr stops the car at the office of Siemens & Bessemer； and enters。 Meets his friend Fothergill。
FOTHERGILL。 Bless me； Starr； you are covered with mud！ Pottery； eh？ Runaway horse； eh？ No matter； we are just in time to see Wendell off。 William； take Mr。 Starr's hat to be pressed。 Put on this light overcoat； Starr。 Here is my tweed cap。 Now； jump in； and we will go to the 〃Samaria〃 to bid Wendell good…by。
And indeed they both found Wendell。 Mr。 Starr bade him good…by； and advised him a little about the man be was to see in Dresden。 He met Herr Birnebaum； and talked with him a little about the chemistry of enamels。 Oddly enough； Fonseca was there； the attache； the same whom Clara had taken to drive at Bethlehem。 Mr。 Starr talked a little Spanish with him。 Then they were all rung onshore。
TABLEAU： DEPARTING STEAMER。 CROWD WAVES HANDKERCHIEFS。
SCENE III CHRISTMASTHE END
At Mr。 Starr's Christmas dinner； beside their cousins from Harvard College and their second cousins from Wellesley College and their third cousins from Bradford Academy； they had young Clifford； the head book…keeper。 As he came in； joining the party on their way home from church； he showed Mr。 Starr a large parcel。
〃It's the ‘Alaska's' mail； and I thought you mi