And I see there wuz no prospect of their different minds a-comin' any nearer together. And I'll be hanged if I could wonder at it. Why, I myself see things so plain on both sides that I would convince myself time and agin both ways. I would be jest as firm as a rock for hours at a time that it would be the only right thing to do, to shet up the Fair Sundays--shet it up jest as tight as it could be shet. And then agin, I would argue in my own mind, back and forth, and convince myself (ontirely onbeknown to me) that it would be the means of doin' more good to the young folks and the poor to have it open. Why, I had a fearful time, time and agin, a-arguin' and a-disputin' with myself, and a-carryin' metafors back and forth, and a-eppisodin', when nobody wuz round. And as I couldn't seem to come to any clear decision myself, a-disputin' with jest my own self, I didn't spoze so many different minds would become simultanous and agreed. So I jest branched right off and asked Miss Cork "If she had heard that the minister's wife had got the neuralligy." I felt that neuralligy wuz a safe subject, and one that could be agreed on--everybody despised it. [Illustration: Neuralligy wuz a safe subject.] And gradual the talk sort o' quieted down, and I led it gradual into ways of pleasantness and paths of peace. CHAPTER VII. Christopher Columbus Allen got along splendid with his railroad business, and by the time the rest of us wuz ready for the World's Fair, he wuz. We didn't have so many preparations to make as we would in other circumstances, for Ury and Philury wuz goin' to move right into our house, and do for it jest as well as we would do for ourselves. They had done this durin' other towers that we had gone off on, and never had we found our confidence misplaced, or so much as a towel or a dish-cloth missin'. We have always done well by them while they wuz workin' for us by the week or on shares, and they have always jest turned right round and done well by us. Thomas Jefferson and Maggie went with us. Tirzah Ann and Whitfield wuzn't quite ready to go when we did, but they wuz a-comin' later, when Tirzah Ann had got all her preperations made--her own dresses done, and Whitfield's night-shirts embroidered, and her stockin's knit. I love Tirzah Ann. But I can't help seein' that she duz lots of things that hain't neccessary. Now it wuzn't neccessary for her to have eleven new dresses made a purpose to go to the World's Fair, and three white aprons all worked off round the bibs and pockets. Good land! what would she want of aprons there in that crowd? And she no need to had six new complete suits of under-clothes made, all trimmed off elaborate with tattin' and home-made edgin' before she went. And it wuzn't neccessary for her to knit two pairs of open-work stockin's with fine spool thread.