And the very first thing he did after he come in, and drawed off his boots, and wondered “why under the gracious heavens it was, that the bootjack never could be found where he had left it” (which was right in the middle of the settin'-room floor). But he found it hangin' up in its usual place in the closet, only a coat had got hung up over it so he couldn't see it for half a minute. And after he had his warm slippers on, and got sot down in his easy-chair opposite to his beloved companion, he grew calmer again, and more placider, and drawed out that letter from his pocket. And I sot there a knittin', and a watchin' my companion's face at the same time; and I see that as he read the letter, he looked smut, and sort o' wonder-struck: and says I,-- “Who is your letter from, Josiah Allen?” And he says, lookin' up on top of it,-- “It is from the headquarters of the Railroad Company;” and says he, lookin' close at it agin, “As near as I can make out, it is a free pass for me to ride on the railroad.” Says I, “Why, that can't be, Josiah Allen. Why should they give you a free pass?” “I don't know,” says he. “But I know it is one. The more I look at it,” says he, growin' excited over it,--“the more I look at it, the plainer I can see it. It is a free pass.” Says I, “I don't believe it, Josiah Allen.” “Wall, look at it for yourself, Samantha Allen” (when he is dretful excited, he always calls me Samantha Allen), “and see what it is, if it hain't that;” and he throwed it into my lap. [Illustration: COPY OF THE LETTER: FREE PASS.] I looked at it close and severe, but not one word could I make out, only I thought I could partly make out the word “remove,” and along down the sheet the word “place,” and there wus one word that did look like “free.” And Josiah jumped at them words; and says he,-- “It means, you know, the pass reads like this, for me to remove myself from place to place, free. Don't you see through it?” says he. “No,” says I, holdin' the paper up to the light. “No, I don't see through it, far from it.” “Wall,” says he, highly excited and tickled, “I'll try it to-morrow, anyway. I'll see whether I am in the right, or not.” And he went on dreamily, “Lemme see--I have got to move that lumber in the mornin' up from my wood-lot. But it won't take me more'n a couple of hours, or so, and in the afternoon I'll take a start.” Says I, “What under the sun, Josiah Allen, should the Railroad Company give you a free pass for?” “Wall,” says he, “I have my thoughts.” He spoke in a dretful sort of a mysterious way, but proud; and I says,-- “What do you think is the reason, Josiah Allen?” And he says, “It hain't always best to tell what you think. I hain't obleeged to,” says he. And I says, “No. As the poet saith, nobody hain't obleeged to use common sense unless they have got it;” and I says, in a meanin' tone, “No, I can't obleege you to tell me.”