"What, in the name of goodness, _do_ you want with that trumpet machine?" he roared. "A young 'un like you! Lookee here--let's get rid of it." And Joe snatched the ear-trumpet out of his hand, and jerked it over a shed into the field behind. It was a good long jerk; and most of the young men of the place would have been proud to do it. "Can hear just as well as I can; that's what _you_ can do! Can't he, young George?" Old Peter looked dazed; but old Joe stood nodding at him so decisively that old George took it up and nodded decisively too; and they were so convincing about the matter that old Peter began to believe he _could_ hear; and from that moment, if you'll believe me, he _did_ hear quite comfortably! [Illustration: "THE THREE WENT CAREERING DOWN THE STREET."] Then the inhabitants collected in little knots, and talked the matter over; and decided that there must be something wrong, in the witchcraft line; and shook their heads doubtfully; but those three old boys trotted into the "Bun and Bottle" and ordered--ah! and drank off--a pint of beer apiece; a thing they had not done those ten years. Drank it off at a draught, if you'll believe me. Well, then they went the round and beat up all the old folks of that place to bid them to the picnic. Those old people stared, and shook their heads, and scoffed; but old Joe Wilkings hadn't talked to them for five minutes before they were up on their feet and trotting about as if they were acrobats, though perhaps it's hard to believe. "We'll have a row on the river," said old Joe; "and then we'll picnic on the bank, and see who can climb trees best; and then we'll have a room at an hotel, and finish up with a dance, and just show 'em how it ought to be done." [Illustration: "AUNT SUSAN'S MOTHER."] I tell you he had to busy himself, had old Joe, to keep them up to it; for as soon as he had been away from any one of them a few hours that one would begin to collapse again, and think he or she was as weak as ever; but Joe wouldn't allow this; all day long he was here and there among them applying the spur, bullying them into getting up and dancing, and roaring with indignation at the idea of their being old. He made them practise their steps, and while those who possessed crutches were doing it, he sneaked off with the crutches and concealed them. He wouldn't even allow them sticks, wouldn't old Joe--not he.