Why They Laughed

It was past noon on Christmas day, and Mr. Busybee had just consulted bis watch for the fifteenth time in an hour, wondericg how he was to get through the day without one peep at the office. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the appearance of his wife, I who dashed into the room, seated herself violently upon a chair and burst into tears. "I d-do believe the people of th-this town are the most ill-bred specimens of hu-humanity on the face of the globe!" she sobbed. "But, my love, what has caused you to change your mind so suddenly? Only yesterdaj' - " "Look here, IgnatiusBusybee, Iwant to know if there is anything humorous I in the fact that you gave me a sealskin sacque for my Christmas present?" "Xothing humorous at all, my dear. On the contrary - " "Then is there anything very peculiar, the thermometer being near zero, in my wearing the saeque to church today?" "Why, dear, the peculiar fact would have been your not wearingittochnrch to-dav!" "Very well, then, will you explain the behavior oí people to-day! The conductor laughed in my face as he took my fare, a -ornan whom I never saw jefore wanted to talk to me in the .ar and, as I walked up the church aisle, verybody was in a broad grin!" "Perhaps they were pleastd to see ou in a sealskin." "Yes, it is so likely fhat Sarah Snaggs would be pleased at that, and y - yet she was one of the worst ones! And ïere I - I thought I'd be perfectly happy if I only had a sealskin!" "I, too, had hoped to be happier, then, my love!" "All through service it was the same! My head ached from the cold, anynow. Why, what is the matter? You arr as bad as the rest! What is wrong with my sacque?" For Mr. Busybee had turned, look'ng full at her. "It is not the fault of the sacqne; that's all right. Only, in your haste to see yourself in it, you forgot to put en any bonnet!"