" ‘Would you like to enter into a business engagement with me?’

" ‘Of what sort?’ asked Tubbs, brightening up.

" ‘To be exhibited,’ was the reply.  ’You’re the largest man living in the world.  We could make a pretty penny together.’

“Tubbs was glad enough to accept this proposition, which came to him like a plank to a drowning man.  Accordingly an agreement was made that, after deducting expenses, he should share profits with the manager.

“It proved to be a great success.  From all quarters people flocked to see the great prodigy, the wonder of the world, as he was described in huge posters.  Scientific men wrote learned papers in which they strove to explain his extraordinary height, and, as might be expected, no two assigned the same cause.

“At the end of six months Tubbs had five thousand dollars as his share of the profits.  But after all he was far from happy.  He missed the society of his wife and children, and shed many tears over his separation from them.

“At the end of six months his singular customer again made his appearance.

" ‘It seems to me you’ve altered some since I last saw you,’ he said, with a smile.

" ‘Yes,’ said Tubbs dolefully.

" ‘You don’t like the change, I judge?’

" ‘No,’ said Tubbs.  ’It separates me from my wife and children, and that makes me unhappy.’

" ‘Would you like to be changed back again!’

" ‘Gladly,’ was the reply.

“Presto! the wonderful giant was changed back into the little tailor.  No sooner was this effected than he returned post-haste to Webbington.  His wife received him with open arms.

" ‘Oh, Thomas,’ she exclaimed, ’how could you leave us so?  On the day of your disappearance a huge brute of a man came here and pretended to be you, but I soon sent him away.’

“Thomas wisely said nothing, but displayed his five thousand dollars.  There was great joy in the little dwelling.  Thomas Tubbs at once took a larger shop, and grew every year in wealth and public esteem.  The only way in which he did not grow was in stature; but his six months’ experience as a giant had cured him of any wish of that sort.  The last I heard of him was his election to the legislature.”

“That’s a bully story,” said Charlie, using a word which he had heard from older boys.  “I wish I was a great tall giant.”

“What would you do if you were, Charlie?”

“I’d go and fight the rebels,” said Charlie manfully.

CHAPTER XX.  POMP’S EDUCATION COMMENCES

In the season of leisure from farm work which followed, Frank found considerable time for study.  The kind sympathy and ready assistance given by Mr. Morton made his task a very agreeable one, and his progress for a time was as rapid as if he had remained at school.

He also assumed the office of teacher, having undertaken to give a little elementary instruction to Pomp.  Here his task was beset with difficulties.  Pomp was naturally bright, but incorrigibly idle.  His activity was all misdirected and led him into a wide variety of mischief.  He had been sent to school, but his mischievous propensities had so infected the boys sitting near him that the teacher had been compelled to request his removal.