"And will I not be instructed in digging potatoes?"
"Oh goody! goody!" cried Rollo,--"I am sure I shall like it. But why do we go to the photographer's studio?"
"That is my idea," said his mother. "You may not realize it, but we go to the city and will meet a number of strangers."
"I can readily understand that," said Rollo, who was a bright little chap thoroughly interested.
"Therefore," continued his mother, "it is more than likely that when the news of our arrival begins to be spread about through the city there will be an immediate demand for our photographs."
"Yes," said Rollo, rather peevishly, "but I do not see why Uncle George, and Lucy and James have to be in the picture. And Jonas, is he important? O-ho!" Rollo laughed at the very idea.
"Rollo," said his mother quietly, "you do wrong to laugh so. Your Uncle George and Lucy and James are going with us to the City. They are to share our new home, for we have rented our farms to two New York gentlemen for a great deal of money, much more than it will cost us to live in New York if we all live together."
"But Jonas is the hired-man," objected Rollo.
"From now," said his mother, "he is not the hired-man. He is your father's secretary."
"His secretary!" cried Rollo. "I do not understand?"
"You do not _have_ to," said his mother. "Come along; the chaise is waiting."
Rollo was so delighted to hear of something that he did not _have_ to understand that he was quite the happiest of the family whose parental heads embellish this chapter. Indeed it was necessary for the photographer to ask Rollo to please not look so pleasant before the picture could be taken. Mr. Bishop, the photographer, was anxious to take separate pictures of each, even including Jonas, who looked surprisingly well in his other suit, but Rollo's father said kindly but firmly, "No, Mr. Bishop, that would be putting me to unnecessary expense, which would be _wrong_. You have said your price is three and one-half dollars a dozen. I will purchase a dozen of the pictures if they are satisfactory, and cut one up if the occasion requires. Should an enlargement of the central figure be demanded, I presume it can be arranged."
As the family were driving home from Mr. Bishop's studio, Rollo who sat on the front seat with Jonas said, "Jonas, why did Mr. Bishop tell Lucy and James and me to watch for the little bird in the hole in his camera when there was no little bird?"