Evening journal., 1905-04-10
Won. mothet.. he answered.

was you fool enough t go'n buy
this stuff fer me?'
no mother; Il come from New York
city," he said
IRON New York clty?" was the ex-
olamation Of all.
Elizabeth Brewer looked thoughtful
~ at her husband
"Clear from New York city?" she
repeated
"From New York city" said he.
"Waal, Of all thingsl" said Uncle Eb.
looking over his spectacles from one to
another
"Its from that Livingstone boy"
said Mrs Brewer "I've heard he's
the son OF a rich man"
"'Fraid he took a great fancy Z
Hope" said David.
Father" said the girl. you've no
right to say that Pm sure he never
cared straw for me-"
Il don't think we ought 20 keep It,"
said Mrs Brewer, looking up thought
fully
"shucks an shavin's" said Uncle
Eb "Ye don know but what l had
it sent myself"
Hope went over and put her drns
around his neck.
Ibid you. Uncle Eb?" she asked.
"Now, you tell me the truth, Uncle
Eb."
"Wouldn't say Z I did" he answered,
'but I don want "a see ye so sendin'
nv it back Ye dunno who sent It,"
':.WhatH I do with it?' Mrs. Brewer
asked laughing in a way that showed
sense of absurdity. I'D a been
tickled with It. thirty years ago, but
now-folks 'ud think I was crazy"
"Never heard such folderol' said
Uncle Eb. "If ye move t theNvillage
itll come handy q 90 & meetin' in.'
That seemed TO be unanswerable and
conclusive. at least for the time being
and the six was laid away We sat
talking until late bedtime Hope and I
telling OF our studies and of the many
people we had met in Hinsborough.
We hung up our stockings Just as
we had always done Christmas eve
and were up betimes I'm the morning to
find them filled with many simple but
delightful things, and one which 1
treasure to this day-the locket and its
picture, Of which I had been surrepti-
1 tously informed.
At . O'Clock we had a fine dinner Of
roast turkey and chicken pie with
plenty Of good cider, and the mince pie
OF blessed memory, such as only a
daughter Of New England may dare
try to make.
Uncle Eb went upstairs after dinner
and presently we heard him descend
ing with slow and heavy foot. l
opened the stair door, and there he
stood. with the old bass viol that had
long lain neglected in a dusty corner OF
the attic. Many a night ! had heard 1t
groan as the strings loosened in the
i years it had lain on its back, helpless
and forgotten. 1t was like a dreamer
snoring in his sleep and murmuring Of
that he saw in his dreams. Uncle Eb
had busted and strung it and glued its
weaker joints. He sat down with it,
the severe look of old upon his face,
and set the strings roaring as he tuned
them Then he brought the sacred
treasure to me and leaned it against
my shoulder
"There. that's a Crissmus present fer
We, Willie" said he 1T may help We
{ pass away the time once in awhile"
I thanked him warmly
IS reel frs class instrument" he
said Been a rip snorter n its day"
He took from his bosom then the old
heart pin of silver that he had always
worn of a Sunday.
"Goin T. give ye thet, too" he said.
"Dunno's yen ever care to wear it, but
I want We should hev sumthin' ye can
carry n yer pocket t remember me
by"
l did not dare trust myself to speak
and ] sat helplessly turning that relic
Of better day i'm my fingers.
ats genuwine silver" said he proud
ly.
took his old hand in mine and
raised it reverently to my lips.
"Hearn 'em tell bout goin' t the
village an says t. myself, Uncle Eb,
says /, wen hev T. be goin' Tain nc
place fer you in the village"
Holden" said David Brewer. don't
We never talk like that ag'in. Yer just
the same as married t this family, an
We can't ever git away from us"
And he never did until his help was
needed in other and fairer fields, I am
sure, than those of Faraway-God
knows where.