Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-19

Hes too sensible for that, mother"
said David.
"Shucks!' said Uncle Eb. "He ain no
fool IL he IL a good speller-not by a
dunn sight"
"Tip." said David, you'll find a box
In the sleigh mt come by express. I
wish yc'd go an git It,"
We all stood looking while Tip
brought 1t In and pried of the top
boards with n Ratchet.
Careful, now" Uncle Eb cautioned
him. might Spite sumthin'."
The top Off, Uncle Eb removed a lay.
or of p%asteboard. Then he pulled out
a lot of colored tissue paper, and under
that was II package wrapped and tied.
Something was written on It. He held
it up and tried TO read the writing.
Cant see without my spcctacles."
lie said, handing 1t to me.
For Hope" l read as I passed 1t to
her.
"1Iooray!' said Uncle Eb as he lifted
another and the last package from the
box.
"Tor Mrs. Brewer" were the words
I read upon that one.
The strings were cut. the wrappers
torn away, and two big rolls of shiny
silk loosened their coils OH the table.
Hope uttered a cry Of delight. A muir
muir Of surprise and admiration passed
from one to another. Elizabeth lifted
n rustling fold and held II to the lamp.
light. We passed our hands over the
smooth sheen of the silk.
"Waal. | swami" said Uncle Eb. "Jes'
like a Kittens ear"
"Eggzac'ly.' said David Brewer.
Elizabeth lifted the silk and let II
How to her feet. Then for a little she
looked down. draping 1t to her skirt
and moving her DOT to make tho sill.
rustic. For the moment she was youna
ngain.
David she said. still looking Mt the
glory Of glossy black that covered her
plain dress.
well, mother" he answered.
"Was you fool enough t. gO'n buy
this stuff fer me?"
mo, mother; 1t come from New York
city," he said.
Prom New York city 2" was the ex.
claination 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 things" said Uncle Eb.
~DY.s~.. z,,o- 1t, -fzu %.-s~~ 49, A.
another.
ITS from that Livingstone boy"
said Mrs. Brewer. 1--WE heard he's
the son Of n rich man."
"Fraid he took n great fancy {
Hope" said David.
Father" said the girl. you've no
right to say that. I'm sure he W.
cared a straw for me-"
81 don't think we ought to keep IT,"
said Mrs. Brewer, looking up Thought
fully.
"Shucks an shavin's." said Uncle
Eb. "Ye don know but what l had
1t sent myself"
Hope went over and put her arms
around his neck.
"Did you, Uncle Eb?" she asked.
"Now, you tell me the truth, Uncle
Eb."
"Wouldn't say t I did" he answered.
''bnt l don want a see We go sendln'
nv it back. 70 dunno who sent it,"
"What'll I do with it," Mrs. Brewer
asked. laughing in n way that showed
a sense Of absurdity. I'd "a been
tickled with 1t thirty years ago, but
now--folks 'ud think I was crazy"
"Never heard such folderol," said
Uncle Eb. III yc move t the village
It'll come handy t go T. meetin' in"
That seemed to be unanswerable and
conclusive. at least for the time being.
and the silk was laid away. We sat
talking until late bedtime, Hope and |
telling of our studies and of the many
people we had met in Hillsborough.
We hung mp Our stockings just as
we had always done Christmas eve
and were up betimcs in the morning to
find them filled with many simple but
delightful things, and n which l
treasure to this day-the locket and its
picture. Of which I had been surrepti.
tiously Informed.
At 2 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 n
daughter of New England may dare
try to make.
Uncle Eb went upstairs after dinner
and presently we heard him descend
ing with a slow and heavy foot. l
opened the stair door. and there he
stood, with the old bass vi0l that had
long lain neglected in Il dusty corner of
the attic. Many a night l had heard it
groan as the strings loosened in the
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 1t and glued its
weaker joints. He sat down with 1t.
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 n Crissmus present fer
We, Willie" said he. ut may help We
t. pass away the time once in awhile"
/ thanked him warmly.
"'S n reel frs class instrument" he
snid. "Reen n rip shorter n its day"
lie took from his bosom then the old