Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-06

repeated.
"From New York city," said he.
"Waal, Of all things" said Uncle Eb,
looking over his spectacles from one to
another.
"It's from that Livingstone boy"
said Mrs. Brewer 1--WE heard he's
the son Of rich man."
"'Fraid he took great fancy t
Hope" said David.
Father" said the girl, you've no
right to say that. I'm sure he never
cared a straw for me-"
II don't think we ought to keep It,"
said Mrs. Brewer, looking up thought
fully.
"shucks an shavin'sp said Uncle
Eb. "Ye dom know but what I had
1t sent myself"
Hope went over and put her arms
around his neck.
did you, Uncle EbT' she asked.
"Now, you tell me the truth, Uncle
Eb.'
wouldn't say It did," he answered,
"but dom want a see ye go sendin'
Nv it back. Ye dunno who sent it,
"What'll do with it2' Mrs. Brewer
asked, laughing in a way that showed
q sense Of absurdity. "I'd "a been
ttckled with it thirty years ago, but
now-folks 'ud think was crazy"
"Never heard such folderol." said
Uncle Eb. IF We 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 up our stockings just as
we had always done Christmas eve
and were up betimes in the morning to
find them filled with many simple but
delightful things, and one which I
treasure to this day-the locket and its
picture, of which I had been surrepti-
tiously Informed.
At 2 o'clock we had 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. I
opened the stair door, and there he
stood, with the old bass viol that had
long lain neglected in dusty corner Of
the attic. Many night had heard it
groan as the strings loosened In the
years it had lain on its back, helpless
and forgotten. It was like dreamer
snoring in his sleep and murmur1ng Of
that he saw in his dreams. Uncle BIB
had busted and strung it 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
: treasure TO me and leaned Il against
my shoulder.
"There, that's Crissmus present fer
ye, WILLIE" said he. ut may help ye
It pass away the time once in awhile"
thanked him warmly.
as reel frs class instrument" he
said. "Been rip shorter n its day."
He took from his bosom then the old
heart pin Of silver that he had always
worn of 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"
1 did not dare trust myself to speak,
and l sat helplessly turning that relic
Of better day In my fingers.
"It's genuwine silver" said he proud
".
took his old hand In mine and
raised 1t reverently to my lips.
"Hearn 'em tell bout goin' t the
village, an says myself, Uncle Eb,'
says I, wen hev t be goin'. Tain no
place fer you In the village"
Holden" said David Brewer, don't
ye never talk like that ag'in. Yer Just
the same as married Z this family, an
ye can't ever git away from u.s."
And he never did until his help was
needed in other and fairef fields. am
sure. than those Of Esraway-ood
knows where.