The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1919-03-20
CHAPTER xI-continued.

1
I count this one of the great events
Of my youth. But there was greater
Dne, although it seemed not so ut the
time of it. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing a large amount of money
&, 700 was the sum, II L remember
rightly. He was a man who, being
Justly suspicious of the banks, had
withdrawn his money. Posters an
bounced the loss and the offer of a
large reward. The village was pro-
foundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring its
dust and cropping in its grass and bril-
ers for the great prize which was sup
posed to be lying there. 1t was said
however, that the quest had been I'M
successful. So the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery of the
village and of all the hills and val
leys toward Ballybeen-a topic of old
wives and Cabling husbands at the
sreside for unnumbered years.
BY and by the fau term of school
ended. Uncle Peabody came down TO
get me the day before Christmas.
had enjoyed my work and my life at
the Jackets, on the whole, but was
glad to be going home again. My
uncle was in high spirits and there
we're many packages in the sleigh.
"a merry Christmas to We both an
nay the Lord love YEP said Mr..
Hacket as he babe us goodby. "Every
day our thoughts will be going up the
hills TO your house."
The bells rang merrily as we hur-
snow paths.
"We're goin' to move" said my
uncle presently. "We've agreed to get
out by the middle o. May"
SLOW does that happen" asked.
81 settled with Grimshaw and agreed
to go. If it hadn't "a been for Wright
and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got q
cent. They threatened to bid against
him at the sale. So he settled. We're
goin' TO have a new home. We've
bought a hundred an fifty acres from
Abe Leonard. Coin TO build q new
house in the spring. 1t will be nearer
lhe village"
He playfully nudged my ribs with
his elbow.
"We've had little good luck, Bart"
he went on. "lll tell We what it is if
you won't say anything about It."
/ promised.
81 dunno as II would matter much u
he continued, "5ut don't want to do
any braggin'. 1t amt anybody's bust
ness, anyway. An old uncle over in
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thirty-e!ght hundred dollars
1t was old Uncle Ezra Baynes o.
Hinesburg. Died without a chick or
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
TO Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. 1t was
more money than 1 ever see before
In my life. We put it in the bank in
Potsdam to keep IL out o. Grimshaw's
hands. I wouldn't trust that man as
fur as you could throw a bull by the
tall"
1t was a cold, clear night and when
we reached home the new stove was
swapping with the heat in its firebox
and the pudding putting in the poi
md old Shep dreaming in the chimney
corner. Aunt Deel gave me hug al
The door. Shep barked and leaped tC
nv shoulders.
"Why. Bart You're CROWN like
weed-ain't ye?-ayes We be-" my
aunt said as she stood and looked al
ne. "Set right down here an warn
ye-ayes 1--we done all the chores
ayes ~
How warm and comfortable was the
dear old room with those beloved face:
In II. / wonder If paradise itself cal
seem more pleasant to me. have haC
the best food this world can provide
In my time, but never anything tha
ate with a keener relish than thu
pudding and milk and bread and but
Ter and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave us that night.
Supper over, wiped the dishes fol
my aunt while Uncle Peabody wen
out to feed and water the horses. TheI
we sat down in the genial warmth
lille l told the story of my life II
'the busy town." as they called II
hat pride and attention they CAV
NE then
My fine clothes and the story Of how
had come by them taxed my inge
nuity somewhat, although not improp
erly. ] lad to be careful not to lie
them know that had been ashame,
of the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about 1t and little
silence followed the story. Then Aun
Deel drew her chair near me ant
touched my hair very gently ant
OOked into my face without speaking
-Ayesl Know" she said presently
n a kind of caressing tone, with |
ouch of sadness in IL. "They ain
ssed to coarse homespun stuff dow
here ~ the village. They made fun
D ye-,fiidnt they, Bart?"
81 don't care about that" assured
hem. "'rhe minds the measure o.
he man, quoted. remembering thu
ives the Senator had repeated to me