The diamond drill., 1919-03-01


uncle was In high spirits and there
were many packages In the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love YEP said Mr..
Hacket as he bade US goodby. Every
day our thoughts will be going I'D the
hills TO your house."
The bells rang fnerrily as we hur-
/, ried through the swamp In the hard
snow paths.
"We're goin' to move" said my
uncle presently. "We've agreed to get
out by the middle o. May"
"How does that happen7" asked.
81 settled with Grimshaw and agreed
to go. II II hadn't "a been for Wright
and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got a
cent. They threatened to bid against
him at the sale. So he settled. We're
goin' to have n new home. We've
bought a hundred an fifty acres from
Abe Leonard. Coin TO build a new
house In the spring. 1t will be nearer
the village"
He playfully nudged my ribs with
\ his elbow.
"We've had little good luck, Bart"
he went on. "Pll tell ye what it is IL
you won't say anything about It."
promised.
81 dunno as Il would matter much."
he continued. hut l don't want TO do
any braggin'. II aln't anybody's busi-
ness. anyway. An old uncle over I'm
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thIrty-eight hundred dollars.
IT was old Uncle Ezra Baynes o.
Hinesburg. Died without chick or
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
| TO Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. II was
more money than / ever see before
In my life. We put II In the bank In
Potsdam 10 keep II out o. Grlmshaw's
| hands. / wouldn't trust that man as
fur as you could throw a bull by the
tall"
| 1t was cold. clear night, and when
we reached home the new stove was
swapping with the heat I'm It's firebox
and the pudding putting In the pot
and old Shep dreaming I'm the chimney
corner. Aunt Deel gave me hug at
the door. Shep barked and leaped to
my shoulders.
"Why, Bart You're CROWN like n
weed-aln't ye?-ayes ye be-" my
aunt said as she stood and looked at
ne. "Set right down here an warm
ye-ayes I've done all the chores
ayes"
How warm and comfortable was the
dear old room with those beloved faces
In IT, / wonder If paradise itself can
seem more pleasant 10 me. / have had
the best food this world can provide,
I'm my time. but never anything that
l ate with a keener relish than the
pudding and milk and bread and but
ter and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave us that night.
Supper over, i wiped the dishes for
my aunt while Uncle Peabody went
out TO feed and water the horses. Then
we sat down In the genial warmth
while l told the story of my life In
''the busy town." as they called II.
What pride and attention they gave
me then!
My fine clothes and the story OF how
l had come by them taxed my inge-
nuity somewhat, although not improp-
erly. i had TO be careful not to let
| them know that l had been ashamed
OF the homemade suit. They somehow
| felt the truth about II and little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
| Deel drew her chair near me and
| touched my hair very gently and
looked into my face without speaking.
"Ayes / know" she said presently,
I'm kind of caressing tone, with
touch of sadness I'm It. "They amt
used to coarse homespun stun down
there in the village. They made fun
o. ye-didn't they, Bart7"
81 don't care about that" / assured
them. 1.-THE minds the measure OF
the man." quoted, remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.
That's soundl" Uncle Peabody ex-
claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand In hers and
surveyed IL thoughtfully for a moment
without speaking.
"You ain't goln' to have to suffer
that way no MORE" she said In a low
tone. We're goin' to be more comfta-
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
go West, but couldn't bear to go on
so fur an leave mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks we loved
layin' here In the ground alone-I
want TO lay down with 'em by an by
an wait for the sound o. the trum-
pet-ayes i--mebbe it'll be for thou
sands o. years-ayes !"
To our astonishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrahl It's merry Christmas J"
said Uncle Peabody as he jumped TO
his feet and began to sing of the little
Lord Jesus.
We Joined him while he stood beat
Ing time with his right hand after the
fashion of singing master.
"of with yer boots, friendi" he ex-
claimed when the stanza was finished.