第94章

'If ye brought any Cnssmus presents,'he whispered, 'slip 'em into my han s. I m goin'if run the cirkis t'morrow an'if we don't hev fun a plenty I'll miss my guess.

'I ll lay them out in my room,'said Hope.

'Be sure 'n put the names on 'em,'Uncle Eb whispered, as Hope went away.

'What have ye done with the "bilers"?'I enquired.

'Sold 'em,'said he, laughing. 'Barker never kep'his promise. Heard they d gone over t'the 'Burg an'was tryin't'sell more territory. I says if Dave, "You let me manage 'em an'I ll put 'em out o business here 'n this part o'the country." So I writ out an advertisement fer the paper. Read about this way: "Fer sale.

Twelve hunderd patented suction Wash B ilers. Anyone at can't stan'prosperity an'is learnin'if swear ll find 'em a great help. If he don't he's a bigger fool 'n I am. Nuthin'in 'em but tin - that's wuth somethin . Warranted t'hold water."

'Wall ye know how that editor talks? 'Twant a day 'fore the head man o'the b iler business come 'n bought 'em. An'the advertisement was never put in. Guess he wan t hankerin'if hey his business sp ilt.

Uncle Eb was not at the supper table that evening.

'Where's Holden?'said Elizabeth Brower.

'Dunno,'said David. 'Goin'after Santa Claus he tol'me.

'Never see the beat o'that man!'was the remark of Elizabeth, as she poured the tea. 'Jes'like a boy ev ry Crissmus time. Been so excited fer a week couldn't hardly contain himself.

'Ketched him out 'n the barn if other day laffin'like a fool,'said David. 'Thought he was crazy.

We sat by the fire after the supper dishes were put away, talking of all the Christmas Days we could remember. Hope and I thought our last in Faraway best of all and no wonder, for we had got then the first promise of the great gift that now made us happy.

Elizabeth, sitting in her easy-chair, told of Christmas in the olden time when her father had gone to the war with the British.

David sat near me, his face in the firelight - the broad brow wrinkled into furrows and framed in locks of iron-grey. He was looking thoughtfully at the fire. Uncle Eb came soon, stamping and shaking the snow out of his great fur coat.

'Col'night,'he said, warming his hands.

Then he carried his coat and cap away, returning shortly, with a little box in his hand.

'Jes'thought I d buy this fer fun,'said he, holding it down to the firelight. 'Dummed if I ever see the like uv it. Whoa!'he shouted, as the cover flew open, releasing a jumping-jack. 'Quicker n a grasshopper! D ye ever see sech a sassy little critter?

Then he handed it to Elizabeth.

'Wish ye Merry Christmas, Dave Brower!'said he.

'Ain't as merry as I might be,'said David.

'Know what's the matter with ye,'said Unde Eb. 'Searchin'after trouble - thet's what ye re doin . Findin'lots uv it right there 'n the fire. Trouble 's goiti't'git mighty scurce 'round here this very selfsame night. Ain't goin't'be nobody lookin'fer it - thet's why.

Fer years ye ve been takin'care o'somebody et 'II take care 'o you, long's ye live - sartin sure. Folks they said ye was fools when ye took 'em in. Man said I was a fool once. Aiwuss hed a purty fair idee o'myself sence then. When some folks call ye a fool 's a ruther good sign ye ain't Ye ve waited a long time fer yer pay - ain t much longer if wait now.

There was a little quaver in his voice, We all looked at him in silence. Uncle Eb drew out his wallet with trembling hands, his fine old face lit with a deep emotion. David looked up at him as iihe wondered what joke was coming, until he saw his excitement.

'Here's twenty thousan'dollars,'said Unde Eb, 'a reel, genuwine bank check!'jist as good as gold. Here 'tis! A Crissmus present fer you 'n Elizabeth. An'may God bless ye both!

David looked up incredulously. Then he took the bit of paper. A big tear rolled down his cheek.

'Why, Holden! Whatdoes this mean?'he asked.

''At the Lord pays Flis debts,'said Uncle Eb. 'Read it.

Hope had lighted the lamp.

David rose and put on his spectacles. One eyebrow had lifted above the level of the other. He held the check to the lamplight.

Elizabeth stood at his elbow.

'Why, mother!'said he. 'Is this from our boy? From Nehemiah?

Why, Nehemiah is dead!'he added, looking over his spectacles at Uncle Eb.

'Nehemiah is not dead,'said the latter.

'Nehemiah not dead!'he repeated, looking down at the draft. They turned it in the light, reading over and over again the happy tidings pinned to one corner of it. Then they looked into each other's eyes.

Elizabeth put her arms about David's neck and laid her head upon his shoulder and not one of us dare trust himself to speak for a little. Uncle Eb broke the silence.

'Got another present,'he said. 'S a good deal better 'n gold er silver tall, bearded man came in.

'Mr Trumbull!'Hope exclaimed, rising.

'David an' Elizabeth Brower,'said Uncle Eb, 'the dead hes come if life. I give ye back yer son - Nehemiah.

Then he swung his cap high above his head, shouting in a loud voice:

'Merry Crissmus! Merry Crissmus!

The scene that followed I shall not try to picture. It was so full of happiness that every day of our lives since then has been blessed with it and with a peace that has lightened every sorrow; of it, I can'truly say that it passeth all understanding.

'Look here, folks!'said Uncle Eb, after awhile, as he got his flute, 'my feelin's hey been teched hard. If I don't hey some jollification I'll bust. Bill Brower, limber up yer leather a leetle bit.