e was an oracle of wisdom, and their delight was to follow
him about the stable lot or to sit in the sunshine and hang upon his
words; for his imagination was fertile, and the boys would listen with
wonder to the tales of his prowess and skill with horses. Something
was now observed to be moving far down the road, which soon proved to
be the carriage. Yes, there were "Phoenix" and "Peacock," which no
one but Uncle Robin could handle, and there sat Uncle Robin upon the
box, and there was grandma inside, smiling and waving her
handkerchief, and there, too, sat Aunt Polly, grandma's maid.

The carriage stopped, and Uncle Robin, bowing and smiling, descended
and opened the door, and they all scrambled in and were hugged and
kissed, and Polly admired their beauty and exclaimed at their growth.
Then the door was clapped to again, but not before Harry had managed
to slip out and clamber to the box beside Uncle Robin, who, having
driven through the gate, handed him the reins, with a caution to keep
his eye upon Peacock. In the estimation of the boy, this sleek and
overfed Peacock seemed little less than a raging lion whom only Uncle
Robin could quell.

"He'll run in a minute, if he gits a chance," said the guileful Uncle
Robin. So Harry clutched the reins and drove proudly past the lot, in
full view of some of the men, turned in at the yard gate, and drew up
before the door.

Grandma could not wait for the hanging of the Christmas stockings, but
insisted upon opening her trunk at once, and displaying her gifts to
the children's delighted eyes. The wax babies exceeded their wildest
hopes. The house was made horrible with horns and drums. Mammy laughed
and showed her dimples and courtesied over her own gorgeous present,
and all felt that Christmas had really come.

For several days, indeed, throughout the holidays, Harry felt that he
had left childhood far behind him, and, as he strutted about the
stable yard, he now and then expectorated, in imitation of Uncle
Robin, as though he had a quid in his mouth.

Aunt Polly, though far inferior to Uncle Robin in the children's
estimation, was yet a person of distinction, and no naughtiness was
ever displayed when she was by to witness it.

Mammy usually enjoyed a gossip with Aunt Polly over the nursery fire.
But, sometimes feelings of coolness would arise. Polly belonged to the
family of the mother of the children, while Mammy came from that of
the father, and between the two a s