tin'. Double or single, want ye if both promise me t'be
hum Crissmus.

We promised.

'Now childern,' said he. ''S time if go if bed. B'lieve ye'd stan' there
swappin' kisses 'till ye was knee sprung if I didn't tell ye t' quit.

Hope came and put her arms about his neck, fondly, and kissed him
good-night.

'Did Bill prance right up like a man?' he asked, his hand upon her
shoulder.

'Did very well,' said she, smiling, 'for a man with a wooden leg.

Uncle Eb sank into a chair, laughing heartily, and pounding his knee. It
seemed he had told her that I was coming home with a wooden leg! 'That
is the reason I held your arm,' she said. 'I was expecting to hear it
squeak every moment as we left the depot. But when I saw that you walked
so naturally I knew Uncle Eb had been trying to fool me.

'Purty good sort uv a lover, ain't he?' said he after we were done
laughing.

'He wouldn't take no for an answer,' she answered.

'He was alwuss a gritty cuss,' said Uncle Eb, wiping his eyes with a big
red handkerchief as he rose to go. 'Ye'd oughter be mighty happy an' ye
will, too--their am'no doubt uv it--not a bit. Trouble with most young
folks is they wan'if fly tew high, these days. If they'd only fly clus
enough t'the ground so the could alwuss touch one foot, they'd be all
right. Glad ye ain't thet kind.

We were off early on the boat--as fine a summer morning as ever dawned.
What with the grandeur of the scenery and the sublimity of our happiness
it was a delightful journey we had that day. I felt the peace and beauty
of the fields, the majesty of the mirrored cliffs and mountains, but the
fair face of her I loved was enough for me. Most of the day Uncle Eb sat
near us and I remember a woman evangelist came and took a seat beside
him, awhile, talking volubly of the scene.

'My friend,' said she presently, 'are you a Christian?

''Fore I answer I'll hex if tell ye a story,' said Uncle Eb. 'I
recollec' a man by the name o' Ranney over 'n Vermont--he was a pious
man. Got into an argyment an' a feller slapped him in the face. Ranney
turned t'other side an' then t'other an' the feller kep' a slappin' hot
'n heavy. It was jes' like strappin' a razor fer half a minnit. Then
Ranney sailed in--gin him the wust lickin' he ever hed.

'"I declare," says another man, after 'twas all over, "I thought you was
a Christian."

"Am up to a cert in p'int," says he. "Can't go tew fur not 'n these
parts--men are tew powerful. 'Twon