th
Bill 'n Hope if we go t'live with 'em? Don't suppose they'll hev any
hosses if take care uv er any wood if chop. What we'll hev if do is
more'n I can make out. We can't do nuthin; we've never learnt how."

'We've thought that all over,' I said. 'We may have a place in the
country with a big garden.

'Well,' said she, 'I'm very well if I am over sixty. I can cook an wash
an' mend an' iron just as well as I ever could.'

Uncle Eb came to the door then.

'Bill,' he said, 'I want you 'n Hope if come out here 'n look at this
young colt o' mine. He's playful 's a kitten.

We put on our wraps and went to the stable. Uncle Eb was there alone.

'If ye brought any Cnssmus presents,' he whispered, 'slip 'em into my
hands. 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 Bilers. 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 biler business come 'n bought 'em. An' the advertisement was never
put in. Guess he wan't hankerin' if hev his business spilt.

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