DICK'S ADVENTURE.
THANKSGIVING week and thanksgiving vacation came at last, but to the
great disappointment of Richard, the ground was covered with snow. It
was fortunate that he had already gathered one wagon load of evergreen
at the time he learned to wind the wreaths at Mr. McIntosh's. This
would give him employment for the vacation; and perhaps the snow would
melt away before Christmas.
It was more of a job than he had imagined to wind the evergreen into
wreaths. Though he worked with all his might, he only finished three
the first evening.
Mrs. Stuart's mending prevented her helping him at this time; but she
sat near and watched his progress. After he had retired, she took the
basket of selected pieces, and finished the handsomest one yet made, in
fifteen minutes.
"Let me help you plan your work," she said the next morning, after her
wreath had been greatly admired.
"Eddy and perhaps Lyman, too, can help you pick over your evergreen
during the day. Put the pieces ready to wind in a pile by themselves.
This evening we will have a bee, and make up as many wreaths as we can."
"I shall only make a hundred in all, mother," exclaimed the boy
clapping his hands with delight. "Mr. McIntosh has a hundred and fifty
for his large church; and Mr. Jones told me they couldn't afford to
decorate a great deal. About forty dollars, he said they would pay. Do
you think I have enough to make a hundred, mother?"
"We can tell better to-night, my dear."
"It wont be so much work to wind the other for looping up, mother. It
doesn't have to be done thick like the wreaths. Mr. Jones said I might
bring what I could afford for forty dollars."
"So he thought you would forget the decorations before November, did
he?"
"Yes, mother, and he shook hands with me as though he had always known
me. I thanked him ever so much for his kindness."
Christmas came this year on Thursday. On the Monday previous Dick plead
for leave to take his wreaths to the city, and engage the amount he
wished to buy. The snow had lain on the ground nearly a month, and
there had been no opportunity to gather more evergreen. A cold sleet
had been driving against the windows all the morning and his parents
could not consent to his riding so far in an open sleigh.
Poor Dick could think and talk of nothing but his decorations. He
had obtained permission of Miss Wheeler to be absent from school on
necessary business, on condition that he made up his lessons. This he
had done for Monday; and it was a terrible disappointment not to be
able to go. The morning was half past before he recollected that he
might go to school to day and in the evening learn the lessons his
class would recite on Tuesday.
The next morning was clear but very cold.
"I hate to have the child out all day in such weather," remarked Mrs.
Stuart to her husband.
"He wont mind it, his blood runs briskly," answered his father with a
smile.
So Dick started off, his hands and ears well protected, after receiving
many cautions to be careful of his driving in the city, and to put the
horse under cover as soon as possible.
Old Charley having eaten an extra feed of oats, felt pretty lively. He
knew as well as any body that something unusual had taken him out of
his warm stable, and turned to watch the last arrangements of his young
master with a satisfied neigh.
"Good bye! Good bye! I hope you'll have great success," cried one and
another shouting after him, as with a merry laugh Dick drove out of the
yard.
"I don't think he'll make any thing by his speculation," remarked his
father. "But it will be a good lesson for him."
About four o'clock Eddy and Lyman stationed themselves by the front
window to watch for their brother's return. Early in the afternoon, the
weather had grown cloudy again, and now the fine sleet had begun to
fall.
"Bring Dick's Sunday jacket and shoes, and put them near the fire,"
said his mother. "He will be wet through."
After waiting supper an hour beyond the usual time they reluctantly
took their seats at the table, wondering every moment why he did not
come.
In the centre of the table there was a great dish of hasty pudding of
which the absent boy was particularly fond. Mrs. Stuart took out a
portion into a bowl, and set it into the top of the teakettle. By the
time the dishes were cleared away, she had become really anxious.
It was now seven, a cold disagreeable night, where could the child be?
Two or three times the mother went to the door, thinking she heard a
cry of distress.
"We had better have prayers," urged Mr. Stuart. "Baby's eyes are
growing very heavy."
Eddy brought the Bible and singing books; but the reading had not
commenced when the sound of some one pushing open the barn door
startled them.
"There's Dick?" cried Eddy.
"No, dear! We should have heard the bells."
Mr. Stuart, however, took the lantern down from its appropriate shelf,
lighted it and prepared to assist his son.
"I've got home, father," called out Richard in a cheerful voice.
"Are you very wet? We have been quite anxious about you. How? Why?
Where did you borrow this buffalo robe?"
Dick laughed merrily. "I'll tell you all about it, sir, when we go into
the house."
"You'd better go in alone. I'll unharness, and put the horse up. The
feed is all ready in his crib."
"Old Charley has done splendidly. He's been well fed too. I saw to it
myself, and stood by till he had eaten his oats clean. Mr. Pond told me
the tricks of the stable men. Now I'll run in with some of my bundles."
Once, twice, he ran with a load to the back kitchen seeing no one. Then
perceiving that his father was ready, he said:
"Will you please carry the buffalo in? I must give it to the owner all
safe." Then he took the last bundle from the sleigh, and followed his
father to the sitting-room.
"'Tis Dick, mother! I hear his voice;" and out rushed the whole group
to meet and welcome him.
Dick walked in, his head erect, his eyes twinkling with fun, while
about his mouth was a peculiarly mysterious smile which his mother
understood very well.
He presented rather a strange appearance. On his head was a cap of fur
with ear pieces fastened under the chin. Over this his common cap was
tied with a scarf. His hands were protected by a pair of fur gloves
with deep gauntlets.
He took these last off, and tossed them upon the table with an air of
unconcern; then untied his scarf, and did the same with his cap.
"You must have come into a fortune somehow," said his father smiling.
"I was never the owner of a pair of gloves like these. Are they yours,
Dick?"