That is a nice text, “The Maister be come.”
I often wondered as the autumn went on, and the cold nights, what they
thought of my letter. We knew they had it all right, for one market day
Gideon came back with the lambs, that Grimble had put in pen for him at
the _Mug o’ Cider_, and they were good ones, with no fut-rot. But it was
drawing on to Christmas when the letter came from Jancis, and I mind it
was a wild night, with a lashing of rain on the window, when I read it
to Gideon. But it was warm within. It made a good Christmas for me, in
spite of work, and Mother very ailing, so as we had to send for the
doctor’s man all the way from Silverton, for Gideon wouldna hear of the
doctor, saying the expense was more than enough as it was. He kept on
grumbling and saying she was a burden, and Mother would ask me: “Does
Sarn think I be a burden?” So it was very awkward for me. But that
letter was as heartening as a platter of good hot soup, and lest Gideon
should take it to his own keeping, I made a copy of it, and this is it.
THE HIGH FARM, OUTRACK.
_December 1._