'"
"Yes, that has a real nice sound. It ain't like the Bible, but it's
nice."
They sat and dreamed and the fire flared up into living arabesques and
burnt blue in corners. A stick parted and fell into ash, and Miss Susan
came awake. She had the air of rousing herself with vigor.
"There!" said she, "sometimes I think it's most sinful to make believe,
it's so hard to wake yourself up. Arter all this, I dunno but when
Solon comes for the pigs' kittle to-morrer, I shall ketch myself
sayin', 'Here's the frankincense!'"
They laughed together, and the schoolmaster rose to light his lamp. He
paused on his way to the stairs, and came back to set it down again.
"There are lots of people we haven't provided for," he said. "We
haven't even thought what we'd give Jenny."
"I guess Jenny's got her heart's desire." Miss Susan nodded sagely.
"I've sent her a box, with a fruit-cake an' pickles and cheese. She's
all fixed out."
The schoolmaster hesitated, and turned the lamp-wick up and down. Then
he spoke, somewhat timidly, "What should you like to give her father?"
Miss Susan's face clouded with that dreamy look which sometimes settled
upon her eyes like haze.
"Well," said she, "I guess whatever I should give him'd only make him
laugh.
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