There were few words
spoken after the prayer was ended. The place seemed holy ground and,
shortly after, Mr. Lathrop left, first going to the little lad who had
given me his whispered confidence, and dropped a few silver coins in his
chubby fist. He stood regarding the money complacently until the door had
closed on the minister, and then, going to his grandfather, he showed,
with great glee, his store of money.
"We will have everything now that we want, won't we, grandfather?" he
questioned, placing the money in his grandfather's hands.
"We will always have what is best for us, Freddie; but you must never
take the minister's money again. You should give to him, instead of
taking from him."
"So I must," Freddie responded, rather sorrowfully; "but may I take his
apples?"
"Well, yes; you may do that, and, some day, when you are a big boy, and
earning money, you can buy him a whole barrel full."
"I might keep a few of them?" Freddie questioned, such extreme generosity
overpowering his imagination.
"We will see when the time comes."
Mrs. Blake beckoned me to her side, at the further end of the room.
"I didn't give him these; I put 'em out of sight till you'd come."
"But I wanted him to get them while I was away."
"Yes, I know; but it'll be easier to thank you right off, when he's
surprised. My! he'd soon have been able to fly; his clothes is that
ragged."
"Yes, they are very poor; but, some way, one don't see much but his face.
I forget that he is poor and ragged when I look at him.
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