Let's hope for the best. Some day you
must let me come and--" he hesitated, his voice failing him for a
moment, "and play a game of checkers," he added.
Paul stood looking up at him sadly, his face troubled.
"It's an evil day when the heart of a child is heavy," said Trove,
bending over the boy. "What is the first law, Paul?"
"Thou shalt learn to obey," said the boy, quickly.
"And who is the great master?"
"Yourself."
"Right, boy! Let's command our hearts to be happy."
The great, bare maple was harping dolefully in the wind. Trove
went for the mare, and Tunk rode down the hill with him in the
cutter.
"Things here ain't what they used t' be," said Tunk.
"No?"
"Widder, she takes on awful. Great changes!"
There was a moment of silence.
"I ain't the same dum fool I used t' be," Tunk added presently.
"What's happened to you?"
"Well, they tol' me what you said about lyin'. Ye know a man in
the hoss business is apt t' git a leetle careless, but I ain't no
such dum fool as I used t' be. Have you heard that Teesey Tower
was married?"
"The old maid?"
"Yes, sir; the ol' maid, to Deacon Haskins, an' he lives with 'em,
an' now they're jes like other folks.
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