Chapter VI: 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?"