note
and--and that."

He pointed to the ring and the bit of tissue paper on the table.
Thankful took up the paper first and read aloud what was written upon
it.

"For Thankful, with a larst merry Christmas from brother Jed. I am going
away and if you want me I will be at New Bedford for two weeks, care the
bark Finback."

"'I am goin' away'," repeated Thankful. "Goin' away? Are you goin' away
AGAIN?"

"I--I was cal'latin' to. I'm goin' cook on a whaler."

"Cook! You a cook! And," she took up the ring and stared at it, "for the
land sakes, what's this?"

"It's a present I bought for you. Took my last two dollar bill, it did.
I wanted you to have somethin' to remember me by."

Thankful held the gaudy ring at arm's length and stared at it
helplessly. There was a curious expression on her face, half-way between
laughing and crying.

"You bought this--this thing for me," she repeated. "And did you think
I'd wear it."

"I hoped you would. Oh, Thankful, if you only knew what I've been
through. Why, I was next door to starvin' when I got in here tonight.
If I hadn't eat somethin' I found in the buttry I would have starved, I
guess. And I'm soaked, soppin' through and--"

"There, there. Hush! hush! Jedediah, you're gold-diggin' ain't changed
you much, I guess. You're just as helpless as ever you was. Well, you're
here and I'm grateful for so much. Now you come with me out into the
kitchen and we'll see what can be done about gettin' you dry. Emily, if
you'll just put that child to bed."

But Georgie had something to say. He had listened to this long dialogue
with astonishment and growing dismay. Now the dismay and conviction of a
great disappointment overcame him.

"I don't want to go to bed," he wailed. "Ain't he Santa Claus? He SAID
he was Santa Claus. Where are my presents? Where's my air-gun? I want my
presents. Oh--Oh--Oh!"

He went out crying. Emily ran to him.

"Hush, hush, Georgie, dear," she begged. "Come upstairs with
sister--come. If you don't you may be here when the real Santa comes and
you will frighten him away. Come with me; that's a good boy. Auntie, I
will be down by and by."

She led the disappointed and still sobbing boy from the room. Thankful
turned to her brother.

"Now you march out into that kitchen," she commanded. "I'll get you warm
first and then I'll see about a bed for you. You'll have to sleep up on
the third floor tonight. After that I'll see about a better room to put