to take it in till I come up them
front steps."

The governor laughed.

"Sometimes I don't seem to take it in myself, but _you_ ought to,
Uncle Barnabas. You put me here!"

As he spoke he unlocked a little cabinet and produced a bottle and a
couple of glasses.

"Wal, I do declar, ef you don't hev things as handy as a pocket in a
shirt! Good stuff, Dave! More warmin' than my old coat, I reckon, but
say, Dave, what do you s'pose I hev got in that air telescope?"

David winced. In olden times the old man ever came straight to the
point, as he was doing now.

"Why, what is it, Uncle Barnabas?"

"Open it!" directed the old man laconically.

With the feeling that he was opening his coffin, David unstrapped the
telescope and lifted the cover. A little exclamation of pleasure
escaped him. The telescope held big red apples, and it held nothing
more. David quickly bit into one.

"I know from just which particular tree these come," he said, "from
that humped, old one in the corner of the orchard nearest the house."

"Yes," allowed Barnabas, "that's jest the one--the one under which you
and her allers set and purtended you were studyin' your lessons."

David's eyes grew luminous in reminiscence.

"I haven't forgotten the tree--or her--or the old days, Uncle
Barnabas."

"I knowed you hadn't, Dave!"

Again David's heart sank at the confidence in the tone which betokened
the faith reposed, but he would give the old man a good time anyway
before he took his destiny by the throat.

"Wouldn't you like to go through the capitol?" he asked.

"I be goin'. The feller that brung me up here sed he'd show me
through."

"I'll show you through," said David decisively, and together they went
through the places of interest in the building, the governor as proud
as a newly domiciled man showing off his possessions. At last they
came to the room where in glass cases reposed the old, unfurled battle
flags. The old man stopped before one case and looked long and
reverently within.

"Which was your regiment, Uncle Barnabas?"

"Forty-seventh Infantry. I kerried that air flag at the Battle of the
Wilderness."

David called to a guard and obtained a key to the case. Opening it, he
bade the old man take out the flag.

With trembling hands Barnabas took out the flag he had followed when
his country went to war. He gazed at it in silence, and then restored
it carefully to its place. As they walked away, he brushed his coat
sleeve