The Shepherd of the Hills

Angebote / Angebote:

Excerpt: ...door. The boy's sensitive face was aglow, as he said, "Pete's glad this morning, Pete saw the sky. Did Dad see the sky?" Mr. Howitt nodded, then, moved by a sudden impulse, pointed to the money, and said, "Does Pete see this? It's gold, all gold." The boy drew near with curious eyes. "Dad doesn't know where it came from, " continued the shepherd. "Does Pete know?" The youth gave a low laugh of delight, "Course Pete knows. Pete went up on Dewey this morning, 'way up to the old signal tree, and course he took me with him. The sky was all soft and silvery, an' the clouds was full, plumb full of gold, like that there." He pointed to the yellow coins on the floor. "Didn't Dad see? Some of it must o' spilled out." "Ah, yes, that was God's gold, " said the older man softly. The lad touched his friend on the arm, and with the other hand again pointed to the glittering heap on the floor. "Pete says that there's God's gold too, and Pete he knows." The man started and looked at the boy in wonder, "But why, why should it come to me at such a time as this?" he muttered. "'Cause you're the Shepherd of Mutton Hollow, Pete says. Don't be scared, Dad. Pete knows. It's sure God's gold." The shepherd turned to the fireplace and dropped the letter he had written upon the leaping flames. CHAPTER XXII. A LETTER FROM OLLIE STEWART. THE Postoffice at the Forks occupied a commanding position in the northeast corner of Uncle Ike's cabin, covering an area not less than four feet square. The fittings were in excellent taste, and the equipment fully adequate to the needs of the service: an old table, on legs somewhat rickety, upon the table, a rude box, set on end and divided roughly into eight pigeon holes, duly numbered, in the table, a drawer, filled a little with stamps and stationery, filled mostly with scraps of leaf tobacco, and an odd company of veteran cob pipes, now on the retired list, or home on furlough, before the table, a little old chair, wrought in some fearful...