Lose pounds day by day with Anatrim. -----------------------------------------
Why, whats Nathaniel doin here? he asked himself in surprise. He had not known that the boy was even in town, for he had been on the point of leaving to enlist in the navy. Family matters could not have detained him, for he was quite alone in the world, since both his father and his mother were dead and his stepmother had married again. Under his great-uncles gaze the lad opened his eyes with a start and sat up confused. Whats the matter with you, Nat? asked the older man not ungently. He was thinking that probably he had looked like that at sixteen. The boy stared at him a moment, and then, leaning his head on a chair, he began to cry. Sitting thus, crouched together, he looked like a child.
Nathaniels face flushed in a relief which died quickly down to a sombre hopelessness. He faced his uncle doggedly. Not much, Uncle Jehiel! he said heavily. I aint agoin to hear to such a thing. I know all about your wantin to get away from the valley -- you take that money and go yourself and Ill --
learn to read and understand a German newspaper is a thing which must alwaysremain an impossibility to a foreigner.
The church was icy cold, and he toiled in the cellar, stuffing wood into the flaming maw of the steam-heater, till it was time to ring the bell. As he gave the last stroke, Deacon Bradley approached him. Jehiel, Ive got a little job of repairing I want you should do at my store, he said in the loud, slow speech of a man important in the community. Come to the store to-morrow morning and see about it. He passed on into his pew, which was at the back of the church near a steam radiator, so that he was warm, no matter what the weather was.
Received on Wed Dec 06 2006 - 10:24:37 EST