“We’re going round by Sanders’s,” said Mr. Welch to the driver; and this arrangement having been complied with, all fears as to his mother’s anxiety disappeared as Benny was told by Mr. Welch that he had made matters all right. “I told Bill to turn on his ’phone, and I waited, so he’d get the message straight. I shouldn’t wonder if it was going over the wire this minute. I told him to say, ‘Ben in safe hands. Made trip by mistake. Nobody’s fault.’ That’ll let her know you aren’t to blame, and it’ll ease her mind. I know how mothers feel. Had one myself.”
The little country store, before which they finally drew up, was a long white building; a pretty lawn was on one side and a garden in the rear. Outbuildings, a stable and henhouse, woodhouse and corn crib, showed that it was a true country home. There was a little church across the way, a blacksmith shop not far off, and between the two half a dozen houses were scattered. These constituted the village of Jennings’s Cross Roads.
Benny clambered down from the wagon and lent a willing hand to the unloading of it, depositing the parcels on the porch in front of the store, not pausing till the last bundle was safe.
“Hot work,” said Mr. Welch. “You’ve earned your supper, Ben; come, let’s see what mother has for us.”
A rosy-faced woman stood on a side step as Benny and Mr. Welch made their way to the pump in the back yard.
“Got back, Thad?” she said, pleasantly.
“Yes, and brought company,” was the reply. “That’s my wife, Ben.” “Got room for a city visitor, Sue?”
Mrs. Welch looked curiously at Benny. “Why, yes, I reckon so,” she answered, and then she joined them at the pump, where Mr. Welch began vigorously to wash his face and hands, telling his wife meanwhile of Benny’s adventures.
“That’s just like you, Thad,” she remarked, as he concluded. But a pleased smile showed that she approved of just such proceedings herself. “Come, supper’s ready,” she said, and led the way to the dining-room.
Benny never forgot that supper. Hot biscuits and broiled ham; fried potatoes and radishes; a great bowl of huge strawberries served with thick, yellow cream; home-made sponge cake, and milk in unlimited supply.