“I own that I was off my guard,” he said, “but it was the sweet air and beautiful skies that made me forget myself. I was thinking, my child,” he continued, his eye kindling, and looking at Kate as if he knew she would appreciate him, “that the New Jerusalem must be as much more splendid than the clouds yonder, as they are than the common things of earth; and I said to myself, that if looking at ‘em made me so happy here, what would I be should I get to the heavenly Canaan; and so I prayed to the Lord to keep me steadfast to the end.”
Kate gazed at him almost reverently.
“But I’ve not been idle, either,” he said. “I’ve no doubt I was up before you, after all; for I had shot a deer two hours ago; he hangs out yonder, a mile away, where I left him for the boys to bring home. Remember, you’re to tell the Major that I’ll look out for him about the time he promised; and that we’ll have as great a hunt as ever was known in these parts. Now will you be honest in telling him?” he asked, with a sly twinkle, “for, if you won’t, I’ll get sister Maggy to do my errand instead.”
“Oh! I’ll tell him,” replied Kate, with a blush and a gay smile, answering in something of her old rattling style. “He’ll be getting tiresome, I’ve no doubt, before Christmas, so that it will be a happy deliverance to me to have him go away for awhile. But, meanwhile,” she added, “why not come to town with us, as I have proposed? You don’t know,” she continued, seriously, “how I shall miss you all.”
“It’s onpossible just now,” replied Uncle Lawrence, shaking his head. “But I reckon I’ll be there next spring,” he added, with a significant smile, “that is, if I’m alive, even though I have to walk all the way.”
Kate blushed crimson at the allusion, but rallying, answered promptly, while she extended her hand for a parting farewell,
“I shall be sure to expect you, and will take care that a carriage is sent for you. You must bring my old friend, Mrs. Herman.”
“Mother’s too much of a home body, to come,” replied the veteran. “Besides she’d be flustered so, she wouldn’t know what she was doin’, when she found herself among all the grand folk I spose will be there. I shouldn’t wonder now,” he added “if General Washington himself was to be present.”
“Oh! you must come and see,” laughed Kate.
“And that you’ll be married by your own preacher. I’ve heerd they wear black gowns, like we see in pictures. I reckon that’ll be more cur’us to me than a’most anything else.”