"I do," answered Peabody Junior. "I'm thinking of him now. I wish Cousin Elbridge was back again."
"You know why he isn't?"
"Father says it's because he's a bad young man."
"And do you believe it, William?"
"I'm afraid he is—for father always says so."
A gentle figure had quietly opened the chamber-door, and stood listening with breathless attention to the discourse of the two children.
"You wait and see," continued little Sam firmly, "I'm sure he'll come back—and before long."
"What makes you think so?" William asked. "I'm sure I hope he will."
"Because the red rooster," answered little Sam, "crowed yesterday morning for the first time since he went away, and the red rooster knows more than anybody about this farm except old grandfather."
Thinking how that could be, Peabody Junior fell asleep; and little Sam, sure to dream of his absent brother, shortly followed after. The gentle figure of Miriam Haven glided into the chamber, to the bed-side of little Sam, and watching his calm, innocent features—which were held to greatly resemble those of the absent Elbridge—with tears in her eyes, she breathed a blessing from her very heart on the dear child who had faith in the absent one. "A blessing!" such was her humble wish as she returned to her chamber and laid her fair head on the pillow, "a blessing on such as believe in us when we are in trouble and poverty, out of favor with the world, when our good name is doubted, and when the current running sharply against, might overwhelm us, were not one or two kind hands put forth to save us from utter ruin and abandonment!"