He sat down in it and called the two children and the dog, who all gathered around him for their share of his caresses.
And at the same moment Reuben, having dispatched Sam on his errand to Shelton, came in and sat down, with his big hands on his knees, and his head bent forward, contemplating the group around Ishmael with immense satisfaction.
Hannah was going in and out between the parlor and the pantry bringing cream, butter, butter-milk, and so forth.
Ishmael lifted John upon his knees, and while smoothing back the flaxen curls from the child's well-shaped forehead, said:
"This little fellow has got a great deal in this head of his! What do you intend to make of him, Uncle Reuben?"
"Law, Ishmael, how can I tell!" grinned Reuben.
"You should give him an education and fit him for one of the learned professions; or, no; I will do that, if Heaven spares us both!" said Ishmael benevolently; then smiling down upon the child, he said:
"What would you like to be when you grow up, Johnny?"
"I don't know," answered inexperience.
"Would you like to be a lawyer?"