Jason met the return packet, his heart now high, now low. He had met so many futile packets since the first of September. But this time there was a letter explaining that but one-half of the note had arrived in New York, but that on faith, the editors were sending the back numbers of the magazine requested and that the rest of the year's subscription would follow. And Jason never did know whether or not the second half of the note arrived.
And there they were, a fat pile of magazines! Jason clasped them in his arms and rushed home with them. A tag tail of boys followed him and by nightfall most of the town knew that Jason Wilkins had four numbers of Harper's Monthly on hand.
Jason was out milking the cow when Mr. Inchpin arrived.
"Heard Jason had some new magazines in hand. Don't s'pose you could lend me a few, over night?"
Jason's mother was in the kitchen. It was donation party night and she had been cooking all day in preparation.
"Surely, surely," said Jason's father, picking up the pile of magazines. "Jason can't get at them before the end of the week. Take them and welcome."
Mr. Inchpin rode away. Jason came in with the milk pail and the family sat down to a hasty supper.
"Won't I have a minute of time to look at my magazines, mother?" asked Jason. "O, I hate donation parties!"
"Jason!" thundered his father. "Would you show ingratitude to God? And the books are not here anyway. I loaned them to Mr. Inchpin."
"Father!"