They had a half-hour's visit with the little Shepherd. Mr. Bing, who was a judge of good pictures, said that the boy's work showed great promise and that his picture of the mother and child would bring a good price if he cared to sell it. When they arose to go, Mr. Blenkinsop thanked the mill owner for his Christmas suit.
"Don't mention it," said Mr. Bing.
"Well, it mentions itself purty middlin' often," Mr. Blenkinsop laughed.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" the former asked.
"Well, sir, to tell ye the dead hones' truth, I've got a new ambition," said Mr. Blenkinsop. "I've thought of it nights a good deal. I'd like to be sextunt o' the church an' ring that ol' bell."
"We'll see what can be done about it," Mr. Bing answered with a laugh, as they went down-stairs with Judge Crooker, followed by the dog Christmas, who scampered around them on the street with a merry growl of challenge, as if the spirit of the day were in him.
"What is it that makes the boy so appealing?" Mr. Bing asked of the Judge.
"He has a wonderful personality," Mrs. Bing remarked.
"Yes, he has that. But the thing that underlies and shines through it is his great attraction."