came from a group of people up by the Talkers' and canoes on the lake answered,
"May His right hand protect our land
And guard her liberty."
Then Dallas went quickly to the farm-home where his parents were packing.
Seeing his mother standing before his wardrobe trunk he went into a quiet ecstasy.
"A mother—to pack one's trunk—but it is too much. I will finish. What are all these packages?"
"Presents for my boy from the kindly folk here."
"I don't deserve them," he said humbly. Then he added, "Mother, my dear, may I send a big bundle of nice things for their community Christmas tree?"
"Certainly," she said, "and, my boy, I have good news for you. Madame de Valkonski has discovered that the back of your head is shaped like her Paul's. Now she will love you like a second mother."
Dallas put his two hands on her arms. "Mother-my-love, I can have two mothers, three mothers, or a dozen mothers, but there will never be one like my very own."