"I certainly will, Matthias; but you are excited now."
"Bless ye. May de heavins open fur to swallow me in ef I don't clar up ebery cent you pays fur me. But you can't tell. Oh, ye don't know!" and again he walked, clapped his hands, and sang, "Oh, Canaan, bright Canaan!" till, pausing suddenly, he said, "Guess I better shuffle ober to tell Peg—'pears like I'm done gone clar out whar I can't know nothin';" and with "good arternoon" he left us, swinging his hat in his hand, and singing still "Oh, Canaan!" as he traveled over the hill toward home.
We were all glad for Matthias, and Clara said:
"Let us rejoice with them that rejoice; and Louis, my dear boy, write at once to the gentleman who owns John, and pay him whatever he says is due. We can do it, and we should, for the poor, tired heart of his father cannot afford to wait when a promise lies so near. Let us help him to lay hold upon it."
"Amen," said Aunt Hildy. "I'll help ten dollars' worth; taint much."
"But you shall keep it for John," said Clara; "he will need something after he gets here."
The next morning Matthias came to deliver his bank-book to Louis, saying:
"Get the buryin' money; get it and send it fur me, please."
Louis told him to keep his bank-book.
"You shall see your boy as soon as money can get him here."