“Janie,” said her father. “Don’t talk like that. You children have made all this talk about a present sound like something that it never was intended to be. What I did for Mr. Mott was no more than one neighbor would do for another. I didn’t expect a reward, and I don’t expect one now.”
“Maybe you don’t expect one, Daddy,” said James, “but you’re going to get one.”
“Good morning, folks,” said Mr. Mott. “I see you’re getting ready to leave, and I came to say good-by.”
“Don’t say good-by yet,” said Mom. “We’ll be out for week-ends all during the nice fall weather.”
“City folks always say that,” said the old man, “but when the time comes they get busy in town, and they stay there. Labor Day is usually the end of things out here.”
“What do you do out here all winter,” asked Mr. Murray.
Mr. Mott patted Mirandy on the back. “Time was when I used to do a lot of hunting and fishing, but I’m getting a little old for that. I cleared a nice little heap of money on my stamps, and I figured that this year I’d spend the winter in Florida. I’ve heard the fishing is real good down there.”
“Good for you,” said Dad with a sort of surprised look on his face.
“Yes,” said Mr. Mott blowing his nose. “I’ve been mighty lucky, and you folks have been the cause of it all. I’ve been figuring and figuring what I could do for you and I’ve settled on Mirandy. She’s the finest thing I own. She’s smart, and she’s gentle, and she’d make a good pet for your children.”
Mom looked dazed, and Dad kept saying “But, Mr. Mott....”