They all thought Willy must have had a dream about Caleb and the ox-money, or he would never have gone and taken the singing-book out of the drawer; but from that day to this he has never been able to remember the dream.
Caleb cried for joy when he received the letter, and fell on his knees,—so he afterwards told grandpa Cheever,—and thanked his heavenly Father for bringing him out of the greatest trial he had ever had in his life. He was very glad to go back to Mr. Parlin's, and everybody there received him like a prince. King George the Third, coming in his own ship from England, would not have been treated half so well; for the Parlins despised him,—poor crazy monarch,—whereas they now thought Caleb was the very pink of perfection. Even Seth begged pardon for his hasty judgment. Mrs. Parlin gave him "election cake," for supper, and some of her very best ginger preserves, and said she did not see how they could make up for the pain of mind he had suffered.
Caleb confessed that he had felt "kind o' bad; but it wasn't worth speaking of now."
After this, when Willy told any improbable story, and insisted that it was true, as children often will, his mother had only to remark,—
"Remember Caleb! You said he wanted your father's money. Is this story any more reasonable than that?" and Willy would blush, and stammer out,—
"Well, perhaps it isn't true, mamma. I won't tell it for certain; but I think so, you know!"
I believe this was the only time that Willy ever did anything in his sleep that is worth recording. The rest of his adventures occurred when he was wide awake; so, you see, if he did wrong there was not so much excuse for him.