“Yes, sir.”
Sarah and Nancy were pale, Reuben looked dogged. Then came the question direct.
“Well, what was in the stocking?”
“Useful things,” replied little Tommy.
Sarah was a courageous woman. She was really ashamed of the miserable joke they had tried on the child, but she was quite prepared to face the consequences.
“You tell your uncle what was in your stocking, Tommy,” said she.
Reuben echoed her. “No use beating about the bush,” said he, while Tom looked puzzled. “Go ahead and tell him, Tommy.”
“Useful things,” repeated stanch little Tommy.
Uncle Tom gave a shrewd glance at him. “Well, useful things are very good things to have,” said he; “but I think your aunt Annie has a lot of the other kind for you.”
“You get that child ready right away, Nancy and Sarah,” ordered Grandmother from the bedroom, “and mind you wrap him up warm. It’s a cold ride to Boston.”