Ann roused herself from her stupour
and spoke at last.
"I don't know. I'll count it." She unrolled the bills and began.
"O Lord!" she exclaimed excitedly, "here's ten-dollar bills! One, two,
three, and a twenty-that makes five--and five are
fifty-five--sixty--seventy--eighty--eighty-five--ninety--one
hundred--and two and five are seven, and two and one are ten,
twenty--twenty-five--one hundred and twenty-five! Why, I'm rich!" she
shouted. "Bless the Lord! Oh, this is the glorious Christmas Day! I
knew He'd provide. Katey! Katey!" she screamed at the door of the other
room, where the child lay asleep. "Merry Christmas to you, darlin'! Now
you can have some shoes! and a new dress! and--and--breakfast, and a
regular Christmas dinner! Oh! I believe I shall go crazy!"
But she did not. Joy seldom hurts people, and she was brought back to
everyday affairs by the querulous voice of her husband.
"Now I will have my tea, an' a new blanket, an' some tobacco--how I
have wanted a pipe!" and he went on enumerating his wants while Ann
bustled about, putting away most of her money, and once more getting
ready to go out.
"I'll run out and get some breakfast," she said, "but don't you tell a
soul about the money."
"No! they'll rob us!" shrieked the old man.
"Nonsense! I'll hide it well, but I want to keep it a secret for
another reason.
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