"He'll go to the exercises all right!" he called back over his shoulder
in a great roar. "He'll go, if I have to buy out the whole town to get
him an outfit! And that whelp won't get these clothes, either; you hear
me say so!"
He sprang into the buggy and, holding 'Lias on his lap, took up the
reins and drove rapidly forward.
They saw little 'Lias again, entering the Town Hall, holding fast to Mr.
Pond's hand. He was magnificent in a whole suit of store clothes, coat
and all, and he wore white stockings and neat, low shoes, like a city
child!
They saw him later, up on the platform, squeaking out his little
patriotic poem, his eyes, shining like stars, fixed on one broad,
smiling face in the audience. When he finished he was overcome with
shyness by the applause, and for a moment forgot to turn and leave the
platform. He hung his head, and, looking out from under his eyebrows,
gave a quaint, shy little smile at the audience. Betsy saw Mr. Pond's
great smile waver and grow dim. His eyes filled so full that he had to
take out his handkerchief and blow his nose loudly.
And they saw little 'Lias once more, for the last time. Mr. Pond's buggy
drove rapidly past their slow-moving hay-wagon, Mr. Pond holding the
reins masterfully in one hand. Beside him, very close, sat 'Lias with
his lap full of toys, oh, FULL--like Christmas! In that fleeting glimpse
they saw a toy train, a stuffed dog, a candy-box, a pile of picture-
books, tops, paper-bags, and even the swinging crane of the big
mechanical toy dredge that everybody said the store-keeper could never
sell to anybody because it cost so much!
As they passed swiftly, 'Lias looked out at them and waved his little
hand flutteringly.
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