_There_, d you hear that! It was his very words!
And you shut him up sharp.
I lay I did! There must a been an angel there. There _was_ an angel
there, somewheres!
And Mrs. Harper told about Joe scaring her with a firecracker, and you
told about Peter and the Pain-killer
Just as true as I live!
And then there was a whole lot of talk bout dragging the river for us,
and bout having the funeral Sunday, and then you and old Miss Harper
hugged and cried, and she went.
It happened just so! It happened just so, as sure as I m a-sitting in
these very tracks. Tom, you couldn t told it more like if you d a seen
it! And then what? Go on, Tom!
Then I thought you prayed for me and I could see you and hear every
word you said. And you went to bed, and I was so sorry that I took and
wrote on a piece of sycamore bark, We ain t dead we are only off being
pirates, and put it on the table by the candle; and then you looked
so good, laying there asleep, that I thought I went and leaned over and
kissed you on the lips.
Did you, Tom, _did_ you! I just forgive you everything for that! And
she seized the boy in a crushing embrace that made him feel like the
guiltiest of villains.
It was very kind, even though it was only a dream, Sid soliloquized
just audibly.
Shut up, Sid! A body does just the same in a dream as he d do if he was
awake. Here s a big Milum apple I ve been saving for you, Tom, if you
was ever found again now go long to school. I m thankful to the good
God and Father of us all I ve got you back, that s long-suffering and
merciful to them that believe on Him and keep His word, though goodness
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