"And I suppose Mrs. Stickles is as jolly as ever?"
"Oh, yes. She is just the same. Poor soul! she has her hands full with her
sick husband, and a houseful of little ones. Yet she keeps remarkably
bright and cheerful. She was much concerned about my welfare, and while
she sent Sammy to look after Midnight she bustled around to make me as
comfortable as possible."
"'Poor dear man,' she said, 'ye ain't as young as ye used to be, an' I
often say to John that the work's tellin' on ye. Ye've got too large a
circus, parson, too large a circus.'"
"Dear soul," laughed Nellie. "There isn't a more real person in Glendow
than Mrs. Stickles. She's a friend to everyone, and knows everybody's
business for miles around."
"Indeed, she does," replied her father. "It was she who told me about our
young friend here, and I started off post-haste to capture him. So we have
to thank Mrs. Stickles for it all."
Supper ended, Parson John and Dan went into the study, while Nellie
cleared away the dishes. A bright fire burned in the large fire-place,
giving the room a most genial appearance. The parson brought down a long
church-warden pipe, filled and lighted it.
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