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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text
Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921. Excerpt: ... 5 That summer he took Kate and Susanna up to the Berkshires for a month, to visit his uncle in Pearly Gates. Peter had not been home in years, and now in his uncle''s home his satisfaction with himself for his recent achievement was shaken a bit. So many memories rushed back, came at him from all over the place, demanding, Have you gone so far? Is this all that''s to come of those dreams you had? And there was compassion and regret in Peter as he noticed how his uncle Bill had changed. Bill Gowdy at last had suffered defeat; the post office had been moved to the store of his rival down the street; and his principal hold on the world outside was broken. Retiring into himself, he had lived with his stamps and his daily chores, a lonely, surly, dark, old man. Their coming seemed to wake him up, and his slowly deepening delight in Kate and Susanna held a deal of pathos. He was so plainly anxious to please them and to keep them here. You''re a lucky fellow, he said to Peter. What a chance you got to live! He loved to talk of China to Kate, his questions seemed to have no end. He brought out his stamps; and, when she caught the romance that was in them, it warmed the cockles of his heart. While she talked of Peking and her childhood, he sat watching her with gleaming eyes, now and then sharply nodding his head. You go there--go there! he implored. Don''t be held back by nuthin'' on earth! Don''t let yourselves get anchored down! We won''t, she answered. Oh, we won''t! That''s just what we are working for! But, as she went on to explain how Peter''s promotion was right in line with their old plan, a quizzical expression came on William Gowdy''s face. I used to say that of my post office job. Look out--or before you know it, you''ll be stuck in a hole, like me...
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