But his wife
and little Billy were there, little Billy with his ruddy hair curling
about his merry little face and his eyes dancing at everything and
every one.
Green Valley was full of lovable little ones, but they were as a rule
kept closely sheltered in the front and back yards. But Billy was a
town baby. His days were spent in and around his father's livery barn.
He went to his twelve o'clock dinner perched on Hank Lolly's shoulder,
and it had gotten so no gathering of men in his father's office was
considered complete without him.
And maybe it was just as well; for since Billy's coming there was less
careless language, less careless gossip. And if some one's tongue did
slip now and then, Hank Lolly had a way of putting his head in and
saying solemnly:
"Guess you forgot that Mrs. Evans' boy was around when you said that."
For Hank Lolly was little Billy's proud godfather and Billy's welfare
was a matter that kept Hank awake nights.
It was Hank who introduced little Billy to all the livery horses and
patiently developed deep friendships between the animals and the child.
"I've fixed it so's no horse of ourn'll ever hurt the boy. But that
ain't saying that somebody's ornery critter won't harm him.
Pages:
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265