"They told me she was here."
"Here I am, Uncle Aleck," came the dear voice from the inner room.
Then there was another glad reunion of those who had thought never
again to meet in this life; while the old man counted as nothing the
loss of all he had possessed, so long as this child was left to him.
When Aunt Viney was told who Solon was, she made him a deep courtesy,
and then, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she began to sing:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Before she finished the first line they were all singing with her, and
never did this grand old hymn of thanksgiving find a more fervent
utterance.
As for Bim, there never was a happier bull-dog in this world. He
barked as long as his voice held out, and jumped up on every one, and
tore wildly about the room until his chain fastened itself to a table
leg. Then, with a few spoke-like revolutions, he became completely
wound up, and lay panting on the floor, only waiting to be released
that he might again go through with the entire performance.
After comparative quiet had been restored, though every one was still
talking at once, the questions arose, "Who saved Sabella? Was any one
drowned? If so, who was it? Did Winn bring the _Whatnot_ down the
river? If not, how did he reach the scene of the catastrophe? How did
the boy's signature happen to be attached to the paper in possession of
the steamboat Captain?" These and a dozen other questions were asked
in a breath, and then all began to answer them at once.
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