It was a momentous occasion in the life of Coldriver; a gathering of prodigals and wanderers under home roofs; a week set aside for the return of sons and daughters and grandchildren of Coldriver who had ventured forth into the world to woo fortune and to seek adventure.  Preparations had been in the making for months, and the village was resolved that its collateral relatives to the remotest generation should be made aware that Coldriver was not deficient in the necessary “git up and git” to wear down its visitors to the last point of exhaustion.  Pliny Pickett, chairman of numerous committees and marshal of the parade, predicted it would “lay over” the Centennial in Philadelphia.

The greased pig was to be greasier; the barbecued ox was to be larger; the band was to be noisier; the speeches were to be longer and more tiresome; the firemen’s races and the ball games, and the fat men’s race, and the frog race, and the grand ball with its quadrilles and Virginia reels and “Hull’s Victory” and “Lady Washington’s Reel” and its “Portland Fancy,” were all to be just a little superior to anything of the sort ever attempted in the state.  Numerous septuagenarians were resorting to St. Jacob’s oil and surreptitious prancing in the barn, to “soople” up their legs for the dance.  It was to be one of those wholesome, generous, splendid outpourings of neighborliness and good feeling and wonderful simplicity and kindliness, such as one can meet with nowhere but in the remoter mountain communities of old New England, where customs do not grow stale and no innovation mars.  If any man would discover the deep meaning of the word “welcome,” let him attend such a Home-coming!

Though Coldriver did not realize it, the impetus toward the Home-coming Week had been given by Scattergood Baines.  He had seen in it a subsidence of old grudges and the birth of universal better feeling.  He had set the idea in motion, and then, by methods of indirection, of which he was a master, he had urged it on to fulfillment.

Scattergood went inside the store and leaned upon the counter, taking no small pleasure in a mental inventory of his heterogeneous stock.  He had completed one side, and arrived at the rear, given over to stoves and garden tools, when a customer entered.  Scattergood turned.

“Mornin’, Mattie,” he said.  “What kin I help ye to this time?”

“I—­I need a tack hammer, Mr. Baines.”

“Got three kinds:  plain, with claws, and them patent ones that picks up tacks by electricity.  I hold by them and kin recommend ’em high.”

“I’ll take one, then,” said Mattie; but after Scattergood wrapped it up and gave her change for her dollar bill, she remained, hesitating, uncertain, embarrassed.

“Was they suthin’ besides a tack hammer you wanted, Mattie.”  Scattergood asked, gently.

“I—­No, nothing.”  Her courage had failed her, and she moved toward the door.

“Mattie!”