Christmas was rapidly approaching, and the pleasant English custom of celebrating it with good cheer, and in a festive way, Mrs. Flaxman told me, was a fixed rule at Oaklands.  The dinner provided for the master’s table was sufficient in quantity for every member of the household to share, down to the ruddy-haired Samuel.  In addition to this, Mr. Winthrop remembered each one of his domestics when distributing his Christmas gifts.  Mrs. Flaxman confided to me that Samuel was consumed with a desire to have his gift in the shape of a watch.  I proceeded forthwith to gratify, if possible, this humble ambition, and first went to the different jewelers’ establishments in Cavendish to see how much one would cost.  On careful examination I was surprised to find a fine large watch could be got so reasonably.  At the time I was as ignorant as Samuel himself of the interior mechanism of these clever contrivances to tell the hours.  The day before Christmas I presented myself as was always the case, with some trepidation, before my guardian, following him into the library shortly after breakfast, even though I knew it was his busiest hour.

“I wish to consult with you about a couple of my Christmas gifts,” I said directly, “if you have leisure to give me a few moments.”

“I am never too busy to hear anything you may wish to say, especially anything in connection with your benevolent projects,” he said, quite genially.

“Are you going to buy the stable boy a watch?”

“Certainly not anything so unnecessary for that wooden-headed youth.  I doubt if he could make out the hour if he possessed one.”

“Oh, yes he could.  Boys are not nearly so stupid as you might imagine,” I responded assuringly.  “He is very anxious for one.  I have been examining the jeweller’s stock and can get a very nice-looking watch for five dollars.  I was surprised, and think they are marvels of cheapness.”

“You go entirely by looks, I see, in the matter; but that is all that bright-hued youth will require.  Yes, by all means get the watch.  Thereby you will add considerably to the pile of human happiness, for a short time, at all events.”

“Would five dollars be too high to pay for one?” I asked doubtfully.

“If you can secure one at a lower price do so by all means,” he said with apparent sincerity.

“There were some for two and a half dollars; but they looked rather large for a boy of his size.”

“The less boy the more watch, I should say; but be sure and get a large chain.  If the watch gets to be trying on his nerves, he can use the chain to put an end to his troubles.”

“If he needed them, there are plenty of straps and rope ends about the stable; but Samuel enjoys life too keenly to be easily disconcerted at a few trials.  I was looking at the chains too.  I did not know before that jewelry was so low priced.”

“Yes?” he responded, more as a question than affirmation.