"I were never doin' much for you, Doctor Joe--just what one man would
always do for another," Thomas protested. "But 'twill be a blessin'
to the folk of The Labrador to have you doctor un! We all need doctors
often enough when there's none to be had, and folks die for the need
of un."

"Yes, folks die here for the need of a doctor," Doctor Joe agreed,
"and I hope I may be the means of saving lives and giving relief."

The three boys broke in upon them with their arms full of packages.

"There's a lot more!" exclaimed Jamie depositing his load upon the
floor.

"Perhaps we had better help them, Thomas," suggested Doctor Joe,
rising.

"Oh, no, sir," Jamie protested. "Let us bring un up!"

And so said David and Andy also. They quickly had the contents of the
skiff transferred to the cabin, and the exciting process of opening
the packages began.

The first to be opened was for Margaret, and it contained many pretty
and useful things, including two neat, substantial warm dresses, finer
than any Margaret had ever before possessed or seen. Her eyes sparkled
as she held them up for inspection, and she exclaimed over and over
again:

"Oh, how wonderful pretty they is!"