She caught the treasure passionately to her heart and stifled her
sobs in it, while Abner exclaimed "I declare to man, if that
hain't a flag! Well, in that case you're good 'n' welcome to it!
Land! I seen that bundle lyin' in the middle o' the road and I
says to myself, that's somebody's washin' and I'd better pick it
up and leave it at the post-office to be claimed; 'n' all the
time it was a flag!"
This was a Simpsonian version of the matter, the fact being that
a white-covered bundle lying on the Meserves' front steps had
attracted his practiced eye, and slipping in at the open gate he
had swiftly and deftly removed it to his wagon on general
principles; thinking if it were clean clothes it would be
extremely useful, and in any event there was no good in passing
by something flung into one's very arms, so to speak. He had had
no leisure to examine the bundle, and indeed took little interest
in it. Probably he stole it simply from force of habit, and
because there was nothing else in sight to steal, everybody's
premises being preternaturally tidy and empty, almost as if his
visit had been expected! Rebecca was a practical child, and it
seemed to her almost impossible that so heavy a bundle should
fall out of Mrs. Meserve's buggy and not be noticed; but she
hoped that Mr. Simpson was telling the truth, and she was too
glad and grateful to doubt any one at the moment.
"Thank you, thank you ever so much, Mr. Simpson. You're the
nicest, kindest, politest man I ever knew, and the girls will be
so pleased you gave us back the flag, and so will the Dorcas
Society; they'll be sure to write you a letter of thanks;they
always do."
"Tell 'em not to bother 'bout any thanks," said Simpson, beaming
virtuously. "But land! I'm glad 't was me that happened to see