"We hain't got the farm," cut in her husband sharply. "William an' Sarah
Ellen's got it."

"Yes, I know, but they--why, they're us, Jeremiah," reminded
Hester, trying to keep the quaver out of her voice.

"Mebbe, Hester, mebbe," conceded Jeremiah; but he turned and looked out
of the window with gloomy eyes.

There came a letter to the farmhouse soon after this from Nathan Banks,
a favorite nephew, suggesting that "uncle and aunt" pay them a little
visit.

"Just the thing, father!" cried William. "Go--it'll do you both good!"
And after some little talk it was decided that the invitation should be
accepted.

Nathan Banks lived thirty miles away, but not until the night before the
Whipples were to start did it suddenly occur to Jeremiah that he had now
no money for railroad tickets. With a heightened color on his old cheeks
he mentioned the fact to William.

"Ye see, I--I s'pose I'll have ter come ter you," he apologized. "Them
won't take us!" And he looked ruefully at a few coins he had pulled from
his pocket. "They're all the cash I've got left."

William frowned a little and stroked his beard.

"Sure enough!" he muttered. "I forgot the tickets, too, father. 'T is
awkward--that bank blowing up; isn't it? Oh, I'll let you have it all