How little do we know what is good for us! As he beat an ignominious
retreat, pursued by the scornful laughter of his brother, Abe
certainly had apparent reason to be down on his luck. Nevertheless the
fact that he was cut out that particular evening proved to be one of
the clearest streaks of luck that had ever occurred in his career, and
a good many others besides he had equal reason ere morning dawned to
be thankful for it. The matter fell out on this wise:
A couple of hours later, a little after nine in fact, the Hamlin
household was about going to bed. Elnathan and Mrs. Hamlin had already
retired to the small bedroom opening out of the kitchen. Reuben,
George Fennell and Perez slept in the kitchen, and Prudence in the
loft above. The two invalids were already abed, and the girl was just
giving the last attentions for the night to her father before climbing
to her pallet. Perez sat at the other end of the great room before the
open chimney, gazing into the embers of the fire. The family was to
start for New York the next morning, and as this last night in the old
homestead was closing in the young man had enough sad matter to occupy
his thoughts. Her loving cares completed, Prudence came and stood
silently by his side.
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