So they were
going to remain and be present at it, and Grandpa was going to send
for his best coat to wear.
Willy looked so radiant that they all laughed, and uncle Frank said he
was going to keep him always, and let him help him in the store.
Before they started off to buy the horse, uncle Frank telegraphed to
Ashbury about the coat; he also mentioned Willy's shoes.
The two had a beautiful ride, and bought a handsome black horse. Uncle
Frank consulted Willy a great deal about the purchase, and expatiated
on his good judgment in the matter after they got home. One of Willy's
chief charms was that he stood so much flattery of this kind, without
being disagreeably elated by it. His frank, childish delight was
always pretty to see.
The next afternoon he went berrying with a little boy who lived next
door. At five o'clock aunt Annie ran over to the store to see if the
coat had come.
"It has," she told her mother when she returned; "it came at one
o'clock, and Mother Perry gave it to Willy to bring home."
"To Willy? Why, what did the child do with it?" Grandma said
wonderingly. "He didn't bring it home."
"Maybe he carried it over to Josie Allen's and left it there." Josie
Allen was the boy with whom Willy had gone berrying. His house stood
very near uncle Frank's, and both were nearly across the road from the
store.
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