When Bob carried in the receipt and showed it to his mother, her face lighted up with joy.
"This is indeed a stroke of good fortune," she said; "or rather it seems like a direct interposition of Providence--that Providence that cares for the widow and the fatherless. You must make Sam a present."
"So I will, mother; but if he understands it is for this he won't take anything."
"Sam is evidently very different from his uncle. He is a sound scion springing from a corrupt trunk. Leave it to me to manage. Won't he stay to supper?"
"Not to-night. I invited him, but he was afraid to accept the invitation, for fear of being punished."
"I suspect he beats Sam, though Sam doesn't like to own it."
"And this man, this cruel tyrant, wants to marry me," thought Mrs. Burton, shuddering.
Two days later Sam chanced to be in the house with the two boys, when Mrs. Burton passed through the room, and greeted him pleasantly.
"There's no one to give me presents," he said.
"They never give presents. They tell me I ought to be thankful that they take care of me, and save me from going to the poor-house."
"There would be no danger of that, Sam," said Bob. "If your uncle ever turns you out to shift for yourself, come and live with us."
"I wish he would turn me out to-morrow, then," said Sam; and it was evident the boy meant it.
"Sam, you will permit me to make up for your uncle's neglect," said Mrs. Burton, kindly. "Here is a neck-tie. I bought it for Robert, but I can get another for him. And here is something else which may prove acceptable."
She drew from her pocket a silver dollar, and put it into Sam's hand.
"Is this really for me?" asked Sam, joyfully.
"I never had so much money before in my life," said Sam. "It makes me feel rich."
Mrs. Burton looked significantly at Bob. Her woman's wit had devised a way of rewarding Sam for the service he had done the family without his being aware of it.
The gift was well meant, but it was destined to get poor Sam into trouble.
Many a man who had come unexpectedly into a fortune of a hundred thousand dollars would not have felt so rich as Sam with his silver dollar. It must be remembered that he had never before had so much money at one time in his life. The prospect of spending it opened up dazzling possibilities. There were so many things that he wanted, that it was hard to decide which to select.