We will have a pot of hot
coffee presently," said the German, rubbing his hands and looking about,
not knowing how best to show his pleasure at the unexpected visit.
For three weeks the German's diffident "Good evening" had met with a
stately bow; the chin of Bonaparte lifting itself higher daily; and his
shadow had not darkened the cabin doorway since he came to borrow the two
pounds. The German walked to the head of the bed and took down a blue bag
that hung there. Blue bags were a speciality of the German's. He kept
above fifty stowed away in different corners of his room--some filled with
curious stones, some with seeds that had been in his possession fifteen
years, some with rusty nails, buckles, and bits of old harness--in all, a
wonderful assortment, but highly prized.
"We have something here not so bad," said the German, smiling knowingly, as
he dived his hand into the bag and took out a handful of almonds and
raisins; "I buy these for my chickens. They increase in size, but they
still think the old man must have something nice for them. And the old
man--well, a big boy may have a sweet tooth sometimes, may he not? Ha,
ha!" said the German, chuckling at his own joke, as he heaped the plate
with almonds. "Here is a stone--two stones to crack them--no late patent
improvement--well, Adam's nut-cracker; ha, ha! But I think we shall do.
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