Just after supper, as he was about to go home to spend Christmas Eve, they placed the bundle in his hands.
"Isn't it beautiful!" he exclaimed, with delight.

"Won't mother be glad to get it ?" "She'll think she has a good son, Andrew." "Shure, I ought to be good to her, for she's a jewel of a mother." "That is right, Andrew.

I always like to hear a boy speak well of his mother.

It is a great pleasure to a mother to have a good son." "Shure, ma'am," said Andy, with more kindness of heart than discretion, "I hope you'll have one yourself." "Just so," said Sophia, with the forced habit upon her.
"Sophia, you are a goose!" said Priscilla, blushing a little.
"Just so, Priscilla." "We are too old to marry, Andrew," said Priscilla; "but we thank you for your wish." "Shure, ma'am, you are only in the prime of life." "Just so," said Sophia, brightening up.
"I shall be sixty next spring.

That can hardly be in the prime of life." "I was readin' of a lady that got married at seventy-nine, ma'am." "Just so," said Sophia, eagerly.
Miss Priscilla did not care to pursue the subject.
"We have thought of you," she continued, "and, as you have been very obliging, we have bought you a Christmas present.