For with the passing of summer, Dannie had learned that heretofore there had been happiness of a sort, for them, and that if they could all get back to the old footing it would be well, or at least far better than it was at present.

With Mary's tongue dripping gall, and her sweet face souring, and Jimmy hearing devils, no wonder poor Dannie overheated his team in a race to carry a package that promised to furnish some diversion.
Jimmy and Mary heard the racket, and standing on the celery hill, they saw Dannie come clattering up the lane, and as he saw them, he stood in the wagon, and waved the package over his head.
Jimmy straightened with a flourish, stuck the spade in the celery hill, and descended with great deliberation.

"I mintioned to Dannie this morning," he said "that it was about time I was hearin' from the Thrid Man." "Oh! Do you suppose it is something from Boston ?" the eagerness in Mary's voice made it sound almost girlish again.
"Hunt the hatchet!" hissed Jimmy, and walked very leisurely into the cabin.
Dannie was visibly excited as he entered.

"I think ye have heard from the Thread Mon," he said, handing Jimmy the package.
Jimmy took it, and examined it carefully.

He never before in his life had an express package, the contents of which he did not know.