CHAPTER VII.
THE NEW YEAR'S GIFT "Happy New Year!" was Jack's salutation to Aunt Rachel, as with an unhappy expression of countenance she entered the sitting room.
"Happy, indeed!" she repeated, dismally.

"There's great chance of its being so, I should think.

We don't any of us know what the year may bring forth.

We may all be dead and buried before the next new year." "If that's the case," said Jack, "let us be jolly as long as life lasts." "I don't know what you mean by such a vulgar word," said Aunt Rachel, disdainfully.

"I've heard of drunkards and such kind of people being jolly; but, thank Providence, I haven't got to that yet." "If that was the only way to be jolly," said Jack, stoutly, "then I'd be a drunkard; I wouldn't carry round such a long face as you do, Aunt Rachel, for any money." "It's enough to make all of us have long faces," said his aunt, sourly, "when you are brazen enough to own that you mean to be a miserable drunkard." "I didn't say any such thing," said Jack, indignantly.
"Perhaps I have ears," remarked Aunt Rachel, sententiously, "and perhaps I have not.