with my rug, and we’ll keep each other warm.”

He saw the small hunched back stiffen, and try to appear big and manly, but she checked the team at a level dip in the road.

“Yes, sonny, get ovah theah with the gentleman. It’ll be some coldah now the sun’s gone.” But the little man was shyly reluctant to move. “Come, honey. Sistah’d a heap rathah you would.”

Then David reached up and gently lifted the atom of manhood, of pride, sensitiveness, and affection, over where he caused him to snuggle down in the fodder close to his side.

For a while the child sat stiffly aloof, but gradually his little form relaxed, and his head drooped sideways in the hollow of the stranger’s shoulder, held comfortably by Thryng’s