When the Judge had gone, Blenkinsop put his hand on the dog's head and asked with a little laugh: "Did ye hear what he said, Christmas? He called me _Mister_. Never done that before, no sir!" Mr. Blenkinsop sat with his head upon his hand listening to the wind that whistled mournfully in the chimney. Suddenly he shouted: "Come in!" The door opened and there on the threshold stood his Old Self. It was not at all the kind of a Self one would have expected to see. It was, indeed, a very youthful and handsome Self--the figure of a clear-eyed, gentle-faced boy of about sixteen with curly, dark hair above his brows. Mr. Blenkinsop covered his face and groaned. Then he held out his hands with an imploring gesture. "I know you," he whispered. "Please come in." "Not yet," the young man answered, and his voice was like the wind in the chimney. "But I have come to tell you that I, too, am glad." Then he vanished. Mr. Blenkinsop arose from his chair and rubbed his eyes. "Christmas, ol' boy, I've been asleep," he muttered. "I guess it's time we turned in!" CHAPTER FOUR IN WHICH MR. ISRAEL SNEED AND OTHER WORKING MEN RECEIVE A LESSON IN TRUE DEMOCRACY Next morning, Mr. Blenkinsop went to cut wood for the Widow Moran. The good woman was amazed by his highly respectable appearance. "God help us! Ye look like a lawyer," she said. "I'm a new man! Cut out the blacksmith shop an' the booze an' the bummers." "May the good God love an' help ye! I heard about it." "Ye did?" "Sure I did. It's all over the town. Good news has a lively foot, man. The Shepherd clapped his hands when I told him. Ye got to go straight, my laddie buck. All eyes are on ye now. Come up an' see the boy. It's his birthday!" Mr. Blenkinsop was deeply moved by the greeting of the little Shepherd, who kissed his cheek and said that he had often prayed for him. "If you ever get lonely, come and sit with me and we'll have a talk and a game of dominoes," said the boy. Mr. Blenkinsop got strength out of the wonderful spirit of Bob Moran and as he swung his axe that day, he was happier than he had been in many years. Men and women who passed in the street said, "How do you do, Mr. Blenkinsop? I'm glad to see you." Even the dog Christmas watched his master with a look of pride and approval. Now and then, he barked gleefully and scampered up and down the sidewalk. The Shepherd was fourteen years old. On his birthday, from morning until night, people came to his room bringing little gifts to remind him of their affection. No one in the village of Bingville was so much beloved. Judge Crooker came in the evening with ice-cream and a frosted cake. While he was there, a committee of citizens sought him out to confer with him regarding conditions in Bingville. "There's more money than ever in the place, but there never was so much misery," said the chairman of the committee.