17 Young Man of the Family

Shocked Kaleb took the envelope back into the work room to peep inside of it. With his eyes as big as saucers and legs turning to jelly he nearly stumbled and dropped the envelope onto the ground. "Boss, did you make a mistake? There is way too much here." he called.

"No lad, I would venture to say that it is just right in my estimation." the old jeweler chuckled. "You have done all of the work and chores around here for a long time now. And with little complaint I might add. Also that craft work on that stone is all yours, right down to the raw materials that you, yourself have brought to work with. I dare say that in the future I may just have to upgrade you from apprentice to business partner."

In a hurry Kaleb picked up all of the money and envelope from the ground and stuffed it into his lunch pail. This was way too much to be seen holding out in public view. It was darn near enough to buy a house with and fill the kitchen and pantry for a good few years worth of food and dry goods, in his eyes. No way was he going to let some one else make off with it. He had made up his mind, he was going to do right by his siblings so they could live a good life while he could with it. With a puffed chest and new found determination he slipped a few of the dollars out of the lunch pail and went to buy a new outfit for each of his family members to surprise them with once he reached home, since Grandpa and his boss were there he had little doubt anything would happen to the rest, especially since he was the only knew where he had put it.

Upon reaching out front of the shop he stopped to tell his Grandpa where he was off too and hurried along his way. When he came back he was surprised to see Mr. Joseph was still speaking with the Boss and Grandpa.

"Well lad I suppose you will be heading off home soon." said Mr. Joseph. "Yes Sir." answered Kaleb. "Well then I shall see you tomorrow then. Oh, and by the way young man, don't worry I will not let out your secret to anyone. The gemstone will be very loved and cared for in my family's hands. She whispered to me and said that she worried that you would be aggrieved at her being taken so far away from home. I can hear them too! Maybe not as clearly as you can but I still can even if at a whisper." At that Mr. Joseph strode away to his lodgings for the night. Stunned Kaleb watched his receding figure until his Grandpa said it was time to go. Kaleb placed his parcels into the cart hitched to the mule and darted into the shop to fetch his lunch pail. Picking it up he lifted the lid to make sure his pay was still in it. Letting out a relieved sigh he closed it back up and put it in with the parcels and climbed up in to ride home with Grandpa.

Upon reaching home, it was just like Christmas as he handed out the parcels to each one of his family members. His sisters were smiling while tears of joy rolled down their faces. The little ones were more happy to be shredding the brown paper wrapping than getting the clothes. But who are we kidding, what small child in history has ever turned down the joy of ripping up or open wrapping paper? Kaleb soaked up every minute of the happiness that surrounded him that night. As night fell, Grandpa handed Kaleb a tin box with a hinged lid. Perplexed Kaleb gave him a questioning look.

Grandpa smiled and said to him, "This was once your Mamaw's sewing box before I had bought her a proper one. I think you should have it. For starters I doubt you wish to carry all of your pay around with you everyday in your lunch pail. Secondly I think you should stow it away from prying eyes somewhere safe. I do believe there is a floor board er two around here that's loose that one could hide a thing in to hide it away. Who knows you may just find my old childhood keep some day. Just saying, it's your choice what you want ta do with it." With a wink he walked out of the room and headed off to sleep.

Hurriedly Kaleb opened up a board in the floor of his room inside of his closet and pulled out a cigar box that was yellowed and dusty, then placed his tin box with the money in it into the space, followed by the cigar box, then finally replaced the board. Smiling he laid down and drifted off to sleep.