"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holyangels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

Orabelle closed the Bible and Festus sighed and said, "Sweet Billy, does she read like that ever' night?"

Sweet Billy put an arm around Orabelle and hugged her to him. "She sure does, Uncle Festus. Sometimes Lambert and Emery comes 'round and we all just set and listen till the sun goes down."

"Sure is pretty to hear." Festus frowned suddenly at Sweet Billy. "Just remember Orabelle's the onliest readin' Haggen we got. Don't you go to wearin' her out."

Orabelle laughed. "I'm not the only reading Haggen anymore, Festus. Did you know Eliab got married?"

The hillman's hand went reflexively to his right ear. "I heerd somethin' 'bout it."

"Well, the girl he married had a little sister living with her and I've been teaching them both to read."

Festus clutched his ear more tightly. "You don't mean t'say Eliab lives close by?"

Sweet Billy grinned. "Just a hoot'n a holler. They's comin' for supper tonight."

Orabelle dug Sweet Billy in the ribs. "You stop that, Sweet Billy! Festus, you don't got to worry none about Eliab and your ear."

"That's easy for you to say! It ain't yore little hangy down part he's after." Doc started to laugh and Festus snapped at him. "Oh, hush up! You ain't got no more compassion in you than a tax collect'r."

"Uncle Festus!"

The hillman looked around wildly. Eliab was coming up the path and he started to bolt but Sweet Billy stuck out his leg and tripped him. Festus went down hard and as he lay there trying to catch his breath Eliab hurried up and bent over him.

"Get away from me, you little scamp!" The hillman had both hands over his ear. "You ain't gettin' my ear!"

"Uncle Festus, I ain't after yore ear!"

"You ain't gettin' my little hangy down part neither!"

Eliab was suddenly pulled backwards and a young woman with black curls and big brown eyes took his place. "Cousin Festus?" Festus nodded and she smiled and held out a hand. "I'm Jessamine. Jessamine Haggen. I'm Eliab's wife." Festus cautiously extended a hand and she took it and straightened up, obliging him to rise to his feet.

"It's a pure pleasure to meet you, Cousin Jessamine," said Festus, resolutely holding his ear with the other hand.

Jessamine cast a stern look at Eliab. "I heerd all 'bout your ear, Cousin Festus. Eliab's put all that behind him, ain't you, Eliab?"

"Yes, Jessamine," said Eliab meekly.

"He ain't never gonna try'n get your ear again, are you, Eliab?"

"No, Jessamine."

"And now you two are going to shake hands and be the best of friends from now till always, you hear me?"

Festus and Eliab nodded and shook hands and Jessamine went over to Orabelle with a satisfied expression. The hillman's mouth was hanging open. "Eliab..." he began.

Eliab grinned. "I know, Uncle Festus. She's tough as a hick'ry nut but she's sweeter'n sorghum on cake and she takes real good care of me'n Melody."

"Melody?"

Eliab nodded to a little girl peeking around a tree. "Her little sister." He waved to the child. "Melody! Come on over here!" She pulled back behind the tree and he sighed. "She's a mite timid. I'll have to fetch her." He walked over behind the tree and presently returned with the little girl's hand in his. "This here's yore Uncle Festus I been tellin' you 'bout."

Melody stole a look at Festus. "I thought he only had one ear."

Eliab looked guilty but Festus smiled sweetly. "I got both my ears so's I can listen better to pretty girls." She smiled back and he asked, "Can I interduce my friend Doctor Adams to you?"

Melody nodded. She had the same black curls as her sister but her eyes were a striking green and now she turned them on Doc. The old man took off his hat. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Melody."

The child inspected him. "Are you a real doctor?"

Doc smiled. "Yes, I am."

Melody looked doubtful. "Orabelle said doctors have to work hard all the time."

Doc looked smugly at Festus. "We do. I work harder than anyone I know."

Festus snorted and Melody asked, "How does somebody as old as you work hard all the time?"

The hillman doubled up with laughter. "He ain't as old as he looks, child. Why, he only passed his eightieth birthday five years ago!"

Doc drew himself up. "You'll have to excuse me, Miss Melody. I need to see how Orabelle is feeling."

He walked away muttering and Melody said shyly to Festus, "Is yore friend a good doctor?"

Festus wiped his eyes. "The best they is." He looked suddenly serious. "Are you frettin' 'bout Orabelle, are you?"

The little girl nodded and whispered, "My mama died when I wuz born." She raised her eyes to Festus. "If'n somethin' like that wuz to happen to Orabelle..."

Festus held out his hand. After a moment's hesitation Melody took it and he said, "Melody, did you know Doc Adams is the onliest doctor what's ever doctored us Haggens when we needed doctorin'?" She nodded. "Well, don't that tell you what a good doctor he is? With my good friend Doc on the job everythin's goin' to be just as right as summer rain."