out at once. She had taken notice
of the house, and, after driving up one or two streets, they found the
right one. She asked her mother to let her carry the basket. When
they entered the room Mildred's mother found it even worse than Mildred
had pictured it; but a half hour's vigorous work made a great change,
and that night, for the first time in many years, Molly slept in a
clean bed and in as much comfort as her poor little broken body would
admit.

That night Mildred could hardly sleep for happiness. She had the money
to buy the mocking-bird. Inquiry was made next day on the street where
Mildred described the bird as being. It was found that the only bird
on the block belonged to a Mrs. Johnson, "a widow lady who took in
sewing." She lived in the third story back room of a certain house and
had not been there very long, so no one could tell anything about her
except that she owned "a mocker." This, however, was all that was
needed, and Mildred was promised that next morning the bird should be
bought and she should be allowed to take it to Molly with her own
hands. She planned just the way in which she would surprise her.

Next morning a servant was sent around to buy the bird. When he
returned Mildred's high hopes were all dashed to the ground. The owner
did not wish to sell the bird. The money was doubled and the servant
was sent back. The answer came back: "The bird was not for sale."
Mildred was grievously disappointed. She could not help crying.

"Send to the dealer's and buy two birds," said her father.

"Perhaps the bird is a pet," suggested her mother gently.

Mildred thought Molly did not want any bird--she wanted that one,
though she herself did not understand just why, unless it was that she
knew that one could sing.

"Then Molly is unreasonable," said Mildred's father.

Mildred was unreasonable, too. If Molly did not want any other bird
she did not want it either. She persuaded her mammy to walk around
through the street where the woman with the mocking-bird lived. She
knew the house. Just as she passed it the door opened and a woman came
down the steps with a bundle. She was dressed in black and looked very
poor, but she also looked very kind, and Mildred, who was gazing at the
door as she came out, asked her timidly:--"Do you know Mrs. Johnson?"

"Why, I am one Mrs. Johnson," she said. "Whom do you mean?"

"The lady that has the mocking-bird," said Mildred.

"I have a mo