g, and the simple words from the two or three gentlemen who were
there, fell upon Mattie's ears with telling effect, and after the
meeting was over, she exchanged a few hurried words with Melie and Bob,
and then they all went forward to the table in front of the platform.

"Please, sir," said Mattie to the secretary who sat there, "you said as
any as wanted to sign against the drink was to come to you after you'd
finished talking; and me, and Melie, and Bob here wants to sign, only
they can't write yet."

"We'll manage that, my dear; but have you thought about this signing and
what it means?"

"Oh, yes, sir; it means as we're never to put our lips to mammie's drops
when we fetch 'em from the public, and never to touch the drink at all."

"Yes, that's quite right," said the secretary, with a half smile. "I see
you know all about it, and will doubtless keep your own pledge; but
what about these little ones? Will they understand and remember that
they mustn't touch the drink when once they've signed against it?"

"Don't you be a-troubling of yourself about them, sir; they're little,
but they're sharp enough, and I'll look after 'em," replied the elder
sister.

"I suppose you're mother, then?" said the secretary, glancing
compassionately down at the sleeping child in Mattie's arms.

"Pretty nigh," answered Mattie, concisely. "Tell me where I've to put my
name; and, Melie, you sit down and hold the baby a minute."

The name was carefully written, and the other children made crosses in
due form, each receiving a bright pledge-card, which they were told to
hang up in their room; then, after receiving an invitation to attend
another meeting of the same kind the following week, they left the
place.

"Well, we've done something now," said Mattie, as they emerged into the
street. "I'll tell you what, if we stick to it, as in course we shall,
we'll have a jolly home one day, with no drinking and no beating; and,
Bob, you'll be able to stuff away on the fat of the land yet."

"Prime!" ejaculated Bob, smacking his lips in gleeful anticipation of
the good time coming.

"We'll get Fan and baby to bed, and then we'll see about hanging our
cards somewheres. They'll not fetch anything at the pop-shop, so mammie
won't be carrying 'em off, that's one comfort."

The three cards were presently hung up, affording a strange contrast to
the begrimed and broken walls; and then the wearied children crept into
their corners, and, on t