d.

"Alvays I--I like to t'ink de oder t'ing."

"What other thing?"

"Dat you vas found in de basket."

Balcome laughed, and Sue laughed with him. Even Ikey, guessing that he
had inadvertently been more than usually witty, allowed a smile to come
into those wet eyes.

"There!" cried Sue, putting both arms about him. "Momsey forgives."

"T'ank you. Und now I like to question--you don't go avay mit de
preacher?"

"No! No!" Sue blushed like a girl.

"Den you don't marry mit him."

"N-n-n-n-no!"

"You feel better, don't you, old man?" inquired Balcome.

"Yes.--If I vas growed up, I vould marry mit her myself."

"Now little flattering chorister," said Sue, "there's something Momsey
wants you to do. She'll have to leave here very soon. And before she
goes she wants to hear that splendid voice again. So you go to the
choirmaster, and ask him if he'll get all the boys together for Miss
Susan, and have them sing something--something full of happiness, and
hope."

"Momsey, can it be 'O Mutter Dear, Jerusalem?'"

"Do you like that best?"

"I like it awful much! De first part, she has Mutter in it; und--und
also Jerusalem."

Sue kissed him. "And the second verse Momsey likes----

_'O happy harbor of God's Saints!
O sweet and pleasant soil!
In Thee no sorrow can be found,
Nor grief, nor care, nor toil!'_"

"It's grand!" sighed Ikey.

"You ask the choirmaster if you may sing it. And if he lets you----"

"Goot!" He started away bravely enough. But the Church door reached,
he turned and came slowly back. "Momsey," he faltered, "I don't
remember my mutter. Vould you, now, mind if--just vonce before you
go--if I called _you_--mutter?"

She put out her arms to him. "Oh, my son! My son!"

With a cry, he flung himself into her embrace, weeping. "Oh, mutter!
Mutter! Mutter!"

"Remember that mother loves you."

"Oh, my mutter," he answered, "Gott take fine care of you!"

"And God take care of my boy."

He sobbed, and she held him close, brushing at the tousled head. While
Balcome paced to and fro on the lawn, and coughed suspiciously, and
blinked at the sun. "Say, I've got an idea," he announced. "Listen,
young man! Come here."

Gently Sue unclasped the hands that clung about her neck, and turned
the tear-stained face to Balcome.

"Up in Buffalo, in my business, I need a boy who knows how to keep his
mouth shut. Now when do you escape from this--this asylum?" He swept