it. "Mis' Lane" kept feeling no better fast, and about the time they
got the poor baby dressed a second little one came.

That she told me herself is proof she didn't die, I guess, but it is
right hard to believe she didn't. Luckily the fire lasted until the
babies were dressed and the mother began to feel better, for there was
no wood. Soon the wind stopped and the snow fell steadily. It was
warmer, and the whole family snuggled up under the wagon sheet and
slept.

Mr. Lane is a powerful good husband. He waited two whole days for his
wife to gain strength before he resumed the journey, and on the third
morning he actually carried her to the wagon. Just think of it! Could
more be asked of any man?

Every turn of the wheels made poor "Mis' Lane" more homesick. Like Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, she had a taste for geographical names,
and "Mis' Lane" is very loyal, so she wanted to call the little
first-born "Missouri." Mr. Lane said she might, but that if she did he
would call the other one "Arkansas." Sometimes homesickness would
almost master her. She would hug up the little red baby and murmur
"Missouri," and then daddy would growl playfully to "Arkansas." It went
on that way for a long time and at last she remembered that Sedalia was
in Missouri, so she felt glad and really named the older baby
"Sedalia." But she could think of nothing to match the name and was in
constant fear the father would name the other baby "Little Rock."

For three years poor Gale was just "t'other one." Then the Lanes went
to Green River where some lodge was having a parade. They were watching
the drill when a "bystander that was standing by" said something about
the "fine regalia." Instantly "Mis' Lane" thought of her unnamed
child; so since that time Gale has had a name.

There could be no two people more unlike than the sisters. Sedalia is
really handsome, and she is thin. But she is vain, selfish, shallow,
and conceited. Gale is not even pretty, but she is clean and she is
honest. She does many little things that are not exactly polite, but
she is good and true. They both went to the barn with me to milk. Gale
tucked up her skirts and helped me. She said, "I just love a stable,
with its hay and comfortable, contented cattle. I never go into one
without thinking of the little baby Christ. I almost expect to see a
little red baby in the straw every time I peek into a manger."

Sedalia answered, "Well, for Heaven's sake, get out o