ly crestfallen when I found that she took the same
view of the case as my own family, saying also that she did not believe
that Johnny and his wife would agree to my proposal, and that she did
not think it advisable that they should. However, she willingly
consented to go with me to the Petersens.

And, lo! I returned triumphant; for Mrs. Petersen, moved probably more
by the utter desolation of the children than by any arguments or
persuasions of mine, had consented without difficulty to take them for
the present, and to retain them so long as the parent Blairs did not
return or claim them.

And whatever his wife decided, that was sure to be the best in Johnny's
eyes; so, her consent being gained, there was no fear of a dissenting
voice from him. Moreover, recollections of his own youth inclined
Johnny's heart to be merciful.

"Und why for no," he said, when appealed to on behalf of the deserted
children, "why for no? Sometime ven mine fader und mutter die mit me,
und dere vas nopody to gif leetle Johnny notings, vat should he do, if
did not come some goot peoples vat take und eat him und sleep him? I
don' forget; und how I vas done py, I do mit der oders. Mine wife she
vas so goot as a mutter for dem."

The arrangement was concluded to the mutual satisfaction of the
Petersens and myself, to say nothing of that of Tony,--Matty, as usual,
showing no sign either of pleasure or the contrary. There was no time
lost in settling the cripples in their new quarters, so superior in all
respects to any they had ever enjoyed before. There was nothing to be
moved from those they had occupied with their father and mother; not a
splinter, not a shred, beyond the clothes they had on and those kept at
Mrs. Petersen's, was left to them; indeed, had there been, we never
should have allowed them to claim it, nor would Mrs. Petersen have
allowed it to come into her tidy apartments.

My day was occupied in a fever of energy, running from one place to
another, providing beds and clothing and other articles,--many of
which, had I not been checked by wiser counsels, would have been
unnecessary and unfit,--dragging cousin Serena with me; begging from
mother, aunt Emily, and Mrs. Sanford, and drawing somewhat heavily on
my own resources. At last every thing was ready, to the serene content
of Mrs. Petersen, who now seemed to feel as if she had really adopted
the children; and when evening came, I rested in the happy
consciousness that Matt