w; an' Maria, she's a willin' soul, an' if Jabez," the old
man's son-in-law, and a power in the household, "if Jabez an' Charlotte
don't be grumpy over it, we'll all get along as pretty as a psalm-book.
Jabez, he an' Charlotte has gone to Millville for the day, an' all this
is unbeknownst to them."

Clearly, the captain was somewhat in dread of Jabez and Jabez's
opinions; but Milly had no fear that the strangers would be sent adrift
in deference to these.

But something must be done to help the old people with the burden which
had so suddenly fallen upon them. The gray-haired seaman was
comparatively vigorous still, but his sea-faring days were over; and
while he had put by a sum sufficient to keep him, his good wife, and
"Matildy Jane" in comfort, this unlooked for addition to the family,
helpless and crippled as the grandchildren were, would be too great a
drain upon his little fund. As this had been placed in father's hands
for investment, we knew to a fraction what he had to depend upon, and
that it was not enough to provide for all. The sturdy independence of
the captain would no doubt revolt against the idea of receiving any
actual pecuniary assistance, as would that of his wife; but some way
must be contrived of lessening their responsibilities and cares. Jabez
Strong and his wife must share these, although he might and probably
would be "grumpy;" but even then it would be hard to meet all demands,
without depriving the old couple of their accustomed comforts. The
cheerful, it-will-all-come-right spirit in which they had received the
intruders,--_I_ could not look upon them in any other light,--made us
all the more anxious to do this; and, before night, Milly and I were
exercising our brains with all manner of expedients for accomplishing
it without hurting their pride and their feelings.

Meanwhile, our elders, with less of enthusiasm perhaps, but in a more
practical spirit, were considering the same matter; and the little
ones, our Allie and Daisy, having also heard of the influx of children
at the Yorkes' cottage, had laden themselves with toys and
picture-books, and persuaded mammy to escort them thither. Our little
sisters had so burdened themselves, that they needed assistance to
transport all these gifts to Captain Yorke's house; and they could not
look for any great amount of this from mammy, who had all she could do
to convey her own portly person, and the enormous umbrella without
which she never sti