this is jest what
you've been achin' for, an' they'd be awful good to you," Seth
whispered as he took the dog in his arms. "How would it be if I should
sneak off an' leave you with 'em? I ought'er do it, Snippey dear; but
it would most break my heart to give up the only family I've got. An'
that's where I'm mighty mean! You'd have a great time here, an' by
stickin' to me there ain't much show for fun, unless things take a
terribly sudden turn."

Snip licked his master's chin by way of reply, and Seth pressed the
little fellow yet more closely, saying with what was very like a sob:

"I can't do it, little man, I can't do it! You must stick to me, else
I'll be the lonesomest feller in all the world. We'll hold on here a
spell, an' then hustle once more. It must be we'll find somebody
who'll give us work, providin' the detectives don't nab me."

Then he turned his attention once more to the task set him by Aunt
Hannah, and Snip sat on the threshold of the door watching his master
and snapping at the impudent sparrows, until Gladys came out with an
invitation for the dog to escort her to a neighbor's house, where she
was forced to go with a message.

"I'll take good care of him," she called to Seth, as Snip ran on
joyously in advance, "and bring him back before you finish sweeping
the barn."

"I'm not afraid of his comin' to any harm while you keep an eye on
him; but I believe he's beginnin' to like you almost better'n he does
me," Seth replied, with a shade of sorrow in his tone, whereat Gladys
laughed merrily.

Then the boy continued his work with a will, and ample evidence of his
labor was apparent when Aunt Hannah came out, looking very much like
the fairy godmothers of "once upon a time" stories, despite the
wrinkles on her placid face.

"It looks very neat," she said approvingly. "I never would have
believed a boy could be so handy with a broom! Last spring I hired
William Dean, the son of a neighbor, to tidy up the barn and the yard;
but it looked worse when he had finished than before."

"Have I earned the breakfast Snip and I ate?" Seth asked, pleased with
her praise.

"Indeed you have, child, although there was no reason for doing
anything of the kind. When we share with those who are less fortunate,
we are doing no more than our duty, an' I don't like to think that you
feel it necessary to pay for a mouthful of food."

"It was the very nicest breakfast I ever had, Miss--Miss----"

"You may call me