before, for baby carriages and trundle beds and cradles don't
wear out, and there's always clothes left over from the old baby
to begin the new one on. Of course, we can collect enough things
to start Jacky, so he won't be much trouble or expense; and
anyway, he's past the most troublesome age and you won't have to
be up nights with him, and he isn't afraid of anybody or
anything, as you can see by his just sitting there laughing and
sucking his thumb, though he doesn't know what's going to become
of him. And he's just seventeen months old like dear little Sarah
Ellen in the graveyard, and we thought we ought to give you the
refusal of him before he goes to the poor farm, and what do you
think about it? Because it's near my dinner time and Aunt Miranda
will keep me in the whole afternoon if I'm late, and I've got to
finish weeding the hollyhock bed before sundown."

IV

Mrs. Cobb had enjoyed a considerable period of reflection during
this monologue, and Jacky had not used the time unwisely,
offering several unconscious arguments and suggestions to the
matter under discussion; lurching over on the greensward and
righting himself with a chuckle, kicking his bare feet about in
delight at the sunshine and groping for his toes with arms too
short to reach them, the movement involving an entire upsetting
of equilibrium followed by more chuckles.

Coming down the last of the stone steps, Sarah Ellen's mother
regarded the baby with interest and sympathy.

"Poor little mite!" she said; "that doesn't know what he's lost