"Who's hurt," she asked anxiously, "that you're bringing them home in a
buggy?"

"None of them is hurt, Mrs. Mullarkey," Mr. Phillips assured her
quickly, and helped the children out. "I'm Tom Phillips. I knew your
husband quite well. I found these children crying in the road because
Mr. Darner's young scalawag of a son had told them that Jerry Elbow was
to be taken to the poor farm."

"Oh, Jerry, you blessed child!" crooned Mother 'Larkey, taking Jerry in
her arms. "And you to find it out from some one else when I'd been
trying for this week past to get up courage enough to tell you."

"Mother!" cried Nora in a shocked voice.

"It's true, then?" asked Mr. Phillips.

"Yes," replied Mrs. Mullarkey, drawing Jerry tightly to her. "I don't
want to let you go, Jerry, but Dan's insurance money is all gone and how
I am to make enough to keep the bodies and souls of all you children
together I don't know. I love you as though you were my own, you're that
sweet and gentle."

Jerry began crying again, but softly this time, because he knew Mother
'Larkey wouldn't let him go if she could help it. She kissed him and
turned to Mr. Phillips.

"Mr. Darner told me I'd sooner or later have to let some of my own
children go there or be adopted out, if I didn't consent to Jerry's
going. I'm at the end of my string."