the baby. Poor little chap, he must not starve, even if we have to
borrow some from our neighbours. I hope Rodney has not tired you too
much to-day, dear. It has been years since you had the care of a baby."

"It has been a great joy, Daniel, to have the laddie with me. He slept
several hours, and when he woke he was so good and full of fun. At
times I imagined he was Alec playing on the floor with his blocks. He
was very sweet when I put him to bed to-night. He never misses his
mother. How soon a baby forgets."

"But I venture to say that his mother hasn't forgotten him," and the
parson's face grew serious as he recalled that sob of the night before.
"I have been thinking of her all through the day, and wondering who she
is, and why she left her baby at our door."

"And so have I, Daniel. I had the idea that she would return, and
several times I started at the least noise, expecting to see her at the
door."

"I do not wish to deprive the mother of her baby," the parson
thoughtfully mused, "but how I should like to keep him! He seems to
belong to us. In fact, he has made himself perfectly at home already."

Parson Dan was astir unusually early the next morning. He stood before
the rectory looking up and down the road, uncertain which course to
take in search of the missing Brindle.

"Let me see," he considered, "that fence is down on the upper side, and
most likely those cows have made their way up the road. I guess I had
better hunt there first."