They had just heard that Aunt Matilda was to go to the alms-house.

Harry and Kate were silent. They had mourned over the news, and Kate had
cried. There was nothing more to be done about it, so far as she could
see.

But all of a sudden Harry jumped up. "I tell you what it is Kate," he
exclaimed; "I've made up my mind! Aunt Matilda is not going to the
alms-house. I will support her myself!"

"Oh, that will be splendid!" cried Kate; "but you can never do it!"

"Yes, I can," said Harry. "There are ever so many ways in which I can
earn money."

"What are you going to do?" said Kate; "will you let me help?"

"Yes," said her brother; "you may help if you can, but I don't think you
will be of much use. As for me, I shall do plenty of things. I shall go
out with my gun--"

"But there is nothing to shoot, now in the summer-time," said Kate.

"No, there isn't much yet, to be sure," said her brother, "but before
very long there will be partridges and hares, plenty of them; and father
and Captain Caseby will buy all I shoot. And you see, until it is time
for game I'm going to gather sumac."

"Oh! I can help you in that," cried Kate.