CHAPTER II.

THE ADOPTION.


When the children reached Aunt Matilda's cabin, they found the old woman
seated by a very small fire, which was burning in one corner of the
hearth.

"Are you cold, Aunt Matilda?" asked Kate.

"Lor' bless you, no, honey! But you see there wasn't hardly any coals
left, and I was tryin' to keep the fire alive till somebody would come
along and gather me up some wood."

"Then you were going to cook your breakfast, I suppose," said Harry.

"Yes, child, if somebody 'ud come along and fetch me something to eat."

"Haven't you anything at all in the house?" asked Kate.

"Not a pinch o' meal, nor nothin' else," said the old woman; "but I
'spected somebody 'ud be along."

"Did you know, Aunt Matilda," said Harry, "that they are going to send
you to the alms-house?"

"Yes; I heerd 'em talk about it," said Aunt Matilda, shaking her head;
"but the alms-house ain't no place for me."