put the boys all over into one house and take the girls with me. We
can rent a room in the boys' house to Mr. Petway and he'll look
after them if need be, though 'Lias Hoover and my Henny Turner are
getting big, dependable boys already. I'm so glad the children match
out in pairs. I always did want twins and now I'm going to have
eight pairs and the baby over. I don't think I ever was so happy
before." And pretty Bettie fairly radiated lovingness from her big,
motherly heart.

"Bettie Pratt, you are a regular Proverbs, last chapter and tenth to
thirtieth verse woman and your husband's heart is a-going to 'safely
rejoice' in you," said Mother Mayberry as she beamed across the
little sleeve she was basting in an apron. "And this brings me to
the mention of another little Bible character we have a-running
about amongst us. It's 'Liza Pike, as should be called one of God's
own little ravens arid you all know why."

"Yes, we do, Sister Mayberry," spoke up Mrs. Mosbey quickly. "And
I've just caught on to her doings, and thankful I am to her for
letting in the light to us before it were too late maybe."

"Why, what have my child been a-doing to be spoke of this way?"
asked her mother with both pride and uneasiness in her tone, for
Eliza, as is the way of all geniuses, especially those of a
philanthropic turn of mind, was apt often to confront those
responsible for her with the unexpected.

"Just seeing what we was failing to notice, that Mis' Bostick and
the Deacon was in need of being tooken care of and, without a word
to anybody, starting out with a covered dish and a napkin to do the