parents how nicely Austin was getting along, he could not make them think
all was _well_. They seemed to think, and others were of the same mind,
that he was neglecting his duty.

"Who has the care of the children?" his mother asked him one day.

"Austin is looking after them," was the easy reply.

"You do not mean to say you left that boy with the care of the children,"
she exclaimed in amazement.

"Why, Mother, he manages them fine. I was gone a month a while back and
everything was running along all right when I came home, and he had Lila
and Doyle then, also."

"It is asking too much of the child, and I do not see how you can do it,"
was the sharp reply. "I will send for them as soon as I get enough ahead to
set up housekeeping," promised Mr. Hill.

"Henry, when are you going to bring those children here?" she asked of him
a few weeks later.

"Austin is working there and the others are helping him, and they are
getting on so well I hate to bother them," he answered.



CHAPTER 4

AUSTIN GOES TO HIS FATHER