this he had found real pleasure.

The afternoon was rapidly passing away, and as the sun sank in the western
horizon, the blue sky above him became streaked with crimson and gold. Then
Edwin noticed that the houses were closer together, but he did not know
that it was because he was entering a village and was close to his mother's
home.

During the entire journey from the poorhouse the uncle had been silent, but
suddenly Edwin saw the right line tightening, and in answer to the uncle's
command, "Whoa there, Bill!" they stopped close beside a hitching-post.

Without a word of explanation the uncle sprang lightly to the ground and
after tying the horse grasped Edwin's shoulders and roughly placed him upon
the ground. Again the boy's decision to endeavor to please was
strengthened, and when the uncle started toward the pretty brown house just
inside the picket fence and repeated the words he had used at the
poorhouse, "Come along," Edwin instantly obeyed.

As they passed in through the open gateway, Edwin noticed pretty
flower-bushes. His uncle told him that it was his mother's home. As they
stepped upon the porch, Edwin could not refrain from sniffing in some of
the delicious fragrance of the honey-suckle blossoms dangling so gracefully
here and there from the pillars of the porch, but he was hurried on.

When they entered the house, Edwin looked about in amazement, for
everything seemed so very beautiful. Then he saw a woman sitting near a
window with a piece of sewing in her hands and three children--a boy about
his own size, a girl, and a boy younger--playing on the floor.