Grinder Bros when he should be at school; of the five helpless younger
children asleep in the next room: of her hard life--scrubbing floors
from half-past five till eight, and then starting her day's work--
washing!--of having to rear her children in the atmosphere of the
slums, because she could not afford to move and pay a higher rent;
and of the rent.

Arvie commenced to mutter in his sleep.

"Can't you get to sleep, Arvie?" she asked. "Is your throat sore?
Can I get anything for you?"

"I'd like to sleep," he muttered, dreamily, "but it won't seem
more'n a moment before--before--"

"Before what, Arvie?" she asked, quickly, fearing that he was
becoming delirious.

"Before the alarm goes off!"

He was talking in his sleep.

She rose gently and put the alarm on two hours. "He can rest now,"
she whispered to herself.

Presently Arvie sat bolt upright, and said quickly, "Mother! I
thought the alarm went off!" Then, without waiting for an answer, he
lay down as suddenly and slept.

The rain had cleared away, and a bright, starry dome was over sea and