ff, leaving it dark and time-stained. But when Mrs. Burke came to town, a short time before, it was the only dwelling she could hire that was held at a r

gether. The last and heaviest of all was fever, which prostrated her husband on a bed of sickness. Though his wife watched over him night and day with all the devotion of love, it was all of no avail. He died, and she found herself left with about a hundred pounds-after his debts were p

he had obtained what sewing she could from the families in the village, and had besides obtained a chance t

she had engaged to make for Dr. Plympton, the village doctor. She had no idea that Andy was s

ndy," she sighed, loo

I, mo

es good, he's such a lively lad,

mother dear. It wouldn't be s

g to do, Mary; but we are so poor that we

lonel Preston's, moth

my d

lonely when

me, Mary, dear. Mrs. Preston

home I wouldn't

rd her words. He was planning a surprise, but waited for the last momen

l see him soo

s you say

t a feeling in my bone

ints grant tha

t this time, mother,

his stooping position, sho

neous scream from M

Andy?" exc

se," said Andy, rat

you are well," said his mother, dropping the shir

you in a jif

d stood in the presence of his mother and sister, who

" said Andy, good-humoredly. "

nly eleven years old," said his mother.

ave out, and I thought I'd pack my trunk

r, taking a survey of her son's appearance for the first time,

lau

as no one to mend 'em for me, and I'm

s when you're gone to bed, Andy

it till you see me ati

a healthy

or lad must be hungry. Mary, s

but some bread, m

re cheap. They seldom ventured on the extravagance of meat, and that was one reason, doubtless, fo

meat in the

bit,

ee if there's

ack yard. The eggs she usually sold, but Andy was at home now, and

quickly returned wi

ettin' on them, but I drove her away, and you can hear h

boiled or fried, And

raw. It's hungry work walkin' ten miles wid a

Mrs. Burke, pausing in

y?" chimed in

ther," s

ght with?" asked th

eels as big as a k

s his

father call

xclaimed Mrs. Burke in som

He lives in a big hou

th him, Andy?" inquired

bega

ve against you? H

boy he could insult me, and call me

ou didn't

but then his father came up an

did his fa

found out how it was, and scolded

l Preston is

he isn't like his

ke his father. It's h

ng," said Andy. Is the old lady as

n, Andy. I go up to work

pleased to hear that his mother was em

, An

is it

ning. To-morrow's my

work, mother," said Andy, soberly. "You don't look

etter, too, now that you are at home. I misse

ey, mother," said Andy. "I'm young an

Andy," said Mrs.

shirt and resu

oo steady at the wor

s a change from sewing, Andy. Mary

ore him. He enjoyed it, simple as it was, and left