What Might Have Been Expected

Adop

hey found the old woman seated by a very small fi

, Aunt Matild

y any coals left, and I was tryin' to keep the fire alive

o cook your breakfast,

y 'ud come along and fe

ing at all in the

else," said the old woman; "but

aid Harry, "that they are going

Aunt Matilda, shaking her head; "but

quickly. "And you're n

I intend to take care of you

oman, looking in astonishment from one to the oth

said Harry. "Just

id not seem to be altogether satisfied with the prospects he

nough for you to live on,

heap o' money to

you a pencil, Harry? I have a piece of paper in my pocket, I think. Yes

w stool with her paper on her k

we begin wit

id Harry. "How much corn-meal do

, "'spect about a

te, "our whole family wouldn

d she; "'pends a good deal on

for you, Aunt Matilda. We do

a quarter of a peck

rry, "and that will be twenty-five

she set down at the top of

suffice for Aunt Matilda's support; and they found that the cost, per week, at the rates of the

g else, Aunt Mati

on," said Aunt Mat

"I will bring it to you from home; and I will

ry. "I can gather enough in the woods in

aid Aunt Matilda, "I hope yo

iet a few minu

d three quarter cents a week amo

roblem, and answered: "Forty

aid Aunt Matilda. "That's more'n I 's

ou, Aunt Matil

t fifty," said

e than fifty. When I was a very little fellow, I remem

ts I'se about ninety

"The Bible says that seventy years is

no cull'd people. Cull'd people live longer than tha

nce how old you are. We're going to take

ain busy wi

d, "It will be two hundred and

atilda, "you chil'en

" said Harry, laughing; "and you needn't be afraid that

da's future support was settled. They had forgotten clothes,