"He says but one thing—he must turn her adrift; he has forgiven and forgiven till he is tired of it."
"Ah, there is but one Being that is never tired of forgiving!"
"The poor fellow has been very patient, though; but he says, for his children's sake, he must break up; they are going to ruin. He has engaged places for them all but little Sam; no one is willing to take him for the price M'Elroy can pay."
"Not willing to take Sam, father!" interrupted Mary; "I should think they would be willingest of all to take Sam."
"Why, Mary!"
"Because he wants taking care of most."
"Ah, Mary, that's a rule few go by. It's no joke," continued Aikin to his wife, "for the poor fellow to board out himself and four children, for there's not one of them yet old enough to earn his own living."
"Sam's a bright boy," said Uncle Phil.
"And a poor, sickly little fellow, that's been cruelly neglected," said Aunt Lottie.
"It would be a comfort to see if care and management would not cure him," said Susan Aikin.
"M'Elroy can pay half a dollar a week, which I think will pay for all the poor little fellow can consume in his present state," said Aikin.
"It is an opportunity," said Susan, seeming to think aloud.
"What did you say, Susan?" asked her husband.
"Nothing; I was only thinking it was an opportunity." Her husband smiled "Well," she
