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 same old house." Obed was permitted by his vigilant spouse to come in and hold the boy's slender hand in his for a few moments and speak his few kindly words of welcome and help. The invalid's appetite that had developed was rewarded with a dainty supper, and he was made comfortable in fresh sheets. "O, I guess he's all right, an' doing splendidly, Mr. Touchtone," Mrs. Probasco declared. "We wont give him a chance to get real sick, between us."

"What kind people they are!" Gerald said, softly, to Touchtone, just as he was dropping off into a fresh doze, with the clink of Mrs. Probasco's dishes and the murmur of her conference with Obed making a homely lullaby from the adjoining room.

"Yes, the kindest sort," assented Touchtone. "Go to sleep, old man, and dream about them and every thing else that is pleasant. I'll add a postscript to these letters, to bring them down to the latest minute."

"O, yes, now you can. Did you write papa?"

"I have written papa and every body. Mr. Probasco is going to get up early to-morrow morning, and either take me over with these to