Page:The New Arcadia (Tucker).djvu/17



" weren't none on your fault, master," the little man was saying. Dr. Courtenay was expressing regret for the mishap.

"I'm mighty glad to be here, I can tell you," the child ran on. "It's so clean and quiet, and them young ladies," pointing to a group of nurses, "is so kind. Don't let them take me away again."

"Why do you not want to go home?" inquired the doctor.

"Home?" the child exclaimed. "It's what they call hell at the Mission House. Mother she drinks, and grannie drinks, and they beat me if I doesn't bring enough home at night. I often sleeps out under the railway near the wharfs for fear of them. Then they whacks me more when I gets home for stopping away."