Mrs. Goodwin claimed the trio for one-half of the six weeks allotted to their stay, and she said afterward: 

“They were three beautiful weeks with three beautiful folks.”

Louis at this time was working hard with the brush of his active goodness, and had before him much canvas to work upon.  The days were placing it in his view, and we both dreamed at night of the work which had come and was coming.

It was a sunny day in June when he said:  “Will my Emily go with me to-day?  The colors are waiting on the pallet of the brain, and our hands must use them to-day.”

“Your Emily is ready,” I replied, “and Gipsy (our horse) will take us, I guess.”

We went first to Jane North’s, and Louis said to her;

“Jane, are you ready now to help us as you have promised?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied; “I am.”

“Will you take two boys to care for; one eleven years of age, and the other twelve?”

“I’ll do just what you say, or try to, and if my patience gives out I can tell you, I ’spose, but I’m bound to do my duty, for I scolded and fretted and tended to other folk’s business fifteen years jist because my own plans was upset, and I couldn’t bear to see anybody happy.  Well, ’twas the power of sin that did it, and if some of the old Apostles fell short I can’t think I’m alone, though that don’t make it any better for me.  When are they coming?”

“To-night, I think.  Give them a good room and good food, and I will remunerate you as far as money goes.  I would like you to take them; you are so neat and thrifty, and will treat them well.  When they get settled we will see just what to do for them,” said Louis, and we drove on to the village.  Our next stopping-place was found in the narrowest street there, and where a few small and inconvenient dwellings had been erected by the mill owners for such of their help as could afford to pay only for these miserable homes.  They looked as if they had fallen together there by mistake.  And the plot of ground which held the six houses seemed to me to be only a good-sized house lot.  We stopped at the third one and were admitted by a careworn woman, who looked about fifty years of age.  She greeted us gladly, though when Louis introduced me, I knew she felt the meager surroundings and wished he had been alone, for her face flushed and her manner was nervous.  I spoke kindly and took the chair she proffered, being very careful not to appear to notice the scantily furnished room.

“Well,” said Louis, “Mrs. Moore, are you ready to let your boy go with me?”

“Oh, sir,” she said, “only too willing; but I have been afraid you would not come.  It seemed so strange that you should make us such an offer—­so strange that you can afford to do it, and be willing, too, for experience has taught us to expect nothing, especially from those who have money.  But Willie’s clothes, sir, are sadly worn.  I have patched them beyond holding together, almost; but I could get no new ones.”