f I only had a home, where I could make friends for him before I
die, where I could beg and entreat the people to be kind to him and take
care of him! 'Tis that keeps me sick, sir."

By this time Diddie's eyes were swimming in tears, and Dumps was sobbing
aloud; seeing which, Tot began to cry too, though she hadn't the
slightest idea what was the matter; and Diddie, going to the side of the
bed, smoothed the woman's long black hair, and said,

"We'll take you home with us, an' we'll be good to your little boy, me
an' Dumps an' Tot, an' I'll give 'im some of my marbles."

"An' my little painted wagin," put in Dumps.

"An' you shall live with us always," continued Diddie; "an' Mammy'll put
yer feet into hot water, an' rub turkentine on yer ches', an' give yer
'fermifuge' ev'y mornin', an' you'll soon be well. Papa, sha'n't she go
home with us?"

Major Waldron's own eyes moistened as he answered,

"We will see about it, my daughter;" and, telling the woman, whose name
was Ann, that he would see her again, he left the tent, and presently
the camp.

That night, after the little folks were asleep, Major Waldron and his
wife had a long talk about the sick woman and her little boy, and it was
decided between them that Major Waldron should go the next morning and
purchase them both.

The children were delighted when they knew of this decision, and took an
active part in preparing one room of the laundry for Ann's reception.
Their mother had a plain bedstead moved in, and sent down from the house
a bed and mattress, which she supplied with sheets, pillows, blankets,
and a quilt. Then Uncle Nathan, the carpenter, took a large wooden box
and put shelves in it, and tacked some bright-colored calico all around
it, and made a bureau. Two or three chairs were spared from the
nursery, and Diddie put some of her toys on the mantel-piece for the
baby; and then, when they had brought in a little square table and
covered it with a neat white cloth, and placed upon it a mug of flowers,
and when Uncle Nathan had put up some shelves in one corner of the room,
and driven some pegs to hang clothes on, they pronounced the room all
ready.

And Ann, who had lived for several months in the camp, was delighted
with her new home and the preparations that her little mistresses had
made for her. The baby, too, laughed and clapped his hands over the toys
the children gave him. His name was Henry, and a very pretty child he
was. He was almost a