o be of use.

But presently everything was adjusted, and, deserting the carriage, the
shop, and everything else, the whole assemblage moved in procession on
the home of the Dennihans.

A few minutes later little Skeezucks, Jim, and the pup--all of them
looking from the window of the house--saw those three small caps of
red, and felt that New-Year's day had really come at last.

CHAPTER XVII

SKEEZUCKS GETS A NAME

When the three small girls, so rosy of cheek and so sparkling of eye,
confronted the grave little pilgrim he could only gaze upon them with
timid yearning as he clung to his doll and to old "Bruvver Jim." There
never had been in all his life a vision so beautiful. Old Jim himself
was affected almost as much as the quaint, wee man so quietly standing
at his side. Even Tintoretto was experiencing ecstasies heretofore
unknown in his youthful career.

Indeed, no one could have determined by any known system of calculation
whether Jim or tiny Skeezucks or the pup most enjoyed the coming of the
preacher and his family. Old Jim had certainly never before undergone
emotions so deeply stirring. Tintoretto had never before beheld four
youngsters affording such a wealth of opportunity for puppy-wise
manoeuvres; indeed, he had never before seen but one little playfellow
since his advent in the world. He was fairly crazed with optimism. As
for Skeezucks--starving for even so much as the sight of children,
hungering beyond expression for the sound of youngster voices, for the
laughter and over-bubblings of the little folk with whom by rights he
belonged--nothing in the way of words will ever tell of the almost
overpowering excitement and joy that presently leaped in his lonely
little heart.

Honesty is the children's policy. There was nothing artificial in the
way those little girls fell in love with tiny Skeezucks; and with
equally engaging frankness the tiny man instantly revealed his fondness
for them all.

They were introduced as Susie and Rachie and Ellie. Their other name
was Stowe. This much being soon made known, the three regarded their
rights to the house, to little Skeezucks, and to Tintoretto as
established. They secured the pup by two of his paws and his tail,
and, with him thus in hand, employed him to assist in surrounding tiny
Skeezucks, whom they promptly kissed and adopted.

"Girls," said the father, mildly, "don't be rude."

"They're all right," drawled Jim, in a new sort of