y,
laughing and looking archly at his sister.

"I can, Guy. Do tell me. I won't tell Hugh, nor Carrie Sherwood, no, nor
even Uncle Morris, though I can't see why you should keep a secret from
him."

Just then Guy and his sister were passing some open lots in the village
street. Several rough boys were standing round a small bonfire which they
had made out of the dead branches and leaves of trees, which the fall
winds had scattered over the streets and open lots. As soon as they saw
Guy, one of them cried in a jeering tone:

"There goes Mrs. Moneypenny's cow-boy!"

"Wonder how much he gets a week," shouted another boy.

"Perhaps he's gwine to be the old lady's heir," said the first.

"Guess he 'spects young Jack Moneypenny's gwine to die, down in the
Brooklyn hospital, and he wants the old ooman to adopt him. He! he!" said
a third speaker.

Loud peals of derisive laughter followed these remarks. Guy made no reply,
but grasping his sister's hand more tightly, he hurried past at a rapid
walk, and was soon out of hearing.

"Oh! I am so glad we are past those wicked boys," said Jessie, slightly
shivering with fear. "But what did they call you a cow-boy for, Guy?"

"I suppose I must tell you my secret now," said Guy. "Those boys have
partly let my cat out of the bag."

Guy then told his sister, that Mrs. Moneypenny was a poor widow, with a
son named Jack. She rented a cottage and a little piece of land. A cow, a
few hens, and Jack's labor, were all she had to depend upon. Jack, being a
steady boy, earned enough to keep them comfortable in their simple way of
living. But a great misfortune had overtaken them. Jack, while in
Brooklyn, with a lot of eggs and chickens, which he had taken in to sell,
had been knocked down and run over by a horse and wagon. His leg was
broken, and he was carried to the hospital.

This sad news was quickly sent to Jack's mother. Poor old lady! It seemed
as if her only stay was broken by this disaster. Being lame, she could not
go to her son, neither could she take care of her cow at home. She was in
deep distress, and wept many tears over poor Jack's sufferings, and her
own hard fate.

Guy happened to hear her case talked over at the post-office, the very day
the news of Jack's misfortune arrived. He heard a gentleman say, that she
must be sent to the alms-house, though, being a woman of spirit, he feared
she would break her heart and die, if she was. Full of pity for the old
lady, Gu