"Don't you go to learnin' Frankie any bad ways," said Uncle Sol, sternly. "Boys never come to much in the world unless they mind their mother. I've always noticed that."
Horace sat down rather ashamed of his bold words. And little Frankie looked at Uncle Sol gratefully, saying, "I know mama'll be glad to have me come home:" and with a happy laugh he ran away from the boat.
"YOU may put on your coat now, Hugh, and take these things to Mrs. Larry. You have barely time before school, you must hurry."
"Must I go this morning, mother, why can't I go to-night, or this noon?"
"There'll not be time at noon. And before night Joe may want some of these things. You may do, however, just as you think you would like to have Joe do, if he was in your place and you in his. Poor Joe needs better food than his mother is able to buy. You wouldn't have him suffer for the sake of skating, would you?"
Hugh thought a minute. At last he said, "I know if I was in Joe's place, I should want somebody to bring me a heap of things. Guess I'll go, mother."
His mother smiled to hear him whistle as he ran from the yard. Just before school he rushed in.
"Say, mother, can I buy Joe some oranges? He's white--he's white as your ruffled apron. I've fifty cents. I'll spend half for Joe."
Hugh's mother kissed him before she said yes. And her eyes filled with glad tears as he ran out whistling more merrily than before.
"GUESS I'll hurry home," said the rough miner when some of his mates urged him to go to the saloon, "Molly'll miss me."
Nothing seemed so pleasant at night as to see his little Molly standing in the doorway to greet him when he came home. But to-night she was not in her usual place.
"Where's Molly?" he quickly asked, entering the kitchen. Before his wife could speak, he saw Molly in her mother's arms with her eyes closed.
"What is it?" he asked, in a hushed voice.
"I--don't--know," sobbed the poor mother. "She complained--of being tired. And she wanted--me to hold her. I've held her--nearly all day. I'm _so_ glad--you've come, Jake. Do run for the doctor."
"Yes, I will;" and without another word he hurried to the village.
"Will she live?" were his first words after the doctor entered the house.
"I hope so," was the cheery answer. "Put her feet in warm water as soon as possible. And here is a powder for her. I'll come over in the morning. Think she'll be better then."