His eyes met his wife's; then both looked at the child--and as they looked it stirred in its sleep and nestled closer; an expression of contentment and peace settled upon its face that touched the mother-heart; and when the eyes of husband and wife met again, the question was asked and answered.
When the Boreas had journeyed some four hundred miles from the time the Hawkinses joined her, a long rank of steamboats was sighted, packed side by side at a wharf like sardines, in a box, and above and beyond them rose the domes and steeples and general architectural confusion of a city--a city with an imposing umbrella of black smoke spread over it.
This was St.Louis.

The children of the Hawkins family were playing about the hurricane deck, and the father and mother were sitting in the lee of the pilot house essaying to keep order and not greatly grieved that they were not succeeding.
"They're worth all the trouble they are, Nancy." "Yes, and more, Si." "I believe you! You wouldn't sell one of them at a good round figure ?" "Not for all the money in the bank, Si." "My own sentiments every time.

It is true we are not rich--but still you are not sorry---you haven't any misgivings about the additions ?" "No.

God will provide" "Amen.

And so you wouldn't even part with Clay?
Or Laura!" "Not for anything in the world.