"I was just tellin' my fortune by the keerds, havin' nothin' else to do, an' they showed a new man an' some money,--though not much." "They showed right both times, though keerds ain't been friends to this family, confound 'em, when I've fooled with 'em at the saloon.

Where's the baby, though, that I ain't ever seen ?" "There," said the woman, pointing to a corner of the room.

Sam looked, and saw on the floor a bundle of dingy clothes from one end of which protruded a head of which the face, eyes, and hair were of the same tint as the clothing.

The little object was regarding the new arrival in a listless way, and she howled and averted her head as her father stooped to pick her up.
"She's afraid you're goin' to hit her, like most ev'ry one does when they go nigh her," said the mother.

"If I'd knowed you was comin' to-day, I'd have washed her, I guess." "I'll do it myself now," said the father, "I've got the time." "Why, you ain't ever done such a thing in your life, Sam!" said Mrs.
Kimper, with a feeble giggle.
"More's the shame to me; but it's never too late to mend.