I made up my mind that Hope and I would wash the poor little creatures and put them comfortably to bed.

My first day's work was certainly exceptionally hard, but it would make my future work easier.
The baby was a pale, delicate little creature, very backward for its age; it left off fretting directly I took it in my lap, and began staring at me with its large blue eyes.

Hope had just filled the large tub, and the children were crowding round it with evident amusement, when Uncle Max came in.

He contemplated the scene with twinkling eyes.
'"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,"' he began humorously.

'My dear Ursula, do you mean to say you are going to wash all those children?
The tub looks suggestive, certainly.' I nodded.
'Who would have believed in such an overplus of energy?
Hard work certainly agrees with you.' And then he went out laughing, and we set to work, and then Hope and I carried in the children by detachments, that the poor mother might see the clean rosy faces.