CHAPTER II.
JESSIE ARRIVES.
Unwell though she had been, Mrs.Dawson would not let her husband do a single thing indoors to help her in preparation for the little newcomer.
"No.

Men is only in the way," she said decidedly.

"I shall get on twice as fast if you leave me the place to myself." So, knowing that she meant what she said, Thomas went out and set to work in the garden, for, of course, that must be made trim, too, for the little five-year-old grandchild.

He forked over the earth in all the beds, tied up to a stick every daffodil that did not stand perfectly upright by itself, trimmed the sweetbriar hedge, and swept the paths.
"If I'd got the time," he called in to Patience, "I would give the gate a coat of paint." "I wish you could," she called back, "and the front door, too, it'd be the better for it.

To a stranger, I dare say it'll look shabby." Evidently they expected the new-comer to be a very critical little person.
"I can whitewash the back porch," thought Thomas, "and I'll do it without saying anything to mother.