"We'll fix it some way, Mother, at least for the present.

Now, Jessiky, don't ye worrit a mite more.

We'll take keer on ye, and the work ye'll do'll more'n pay fer all ye'll eat." This was noble-hearted bluff on Zeb's part, for he was hard put to it to get food for himself and his old wife.
He was what is known as "shif'less." He worked spasmodically, and spent hours dawdling about, accomplishing nothing, on his old neglected farm.
But, somehow, a latent ambition and energy seemed to reawaken in his old heart, and he determined to make renewed efforts to "get ahead" for this pretty child's sake.

And meantime, if she liked to think she was helping, by such work as those dainty little hands could do, he was willing to humor her.
Beside all this, Zeb didn't believe her story.

He still thought she had run away from a well-to-do home; and he believed it was because of an unloving stepmother.
But he was not minded to worry the child further with questions at the present time, and it was part of his nature calmly to await developments.
"Let it go at that, Mother," he advised.