CHAPTER II.
THE ADOPTION.
When the children reached Aunt Matilda's cabin, they found the old woman seated by a very small fire, which was burning in one corner of the hearth.
"Are you cold, Aunt Matilda ?" asked Kate.
"Lor' bless you, no, honey! But you see there wasn't hardly any coals left, and I was tryin' to keep the fire alive till somebody would come along and gather me up some wood." "Then you were going to cook your breakfast, I suppose," said Harry.
"Yes, child, if somebody 'ud come along and fetch me something to eat." "Haven't you anything at all in the house ?" asked Kate.
"Not a pinch o' meal, nor nothin' else," said the old woman; "but I 'spected somebody 'ud be along." "Did you know, Aunt Matilda," said Harry, "that they are going to send you to the alms-house ?" "Yes; I heerd 'em talk about it," said Aunt Matilda, shaking her head; "but the alms-house ain't no place for me." "That's so!" said Kate, quickly.

"And you're not going there, either!" "No," said Harry: "Kate and I intend to take care of you for the rest of your life." "Lor', children, you can't do it!" said the old woman, looking in astonishment from one to the other of these youngsters who proposed to adopt her.
"Yes; but we can," said Harry.

"Just you wait and see." "It'll take a good deal o' money," said the old woman, who did not seem to be altogether satisfied with the prospects held out before her.
"More'n you all will ever be able to git." "How much money would be enough for you to live on, Aunt Matilda ?" asked Harry.
"Dunno.

Takes a heap o' money to keep a person." "Well, now," said Kate, "let's see exactly how much it will take.

Have you a pencil, Harry?
I have a piece of paper in my pocket, I think.