Mrs. Moseley had entire charge of about twenty children,
her husband of as many more; so no wonder they looked fagged. But no
amount of either heat or fatigue could take the loving sparkle out of
Mammie Moseley's eyes, and she was now expatiating on the delights of
the little ones in the grass and flowers.
"There was one dear little toddle, John," she said; "she seemed
fairly to lose her head with delight; to see that child rolling over
in the grass and clutching at the daisies would do any heart good.
Eh! but they all did have a blessed day. The sin and shame of it is
to bring them back to their stifling homes to-night."
"I tell you what, wife," said John Moseley, "the sight of the
country fairly made a kitten of yerself. I haven't seen yer so young
and so sprightly since we lost our bit of a Charlie. And I ha' made
up my mind, and this is wot I'll do: We has two or three pounds put
by, and I'll spend enough of it to give thee a real holiday, old
girl. You shall go into Kent for a fortnight. There!"
"No, no, John, nothink of the kind; I'm as strong and hearty as
possible. I feels the 'eat, no doubt; but Lor'! I ha' strength to
bear it. No, John, my man, ef we can spare a couple o' pounds, let's
give it to Mr. Danvers' fund for the poor little orphans and other
children as he wants to send into the country for three weeks each."
"But that'll do thee no good," expostulated John Moseley, in a
discontented voice.
"Oh! yes, but it will, John, dear; and ef you don't like to do
it for me, you do it for Charlie.
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