"I've always been glad to do what I could; for when I thought of you at your age, taking charge of all those little ones, it seemed as if every one ought to stand by you. And they will be a comfort to you, I know. God will not let you go without some reward."
Granny wiped the tears from her eyes, and answered brokenly. One and another were dropping out of her world.
She had hardly recovered from this blow when one night Joe came home in high glee.
"The luck's changed, Hal!" he said in his laughing, breezy voice. "Just guess"—
"More wages?"
"No indeed! Better still, a great sight. If you have tears, please wring out your pocket-handkerchers, and prepare to shed 'em! Slightly altered from Shakspeare. I'm going to sea! Hip, hip, hurrah!"
Joe swung his old hat so hard that crown and brim parted, the crown landing on the mantle-piece.
"Couldn't have done better if I'd tried. I'm a dead shot, for certain!"
"Going to sea?"