"Whath going to happen?" questioned Stubbins. No one knew.
"My thaketh!" was a later exclamation from Stubbins. "My thaketh alive! Here cometh the thecond-hand man with ma!"
Even his errand was a mystery to the seven, as before he was invited in, the children were turned out.
That night when Chinky carried the washing home, he told the customer that it was the last work his mother would ever do for her.
"Why?" demanded the woman.
"Can't prove it by me," was the reply, "I dunno no more about it'n you do."
The next morning the second-hand man called at eight, and carried away the stove, the wash-boiler, the tubs, Mrs. Mulvaney's bed and bureau, the few chairs, in fact everything that he could possibly sell. By this time the children were absolutely terrified.
"We're going to move!" announced their mother. "What's more, we're going to have a ride on the cars. You must all wash up and I'll tidy your hair. Then we'll get ready to start. We ain't got a trunk to pack things in, but we've got pa's satchel. Eight of us ought to carry what's left here in our hands."
"How'll we take all the clothes that was give to us Christmas?" asked Hannah.
"You'll wear 'em," was the reply. "You ain't got but three dresses to your name, and if you can't get 'em all on, you ain't good for much. Thin as you be, I don't know but you'll hold more clothes than just your own. We'll see."