“I believe I will do that,” said the widow. She knew what little money she had would not last long and she wanted to make a home for her children where they could stay while she went out to work.
When Larry returned Mrs. Dexter talked the matter over with him, for she had come to depend on her son very much of late. The matter was decided by their engaging four rooms on the floor above. They were unfurnished except for an attractive gas range on which cooking could be done.
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t know how to work it,” said Mrs. Dexter.
“I know,” said Larry. “Mrs. Jackson showed me this morning.”
From a secondhand store some beds, a table, and a few chairs were purchased, and thus, on a very modest scale, compared with their former home, the Dexters began housekeeping in New York.
They ate supper in their new rooms that night. The younger children were delighted, but Mrs. Dexter could not but feel that it was a poor home compared to the one she had been compelled to leave. Larry saw what was troubling his mother.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll soon be working and we will have a better place.”
“I wish I was strong enough to work,” said Lucy in a low tone, her eyes filling with tears as she thought of her helplessness.
“Don’t you wish anything of the kind!” exclaimed Larry. “I’m going to work for all of us.”
He made up his mind to start out the first thing in the morning and hunt for a job. He carried this plan out. After a simple breakfast which was added to by some nice potatoes and meat which Mrs. Jackson sent up, Larry hurried off.