“Shure he has! An’ Nelly gits more’n lots of sick gals we know, ’cuz Finn won’t play craps ner match pennies like the udder boys do!” bragged Ikey, anxious to win a ticket for Micky.
“Well, let me see! Who will go with Nelly, to take care of her? Have you any other sisters or family to travel with her?” asked Uncle Ben.
“We had a sister two years older’n us but she disappeared one night an’ we never hearn tell of her agin. She worked in a tobacco-shop. Since then, I had all the supportin’ to do. That was last summer, she went wid anudder gal to Coney Island an’ never got back.”
“I’ll have to write down your address, Finn, and send a lady down to see Nelly. If everything is all right, she will arrange to take your sister to the country at once. I’ll make out the ticket myself. Now you can go out and spend week-ends with her if you like. And should you take a summer vacation, you can go to Happy Hills free of cost for two weeks,” explained Mr. Talmage.
Micky Finn was so overwhelmed with gratitude and surprise at this unexpected invitation that he stood gaping at his benefactor, but said not a word.
“T’ank the chentleman, Micky! Can’t che t’ank him nice, fer what he’s gone and done fer you an’ Nelly?” Ikey said with a scowl at his friend for whom he was sponsor.
“I do thank—Aw, get out, Ikey! De gentleman knows the choky way I feel in my windpipe! Don’che, Mister?” wailed Finn.
“Yes, Micky, I know just how you feel, and I feel just as happy as if you had thanked me with every word known to convey the feeling of gratitude,” said Mr. Talmage, smiling.
“Dat’s all right to say to him, Mr. Ta’mage, but I don’t like my fren’s what I bring up here to do nuttin’ what ain’t all jus’ right. We all gotta remember to say what folks like you’se say to each udder, ef we’re goin’ to live at Happy Hills!” rebuked Ikey Einstein, thoughtfully.
“That’s right, too, Ikey, but you have had more opportunities to practice than Micky had; when he meets us often, he, too, will begin to change his habits and ways of expressing himself.”