Mr. Ledwell turned back, and going in to the hospital made inquiries concerning the sick woman the children had seen at the window. They were not mistaken, and in a few minutes Billy was in his mother’s arms.
After the excitement of the meeting had passed, Billy told his mother all that had happened since the dreadful day when she was taken away from him. He told of the kind children who had given him all they had to give, a shelter and what food they could spare, and how Jack the Fire-Dog saved his life. He told, too, about the kind-hearted firemen and his life at the engine-house, and about Sam and his grandpapa and the comfortable home he now had.
The poor woman could not find words to thank the kind gentleman who had done so much for her blind son, and when she tried to express her gratitude to him, he told her the best way to do it was to get well as fast as possible and come and live with her son.
“I am anxious to find work, so that I can take care of him,” said the sick woman. “As soon as I am well I am sure I can find something to do.”
“The first thing to be done is to get strong,” said Mr. Ledwell, “and then we will think about working. I propose that as soon as you are well enough you go to Billy, where you can have the best of care. You will improve much faster there than you can here, surrounded by sickness and suffering.”
The patient was pronounced not able to leave the hospital just then, but was promised that she should go so soon as it was deemed prudent.
So Billy took leave of his mother, happy at the promise of a visit the next day. They found Sam with the three children seated in the sleigh, and the new sled tied to one of the runners.
“I thought we had better take the children home, because they were afraid they would be late to their Christmas dinner,” Sam explained. “Do you think they will crowd you very much, Grandpapa? We will squeeze as close together as we can, and Maysie is almost a baby, you know.”
“I shouldn’t mind a little crowding on Christmas Day,” said Grandpapa. “Here, Baby, you can sit in my lap.”
“I am as big as Johnny,” replied Maysie, who was ambitious to be considered big.