"Thank you, miss," replied the woman, gratefully. "If I had a lighter heart, I'd be better at once, though the poor baby is only two days old."
"I wish to have the yard, where you saw the wood, cleared of the burnt rubbish," remarked the gentleman, who had been a smiling witness of his daughter's success, and of Dilly's delight. "If you can do no better, I will give you employment there for a few days."
Mr. Hogan gratefully accepted the proposal, saying, "I shall be glad, sir, to do anything that is honest. It is a hard business to fill five mouths with what one can earn by rag picking."
[CHAPTER II.]
THE COUNTERFEIT DOLLAR.
PAT, however, continued in his old employment. He was entirely different from Dilly, who was a favorite with all the children, on account of her loving heart and cheerful temper. Pat was both selfish and sullen. He was ready to quarrel at the least offence of his companions. When the rude boys saw him come alone to the field, and select a spot for himself to clear, they said, "Now for some fun!"
They watched their chance when he had made a pile of coal and another of rags, and came up toward him as if for a friendly chat. Suddenly they threw themselves down, thus overturning all his work and obliging him to commence again.
Pat sprang to his feet and doubled his fist, screaming with anger.
"Come, now, be still, will ye?" cried one of them. "What harm have we done ye, anyhow?" At the same time he winked to his companions, to carry on the sport.
Pat saw the glance. He flew at the lad; and the affair might have become serious, had not an older man who was quietly at work near by interfered. He had witnessed the whole proceedings, and told the boys they had no business with Pat's lot, any way.