The information was received with a chorus of exclamations of delight and admiration.
"Tate a bite of cacker, boy," said Herbert, offering a cracker which he was eating with evident enjoyment.
Mammy explained, amid the good-natured laughter of the older children, that the newcomer had no teeth and couldn't eat anything but milk.
"Oh, poor 'ittle fing!" he said, softly touching its velvet cheek. "Won't 'oo tum and pay wis Herbie?"
"No, it can't play," said Violet, "it can't walk and it can't talk."
"Where's mamma, mammy?" asked Eddie, glancing at the clock; "it's past her time; I wonder too she didn't come to show us the new baby herself."
"She's sick, chile," returned mammy, a grave and anxious look coming into her old eyes.
"Mamma sick?" exclaimed little Elsie, "oh, may I go to her?"
Mammy shook her head. "Not jes now, honey darlin', byme by, when she's bettah."
"Mamma sick?" echoed Violet. "Oh, I'm so, so sorry!"