"Who were they?"
"James was the minister's son and Fanny was his wife. I live with the Shepherds and heard them say these things."
"Did James and Fanny have any children?"
"Yes, they must have had one, for I heard Mrs. Shepherd tell how the minister's sister came on from Boston and took it home with her."
Then looking inquiringly in my face, he said, "Say, mister, are you sick?"
"Oh, no," I replied, and we passed on.
On arriving at Boston I learned that uncle had died and Aunt Hannah had gone with her sister, Abigail, who lived in Salem. In Salem, with great difficulty, I learned they had sold out all their property and gone West. All further efforts were fruitless and I returned to New York and began to work at my last winter's job, where I worked quietly, ever on the alert to gain tidings of my boy.