The
idea that I was in some slight degree atoning for my early sins,
so filled my thoughts, that I did not at first notice the absence
of Toddie. When it DID become evident to me that my youngest
nephew was not in the bed in which I had placed him, I went in
search of him. He was in none of the chambers, but hearing gentle
murmurs issue from a long, light closet, I looked in and saw
Toddie sitting on the floor, and eating the cheese out of a mouse-
trap. A squeak of my boots betrayed me, and Toddie, equal to the
emergency, sprang to his feet and exclaimed:--
"I didn't hurt de 'ittle mousie one bittie; I just letted him out,
and he runded away."
And still it rained. Oh, for a single hour of sunlight, so that
the mud might be only damp dirt, and the children could play
without tormenting other people! But it was not to be; slowly, and
by the aid of songs, stories, an improvised menagerie, in which I
personated every animal, besides playing ostrich and armadillo,
and a great many disagreements, the afternoon wore to its close,
and my heart slowly lightened. Only an hour or two more, and the
children would be in bed for the night, and then I would enjoy, in
unutterable measure, the peaceful hours which would be mine. Even
now they were inclined to behave themselves; they were tired and
hungry, and stretched themselves on the floor, to await dinner.
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