“It was just so with my Joe⁠—always full of his devilment, and up to every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he could be⁠—and laws bless me, to think I went and whipped him for taking that cream, never once recollecting that I throwed it out myself because it was sour, and I never to see him again in this world, never, never, never, poor abused boy!” And Mrs. Harper sobbed as if her heart would break.

“I hope Tom’s better off where he is,” said Sid, “but if he’d been better in some ways⁠—”