Authorized by her, he wrote to Reuben Gray to bring the children to the city.

And accordingly, in three days after, Reuben arrived at the Farmer’s Rest, with his wagon full of family.  For he not only brought the three little girls he was required to bring, but also Hannah, her children, and her nurse-maid Sally.

As soon as he had seen his party in comfortable quarters he walked up to the Washington House to report himself to Ishmael; for, somehow or other, Reuben had grown to look upon Ishmael as his superior officer in the battle of life, and did him honor, very much as the veteran sergeant does to the young captain of his company.

Arrived in Ishmael’s room, he took off his hat and said: 

“Here I am, sir; and I’ve brung ’em all along.”

“All Mrs. Walsh’s little girls, of course, for they are required,” said Ishmael, shaking hands with Gray.

“Yes, and all the rest on ’em, Hannah and the little uns, and Sally and Sam,” said Reuben, rubbing his hands gleefully.

“But that was a great task!” said Ishmael, in surprise.

“Well, no, it wasn’t, sir; not half so hard a task as it would have been to a left them all behind, poor things.  You see, sir, the reason why I brung ’em all along was because I sort o’ think they love me a deal; ’pon my soul I do, sir, old and gray and rugged as I am; and I don’t like to be parted from ’em, ’specially from Hannah, no, not for a day; ’cause the dear knows, sir, as we was parted long enough, poor Hannah and me; and now as we is married, and the Lord has donated us a son and daughter at the eleventh hour, unexpected, praise be unto him for all his mercies, I never mean to part with any on ’em no more, not even for a day, till death do us part, amen; but take ’em all ’long with me, wherever I’m called to go, ’specially as me and poor Hannah was married so late in life that we aint got many more years before us to be together.”

“Nonsense, Uncle Reuben!  You and Aunt Hannah will live forty or fifty years longer yet, and see your grandchildren, and maybe your great-grandchildren.  You two are the stuff that centenarians are made of,” exclaimed the young man cheeringly.

“Centenarians? what’s them, sir?”

“People who live a hundred years.”

“Law!  Well, I have hearn of such things happening to other folks, and why not to me and poor Hannah?  Why, sir, I would be the happiest man in the world, if I thought as how I had all them there years to live long o’ Hannah and the little uns in this pleasant world.  But his will be done!” said Gray, reverently raising his hat.

“The little girls are all right, I hope?” inquired Ishmael.