Johnnie had had no such trouble.  His clothing was to him of no great importance, so long as it had buttons and strings on.

But where was Aunt Maria’s family?  The table was only spread for four.  The children looked at each other, but were too polite to ask questions.

“Bring Lucifer Matches,” said Aunt Maria to Henry the waiter.  As it was broad daylight, the children wondered why she asked for matches.  Henry came back soon, followed by a funny little Scotch terrier, who bounded up to his mistress, and looked at her with intelligent eyes.

“Lucifer Matches,” said Mrs. MacLain, “is my special and particular pet.  I call him Luce for short.  Johnnie, you may play with him as much as you like.”

“Come in, you angel!” the lady then exclaimed, as if to encourage somebody who was hesitating at the door.  Six eyes followed hers.  The angel was a huge black cat, with green eyes, that shone like emeralds.  Mabel felt like getting down to pet her, and Edith who did not admire cats, felt a cold chill creep down her back.

So, you see, the dog, the cat, the horses, the geese, the cow, and the chickens, with the people who took care of them, composed Aunt Maria’s family.

After dinner, they had family worship.  “We will have family prayers before you are all tired and sleepy,” their aunt said.  The servants all came in, and Mrs. MacLain read a chapter from John, and gave out a hymn, which everybody sang.  It was the beautiful hymn,

  “Dear refuge of my weary soul,
    On Thee, when sorrows rise,
  On Thee, when storms of trouble roll,
    My fainting hope relies.”

It was a great comfort to Edith to sing this, for it was one of her mamma’s favorites.  After the singing they all knelt in prayer and Aunt Maria asked God to take care of this family that was divided for the present.  “Be with the sick mother, and make her well,” she prayed, “and bless these dear little ones under this roof.”

So the children felt safe, and at home.  It makes everybody feel safe and at home even in a strange house, if there is prayer in it, and Jesus is loved and worshipped there.

Bright and early next morning, Mabel was dressed and out of doors, with a piece of corn-bread in her hand to feed the chickens and geese.  She felt the least bit of terror when the geese craned their long necks and hissed at her, but they soon stopped this and became very friendly.

Folks talk about dumb creatures, but they are not very dumb, are they, children? though they have not the gift of speech.  They soon learn to know who love them, and they testify their affection in many pleasant ways.  Now Luce was not a dog to strike up friendships with everybody, but he and Johnnie seemed to like each other at first sight.  Of course, the very first evening, bedtime came early, and weary eyes were very glad to shut.  But before noon the next day Johnnie had discovered that his new companion could perform ever so many tricks:  he could shoulder arms, stand on his hind feet, pretend to smoke a pipe, carry a basket, and beg in the most enchanting manner.  Johnnie played soldier with Luce for flag-bearer, for nearly an hour, till his auntie called him in.