Besides these were the three street waifs, who had been picked up and championed by Ragged Rob--Chick, Ruddy and Tony--whose ages ran from ten to twelve years, all of whom were far older in the varied experiences which come to such outcasts. Both Mr. Little and Mrs. Willet were given the first attention, and they were made so comfortable that they slept for the most part of the night. The younger members, used to sleeping out of doors on the pavements, or at least under some box or wall, lay down on the earthen floor of these sod houses and soon fell into a refreshing sleep. But neither Rob nor his mother sought sleep, while Aunt Vinnie and Mrs. Little only nodded at times. The rain cleared away before midnight, and the following morning the sun shone brightly, and the clear, warm atmosphere of a spring day made the landscape beautiful and stirred the hearts of the lonely wayfarers with the spirit of good cheer. “Isn’t this beautiful, delightful!” cried Joe Willet, clapping her hands in wild ecstacy of joy. “Look yonder, Rob! did you ever see such lovely flowers?” pointing to some clumps of mountain laurels. “I can hardly stop to get breakfast before I pick some of them. Oh, I know we shall be so happy here; shan’t we, mother?” “I trust so, my child,” and the mother did not dare to speak of the fear in her heart. “The country looks pretty, Joe,” replied Rob, “and I hail it as a good sign that the storm has cleared away so soon. But I must look around a bit to see what we can do. I hope Deacon Cornhill will get here before long.” Now that it was daylight Rob saw that no signs of a dwelling was in sight. In fact, it was as quiet, except for the songs of a few birds, as if they had been left in the heart of a great wilderness. This seemed very strange for those who had come from the din, bustle and confusion of the great city. “We shall soon get used to it,” declared Rob. “Mercy me!” exclaimed Aunt Vinnie, “I don’t b’lieve I ever can. And as for Tommy and Jerry, why, they will go just wild.” After breakfast Rob and Larry went up to the old red house, but found no evidence that the building had been occupied for some time. It showed even worse ruin inside than it did outside. At places boards had been torn off, as if used for fuel, and few of the doors remained. As they passed from room to room the floor creaked dismally beneath their feet, while bats and birds flew about their heads, screaming out as if angry at this invasion of their domains. “If we come here to live it will require lots of fixing up,” said Rob. “I don’t care what you think of it,” declared Larry, “but I jess feel like cutting off my big toe for coming up here into this dead man’s woods.” When the forenoon had passed without bringing the deacon to see them, Rob grew anxious, and soon after dinner, accompanied by Chick and Ruddy, he started for Basinburg, hoping to meet their friend on the way.