Without uttering a sound Mollie dropped to the floor in a dead faint. The others paying no attention, Stephen ran to her and half-carried, half-dragged her out the door. He had a vague idea that he must get her up the ladder and into the barn loft. But the fresh air revived her. As soon as she opened her eyes she sat up and demanded to know what was being done to the baby. Stephen did not know, but he told her they were probably mending its broken arm and it would be all right in a little while. "Oh, I do hope they'll let him stay up in the loft with us," Mollie exclaimed. "I like that little girl. She is so good to the baby. She and I could take turns looking after him. I'd call him Moses." "He didn't come in the bull rushes." "No, but there were the cowberry bushes growing right by the gate. He almost fell into them. And his sister was right there beside him." Stephen could not see the connection but agreed to think it over and tell Mollie later whether or not Moses would be a suitable name for the newcomer. "I reckon he has a name already," he observed, after a moment of serious thought. "I don't guess we ought to choose a new one until we know for sure." "Well, anyway, I'm going to ask his sister if I may call him Moses," declared Mollie with her characteristic persistency in clinging to an idea. "If I can call you Splutters I can call him Moses." Before the argument could be continued both children were summoned to the house. Peter wanted his supper; Maria wanted help. Cynthy, seated in a low chair, crooned over the moaning baby in an attempt to lull him to sleep. Mollie placed dishes upon the table according to Maria's direction. Stephen ground coffee in a mill which he held between his knees while he turned the crank that sent the crushed kernels down into a small receptacle in the bottom of the square box to which the grinding apparatus was affixed. The usual menu of fat salt pork, boiled potatoes, corn bread, molasses and coffee was prepared. There was not enough table ware to go around, so the children did not eat until after Peter and Maria had finished. The portion of food remaining for the little ones was too meagre to endanger their digestions. After the meal Mollie helped Maria with the dishwashing while Stephen performed his usual chores about the barn. The baby was asleep now, so Cynthy was sent to carry feed to the chickens. Peter went over and inspected the sleeping infant. The sleep had been induced by Maria, through the medium of her stock remedy for all bodily ills, corn liquor. After the second spoonful had been administered it became evident that the child would rest quietly for some time.