“I don’t see why,” said Beany suddenly. “Do you remember Mom and Pop said they wished if we brought them anything from across, it would be something good and worth while? They didn’t want German helmets and junk like that. What do you suppose they would say to a couple of dandy little kids like these?” “For the love of the board of health!” said his brother solemnly. “It’s a great thought, sonny, but do you suppose Mom _wants_ to start in bringing up another lot of children? You know if she ever started, she would make a good job of it; you know how thorough she always is.” “Yes, she is thorough, all right!” grinned Mom’s son. “Look at us!” “She did the best she could with us, anyhow,” retorted Mom’s other son solemnly, “and I think, no, I _know_ she would be tickled to death to do something as real and important as taking these two little chaps to bring up. And we could help support them if we had to, later.” “That’s silly,” said Porky. “You know Dad has made a lot of money. And he could afford to bring up six of them if he wanted to.” “Well, all _he_ ever wants is what Mom wants,” said Beany. “I guess that’s so too,” said Porky, “but perhaps some of those officers will have some other plans for them.” He looked down at the child on his arm. Already he felt a tenderness for the starved, sickly little creature who had trusted him. “One apiece,” he said, looking at Beany. “One’s a girl, though,” said Beany. Porky wanted to be fair. “That’s so,” he said. “Well, we can draw straws to see which has to take her.” “Straws nothing!” said Beany. “She came to me, so she is mine. Darned if I know what to do with a girl, though! Can’t teach her to play ball or marbles, and besides that she can’t be a Boy Scout.” “Well, she can be a girl one. You know they have ’em, and if she can’t play ball she can learn to swim and dive and ride and shoot, and it will be pretty handy to have her round the house when it comes to buttons and things. Mother must get tired sewing for three of us.” “Wonder how long it takes ’em to grow up to button size,” said Beany, studying the tiny bundle in his arms. “Don’t know,” said Porky. He looked anxiously at his brother. His generosity in accepting the care of the little girl worried him. He had to watch Beany, who was always more than generous and self-sacrificing. “Why can’t we both have both kids?” he asked. “I don’t want you to be stung with a girl all the time. It isn’t fair.” “Stuck with a girl!” said Beany. “Why, Porky, I _like_ it! I never could see why when any one has a baby, everybody says, ‘Gee, it’s a boy! Isn’t that bully?’ or else ‘Huh, it’s a girl, too bad!’ I never could see it. Course when they get _our_ size they mostly are silly pills, but if _I_ have a hand in bringing up _this_ girl, why, you just watch her, that’s all! I bet when she’s fifteen she won’t look cross-eyed at a boy. I bet she knocks their blocks off! She is going to have some sense!”