Joe, a tall lad of seventeen, entered with a face of tragedy. "Any harm done, Joseph?" asked Father Golden, glancing at the portrait on his desk. "It's that kid again, father!" said Joe. "Poor old Rover--" "Father knows about that, Joe!" said Mary, gently. "Did you get them apart?" cried Ruth. "Yes, I did, but not till they had smashed most of the glass in the kitchen windows, and trampled all over Mary's geraniums. Something has got to be done about that youngster, father. He's getting to be a perfect nuisance." "I am thinking of doing something about him, son Joseph," said Father Golden. "Are your brothers in the house?" "I think I heard them come in just now, sir. Do you want to see them?" Apparently Adam and Lemuel wanted to see their father, for they appeared in the doorway at this moment: quiet-looking men, with grave, "set" faces; the hair already beginning to edge away from their temples. "You are back early from the office, boys!" said Father Golden. "We came as soon as we got the message," said Adam. "I hope nothing is wrong, father." "What message, Adam?" "Didn't you send for us? Benny came running in, all out of breath, and said you wished to see us at once. If he has been playing tricks again--" Adam's grave face darkened into sternness. The trick was too evident. "Something must be done about that boy, father!" he said. "He is the torment of the whole family." "No one can live a day in peace!" said Lemuel. "No dumb creature's life is safe!" said Joe. "He breaks everything he lays hands on," said Ruth, "and he won't keep his hands off anything." "You were all little once, boys!" said Mary. "We never behaved in this kind of way!" said the brothers, sedate from their cradles. "Something must be done!" "You are right," said Father Golden. "Something must be done." Glancing once more at the portrait of Mother Golden, he turned and faced his children with grave looks. "Sit down, sons and daughters!" said the old man. "I have something to say to you." The young people obeyed, wondering, but not questioning. Father Golden was head of the house. "You all come to me," said Father Golden, "with complaints of little Benjamin. It is singular that you should come to-day, for I have been waiting for this day to speak to you about the child myself." He paused for a moment; then added, weighing his words slowly, as was his wont when much in earnest, "Ten years ago to-day, that child was left on our door-step." The brothers and sisters uttered an exclamation, half surprised, half acquiescent. "It doesn't seem so long!" said Adam. "It seems longer!" said Mary. "I keep forgetting he came that way!" murmured Joe. "I felt doubtful about taking him in," Father Golden went on. "But your mother wished it; you all wished it. We decided to keep him for a spell, and give him a good start in life, and we have kept him till now." "Of course we have kept him!" said Ruth. "Naturally!" said Lemuel.