"Ah, ha!" thought Uncle Hiram, "I see--the shoulders best able to bear
the burden of family cares have it. Just as it should be!"
A few moments, and the baby-boy was brought in by the nurse and
presented to the uncle. Baby, like his mother, looked happy and
healthy.
When they were about leaving for down town, Uncle Hiram heard Henry
say:
"Ada, please order the cook to delay dinner an hour to-day. I've
business which will delay me so long."
"Very well," was the smiling reply.
"A cook and a nurse. That is why Ada looks so calm, healthy and happy.
_Just_ as it _should_ be. Poor little, patient, over-worked Nellie! I
_wonder_ how it is, both having equal means. I must find out what the
trouble is," said Uncle Hiram to himself.
Now, Charley was not a drinking man, his uncle felt sure. He knew,
indeed, that when he first grew to manhood he had vowed never to touch
rum in any form.
The dinner at Charley's was better, if possible, than the breakfast.
It was a real treat to the old bachelor, whose life was spent in a
boarding-house, to partake of such good, healthy fare as Nellie gave
him. But always he felt like partaking of it under protest.
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