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Kate was hitting hard and straight from the shoulder The baby,

busy with her sunbeam, jabbered unnoticed

"When Polly died as she did," continued Kate, "I knew that her

baby would be full of the same poison that killed her; and that it

must be eliminated before it came time to cut her worst teeth, so

I undertook the work, and sleeping or waking, I have been at it

ever since Now, Henry, is there any one at your house ould

have figured this out, and taken the time, pains, and done work

that I have? Is there?"

"Mother raised six of us" he said defensively

"But she didn't die of diathesis giving birth to the first of

you," said Kate "You were all big, strong boys with a perfectly

sound birthright And your mother is now a much older, wearier

woman than she was then, and her hands are far too full every day,

as it is If she kne to handle the baby as I have, and was

willing to add the work to her daily round, would you be willing

to have her? I have three tiht Then there is the baby's side of the

question I have had her through the worst, hardest part of

babyhood; she is accustorees with her; she would miss me, and she would not

thrive as she does with ular, while you, and your father, and the boys would tire

her to death handling her That is the start The finish would