Do you think their mother would rent one of them ?" The women shook their heads.

"Ye see, sir," said Mrs.Hogan, "Mary McCann isn't here, bein' gone out to a wash, but she ownly has four or foive childther, an' she aint much used to 'em yit, an' I kin spake fer her that she'd niver siparate a pair o' tweens.

When she gits a dozen hersilf, and marries a widow jintleman wid a lot uv his own, she'll be glad enough to be lettin' ye have yer pick, to take wan uv 'em fer coompany to yer own baby, at foive dollars a week.

Moind that." I visited several houses after this, still in company with Mrs.Hogan and Mrs.Duffy, and finally secured a youngish infant, who, having been left motherless, had become what Mrs.Duffy called a "bottle-baby," and was in charge of a neighboring aunt.

It seemed strange that this child, so eminently adapted to purposes of rental, was not offered to me, at first, but I suppose the Irish ladies, who had the matter in charge, wanted to benefit themselves, or some of their near friends, before giving the general public of New Dublin a chance.
The child suited me very well, and I agreed to take it for as many days as I might happen to want it, but to pay by the week, in advance.