"I've spent more time on it than I ever did on anything else in all me life, and I don't understand.

Does it seem to you that anyone would take a newborn baby and row over it, until it was bruised black, cut off its hand, and leave it out in a bitter night on the steps of a charity home, to the care of strangers?
That's what somebody did to me." McLean stared aghast.

He had no reply ready, and presently in a low voice he suggested: "And after ?" "The Home people took me in, and I was there the full legal age and several years over.

For the most part we were a lot of little Irishmen together.

They could always find homes for the other children, but nobody would ever be wanting me on account of me arm." "Were they kind to you ?" McLean regretted the question the minute it was asked.
"I don't know," answered Freckles.