Publisher's Synopsis
While Dan was strong, sturdy, and the picture of health, his mother was evidently an invalid. Shewas pale, thin, and of delicate appearance. She was sitting in a cane-seated rocking-chair, which Danhad bought second-hand on one of his flush days at a small place on the Bowery. She looked upwith a glad smile when Dan entered."I am so glad to see you, my dear boy," she said."Have you been lonely, mother?" asked Dan, kissing her affectionately."Yes, Dan, it is lonely sitting here hour after hour without you, but I have my work to think of.""I wish you didn't have to work, mother," said Dan. "You are not strong enough. I ought to earnenough to support us both.""Don't trouble yourself about that, my dear boy. I should feel more lonely if I had nothing to do.""But you work all the time. I don't like to have you do that."In truth the mother was very tired, and her feeble fingers were cramped with the stitch, stitch, stitchin endless repetition, but she put on a cheerful countenance."Well, Dan, I'll stop now that you are at home. You want some supper.""Let me get it, mother.""No, Dan, it will be a relief to me to stir around a little, as I have been sitting so long.""Oh, I nearly forgot, mother-here's a nice pear I bought for you.""It does look nice," said Mrs. Mordaunt. "I don't feel hungry, but I can eat that. But where is yours, Dan?""Oh, I've eaten mine," answered Dan, hastily.It was not true, but God will forgive such falsehoods."You'd better eat half of this.""No; I'll be--flummuxed if I do," said Dan, pausing a little for an unobjectionable word.Mrs. Mordaunt set the little table for two. On it she spread a neat cloth, and laid the plain supper-aplate of bread, ditto of butter, and a few slices of cold meat. Soon the tea was steeped, and motherand son sat down for the evening meal
