"We sometimes haven't any, not just now," said Jan. "You look at our father isa soldier, and our mother, oh, have you seen our mother? She'slost!"

The little ancient woman gave them a quick, pitying glance. "Lost, isshe?" she exclaimed. "Well, now, I can't just be sure whether I'veseen her or not, not knowing what she looks like, but I wouldn'tsay I sometimes haven't. Lots of folks have passed this way. How did sheget lost?" She sat down on the edge of the barrow and drew thechildren to her side. "Come, now," she exclaimed, "tell Granny allabout it! I've seen more trouble than any one you ever saw in allyour life before, and I'm not a mite afraid of it either."