The\"baby\"waselevenweeksold，andthencamethetwins，whoweregettingonforfifteenmonthsandwerecuttingtheirdoubleteethnicely。Theyoungestgirlwasthree;therewerefiveboysagedseven，eight，nine，ten，andtwelverespectively——goodenoughlads，but——well，there，boyswillbeboys，youknow;wewerejustthesameourselveswhenwewereyoung。Thetwoeldestwerebothverypleasantgirls，astheirmothersaid;theonlypitywasthattheywouldquarrelsowitheachother。
Weneverknewahealthiersetofboysandgirls。Theyweresofullofenergyanddash。
Ourfriendwasverymuchoutofsortsoneeveningwhenwecalledonhim。Itwasholiday—timeandwetweather。Hehadbeenathomeallday，andsohadallthechildren。Hewastellinghiswifewhenweenteredtheroomthatiftheholidaysweretolastmuchlongerandthosetwinsdidnothurryupandgettheirteethquickly，heshouldhavetogoawayandjointheCountyCouncil。Hecouldnotstandtheracket。
Hiswifesaidshecouldnotseewhathehadtocomplainof。Shewassurebetter—heartedchildrennomancouldhave。
Ourfriendsaidhedidn’tcareastrawabouttheirhearts。Itwastheirlegsandarmsandlungsthatweredrivinghimcrazy。