`` Neil -- Neil Gordon . '' `` That is a Scotchy name for such a face and eyes . I should rather have expected Guiseppe or Angelo . The boy looks like an Italian . '' `` Well , now , you know , Master , I reckon it 's likely he does , seeing that that 's exactly what he is . You 've hit the nail square on the head . Italyun , yes , sir ! Rather too much so , I 'm thinking , for decent folks ' taste . '' `` How has it happened that an Italian boy with a Scotch name is living in a place like Lindsay ? '' `` Well , Master , it was this way . About twenty-two years ago -- WAS it twenty-two , Mother or twenty-four ? Yes , it was twenty-two -- 't was the same year our Jim was born and he 'd have been twenty-two if he 'd lived , poor little fellow . Well , Master , twenty-two years ago a couple of Italian pack peddlers came along and called at the Gordon place . The country was swarming with them then . I useter set the dog on one every day on an average . `` Well , these peddlers were man and wife , and the woman took sick up there at the Gordon place , and Janet Gordon took her in and nursed her . A baby was born the next day , and the woman died . Then the first thing anybody knew the father skipped clean out , pack and all , and was never seen or heard tell of afterwards . The Gordons were left with the fine youngster to their hands . Folks advised them to send him to the Orphan Asylum , and ` twould have been the wisest plan , but the Gordons were never fond of taking advice .
Old James XXXXX was living then , Thomas and Janet 's father , and he said he would never turn a child out of his door .
't Angelo Asylum Gordon Gordons Jim Mother Neil day first