Pa Sloane came , or was pushed , forward . The baby was put into his arms ; he realized that he was expected to keep it , and he was too dazed to refuse ; besides , his heart went out to the child . The auctioneer looked doubtfully at the money which Pa laid mutely down . `` I s ` pose that part was only a joke , '' he said . `` Not a bit of it , '' said Robert Lawson . `` All the money wo n't bee too much to pay the debts . There 's a doctor 's bill , and this will just about pay it . '' Pa Sloane drove back home , with the sorrel mare still unshod , the baby , and the baby 's meager bundle of clothes . The baby did not trouble him much ; it had become well used to strangers in the past two months , and promptly fell asleep on his arm ; but Pa Sloane did not enjoy that drive ; at the end of it ; he mentally saw Ma Sloane . Ma was there , too , waiting for him on the back door-step as he drove into the yard at sunset . Her face , when she saw the baby , expressed the last degree of amazement . `` Pa Sloane , '' she demanded , `` whose is that young one , and there did you get it ? '' `` I -- I -- bought it at the auction , Ma , '' said Pa feebly . Then he waited for the explosion . None came . This last exploit of Pa 's was too much for Ma . With a gasp she snatched the baby from Pa 's arms , and ordered him to go out and put the mare in . When Pa returned to the kitchen Ma had set the baby on the sofa , fenced him around with chairs so that he could n't fall off and given him a molassed cooky . `` Now , Pa Sloane , you can explain , '' she said . Pa explained .
Ma listened XXXXX grim silence until he had finished .
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