`` 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 in grim silence until he had finished . Then she said sternly : `` Do you reckon we 're going to keep this baby ? '' `` I -- I -- dunno , '' said Pa. . And he did n't . `` Well , we 're NOT . I brought up one boy and that 's enough . I do n't calculate to be pestered with any more . I never was much struck on children as children , anyhow . You say that Mary Garland had a brother out in Mantioba ? Well , we shall just write to him and tell him he 's got to look out for his nephew . '' `` But how can you do that , Ma , when nobody knows his address ? ''
objected Pa , with a wistful look XXXXX that delicious , laughing baby .
With at for from in of on that to until