Mr. Smiles laughed . `` Yes , I guess I always have an everlasting grin on . Had to live up to my name , you see , in spite of my naturally cantankerous disposition ; But come this way , ma'am , I can see the hunger sticking out of those youngsters ' eyes . We 'll have a sort of impromptu picnic here and now , I 'll tell my housekeeper to send out some jam too . '' While the children devoured their lunch Miss Cordelia found herself telling Mr. Smiles all about old Nap and her little project . `` I 'm going to bring out a load every fine Saturday all summer , '' she said . `` It 's all I can do . They enjoy it so , the little creatures . It 's terrible to think how cramped their lives are . They just exist in soot . Some of them here never saw green fields before today . '' Mr. Smiles listened and beamed and twinkled until Miss Cordelia felt almost as dazzled as if she were looking at the sun . `` Look here , ma'am , I like this plan of yours and I want to have a hand in helping it along . Bring your loads of children out here every Saturday , right here to Beechwood Farm , and turn them loose in my beech woods and upland pastures . I 'll put up some swings for them and have some games , and I 'll provide the refreshments also . Trouble , ma'am ? No , trouble and I ai n't on speaking terms . It 'll be a pleasure , ma'am . I 'm fond of children even if I am a grumpy cross-grained old bachelor . If you can give up your own holiday to give them a good time , surely I can do something too . ''
When XXXXX Cordelia and her brood of tired , happy little lads and lasses ambled back to town in the golden dusk she felt that the expedition had been an emphatic success .
Miss Mr. children grin hunger lives load refreshments trouble way