They certainly agreed that the town would no doubt approve of a library when that day finally came. It would be another sign of progress, successful towns needed such things. Emeline suddenly wondered about starting up a book exchange, an interesting concept. Then put forth none other than Clara to manage it. He had to chuckle.

"Well, knowing Clara she will say yes because that's the way she is. Always being helpful but I'm not sure. Depends on how much work and time it will take? Afterall, she works hard everyday at home and now has this job here in town. I do not know how much I would be comfortable seeing on her plate. No offense though, ma'am," he decided to be honest with her about his thoughts on the matter.

"As for Wyatt, I tend to keep him at home except for schooling of course. Clara has to take my horse into town to get here to work. But so far I have not allowed Wyatt to ride it alone. Something he is not happy about as you might imagine.  But thank you for the kind offer," he smiled.

"Weedy comes by almost every day, he really likes apple pie!"

"How could he not," Aurelian chuckled, "I'm sorry but I don't know who this Weedy fellow is?"

"Weedy's a lad who...well, he has a mother, but she apparently is a drunkard, neglects him quite often, they live in a small shack somewhere on the edge of town." She shrugged. "I don't know about his father. At any rate, Addy Chappel, the stage driver, looks after him, makes sure he has clean clothes, food, and goes to school."

Many of the people in town knew about Weedy and helped him. "He comes by here now and again for food, and I don't mind feeding him at all, but he insists on doing some sort of chores." She laughed. "He's good at sweeping and better at licking bowls! There are several people in town who help keep an eye on him, make sure he's all right."

"Poor lad, it is very Christian of you and those others to help care for the boy though," Aurelian commented, "the benefits of a small town perhaps. In Philadelphia there were too many street urchins forced to make due on their own. There were a few orphanages but they were overwhelmed and the less said about some of their practices and methods the better."

"I will ask Wyatt about Weedy, the boys might know each other. That is if Weedy goes to school? Wyatt does. Clara refuses though saying she is past whatever could be taught in a one room schoolhouse and to be honest, I think she is right. Besides, getting Clara to do something she doesn't want to - well, I would as soon engage in a tug of war with a full size bull," he chuckled.

Emeline laughed. "I've no doubt she is a handful, but you seem to be doing well with her, and she is very smart, no doubt her love of reading will help her enhance her education." Even fiction had bits of history, or at very least accounts of how life used to be.

"And yes, Addy insists that Weedy go to school. She wants him to have the education she didn't." Emeline grinned. "That woman might be a bit crude, but she's surprisingly astute. So yes, it's a good chance that Wyatt knows Weedy. I'm very glad that the boy is looked after. I've heard rumors of a children's home here, nothing specific, but a good thing, although I hate to think that there is a need."

If she could, she would take in every stray that she became aware of, but of course that wasn't possible.

"I'll do the best I can to be a friend to her." Emeline smiled and stood as well. "I don't have any experience as a mother, or even a sister, for that matter, but I do enjoy her company, and I think we will benefit each other. And as I said, I really don't mind Wyatt coming by, although I think his sister might not agree!"

It was nice to have the energy that children brought, and a glass of milk and a cookie now and then wouldn't break her.

"It was very nice to meet you, sir. Do come back some time and see what Clara and I are up to!"