Mother Meg

rnoon, did you?" asked Jem, when he came in

wered Meg, lookin

t runs up under these houses

ink I

them a bit; they're goin' to change hands, I believe, and

hen I'd have watched

h difference, only for knowing as we're near each other, be

," answ

had asked a blessing they began their m

rstand all her husband's moods, and su

I suppose we haven't such

d rather

rything nearly is new what

es, I know. I wonde

it for?"

ce the first week in May, and he's like a skeleton. She don't seem to have much to give him, nor to live on herself neither, a

eyes fille

aimed, "can we give

ne by one; for if we began in this poor neighbourhood, we should not

s by on the other side,' as the Bib

made up our minds when we was married to put by somethi

," answered

yet we've had a deal give us; and 'sposin' I was to get

you take me out w

n turning grave

u with such tales when your dear heart'

ear, but she answered a

e so much, Jem, to say as I was too happy to

et; but when they got outside in the brilliant light of the declining June su

mbering his mother's bringing-up, but not so good as to be immediately notic

steps, and when they came

e, my girl; you g

come too?"

my dear; but it a

ed her husband in silence. It was the first time she had ever been into

ety stairs to the very top, and then

but neat and orderly. On a mattress in the corner lay the little suffer

sing her, "do you think if I brought you a b

ant and suffering, on which something indescribable

under the roof where I could hide it away if I go out

and looked down on his little face. She put his

dear, you hav

child; "me cou

weeks, and if it hadn't been for father having a bit of

ken of, but he turned his head wearily awa

" he whispered, as

uestioned, thinking sh

ly, and then added in a

they don't hu

m was unfolding the blanket, and the girl was a

he exclaimed in a

head again, and Cherry said, with all the life gone out of her

. Sometimes I wish he was sa

nd gently on t

; but if we understand that God loves us, we'll

shawl and spread the blanket next him, then unfolding the shawl, which had been doubled for warmth, she carefully covered ev

explained, and her hearers had

e him to have it

at so much, he don't have the heart he used to have, He wouldn't have took this attic for us, so comf

" asked Meg

didn't mind the holes in the roof so long as they wouldn't worry Dickie.

on grew sober again when she looked towards t

ake him some bread and milk, and

d with Cherry's eyes curiously watching him, he turned over the leaves till he came to the tenth chapter of John. Then in a

ntly not as if it were a new tale, but yet as a thirsty man will

like to hear about Jesus? That's the Good Shepherd

ive her the shadow of a smile of assent

and leaning over him; "do you like

mentioned to him; but when Meg put a spoonful to his lips the

ing Meg's question now

e basin away. "No more," he whispered, and sank into sleep such as he had not

turned

t of it, dea

g back; "it 'ull do him such a deal

answered Meg; "but if you would rather keep this ti

of bread-and-butter, which Cherry took in her hand

arms round Meg; "nobody was ever so good to us befo

itation she stooped and kissed it-the soiled little face, upon