The Story of the Gravelys

feeling in her pocket. "

n her eye over them.

undreds a year. Brother Henry sympathizes deeply to the extent of a tenth of his income. Sister Mary

the girl, still only half-enl

heir homes are as wide as their hearts. They are not rich, not one is exceedingly rich, yet they all of

know how you love us. They want you to kee

," said

ou take all

t, though. I have helped them.

eing unfortunate to call out such goodness as that. Now, Grandma,

My lawyer was h

ening to see you-will yo

ll hav

l, you won't n

u, Margaretta," sai

why

oo great a bur

e persons,

and family life. Let him work out his plans along his own line

loves you

er not to amalgamate my quicksilver Ber

sked Margaretta,

ed out som

n well with h

ou. Being the elder, you have rather absorbed

want t

and home-life. Boarding-house life vulgarizes, home life ennobles. As long as

p house on. Wouldn't it be better to go to some fir

dma,[26] tranquilly. "I've rubbed shoulde

ou haven't

s worth anythin

ng to do? You can't afford to keep house in such style

make the neighbourhood,"

d on one?" said her gran

d. "Not altog

laimed Margaretta. "You have

old-fashioned house with big open fireplaces. F

t is," said Marg

eople of the town used t

he fish-market-oh,

ck away fro

gave a subdued shriek.

2

t afford to take more. Imagine the boarding-house keeper when Berty would come in trailing a lame dog or sick cat? The Lord has

se people are agreeabl

tyrs, but I am not going

argaretta, "but I always make up w

ma, shrewdly, "and in order to keep it

you speak

want Berty to stand alone for awhil

nd a word I say-she looks just like you,[28] Gra

he old lady, calmly. "

t her drag you down to t

ll be a fitting antidote to a somewhat en

nthropist or a city missi

worse," said G

is too self-centred. She is taken with the large house and

e," said Gra

the house for a sh

stay there until e

and

republic will not encourage home f

andmothers, wh

2

ly. "Families are being reared within their walls, th

s are not equa

affection for your roof-tree, your hearthstone. Have one home,

ong time watching in fascination the quick, a

erful woman," s

really t

t people find out things for themselves. Now I don't belie

However, it is all right, Margaretta. If the Lord sends me to River Street, I can go. If He tells me to love River Street, I shall make a point of doing so. I

d of winter. The grandmother didn't want to go, but she went, and when the girl found herself shut up below on a pl

er promise?" asked

. I'll help you to the best of my ability. I see in advance what you are doing it for. Not only Berty, but t

st say that since your marriage I don't see in you much passion fo

why haven't you talked more to me-preached[31] more. I don

it is in this new invention of wireless telegraphy-a receiver must be tuned t

," she said, gaily. "I'm getting older and have more sense. I can take the message, an

together," said G

king her draperies out into the hall and down-stairs.

aid Berty

below and was standing ho

etta. "Oh!" and she gave a

2] matters to him now. Poor little thing, how

her. "You have a good heart, Bert

ut I don't like to quarrel with you, Margaretta

iver Street?" said M

iver. I am going to keep my boat an

d a smile. "How abou

but we shall kee

mily together,"

st Grandma to do that. I wish yo

argaretta, affectionately

VER THE ST

see us often?" sai

and[33] prosperity to you and Grandma-a

sa

holding her head well in the air, Margaretta trippe

er the stair railing. "Nothing conquers a united family! And now will Margare