LIFE NIGHTMARES

had died in the village. She was a woman of not good behaviour. She had done a lot of miserable work and the dead body layed coldly and still amid her wretched children.

Maggie, the youngest, was hopelessly diseased. Two years before a fall from a window had injured her spine and she had not been able to leave her bed since except when lifted in the arms of her mother. What it used to be done with the children was the chief question now. The dead mother would go underground and be forever beyond all care a concern of the villages. But the children must not be left to starve. After considering the matter and talking it over with his grandmother, farmer Jones said that he would take John and do well by him now that his mother was out of the way. Anither person by the Ellis she had been looking out for a bound girl, concluded that it would be charitable in her to make choice of Kate, even though she was too young to be of much use for several ye

ter." She said. She drew the tearful children apart there scarcely. Their lips had touched in a sobbing farewell. Hastily others went out some glancy that Maggie. Some resolutely refraining from a look until awl had gone. She was alone. Just beyond the threshold, Joe Thompson the wheel right paused and said to the blacksmith wife who was hastening off with rest. It was a cruel thing. Then there came another man known has Joe who took her to the poor house. "You will have to go there." Said the blacksmith wife springing away and leaving Joe behind for a little while the man stood with a puzzled air. Then he turned back and went into the hole again. Maggie with painful effort and raised to stop to an upright position and was sitting on the bed. Straining her eyes upon the door out of whi

cornered itself around them both, and love was sprained to life. "What do you have you there?" She sharply questioned Joe Thompson. Joe felt the child started shrinking against him. He did not reply except by a look that was pleading and cautionary. That said wait a moment for explanations and be gentle. By passing in, he carried Maggie to the small chamber on the first floor and laid her on a bed. Then stepping back. He shut the door and stood face to face with his vinegar tempered wife in the passage way outside. "You haven't brought home that safe bread." Miss Joe

he little girl, look for a guardian today. Why put it off till tomorrow? Go at once for the permit and get the whole thing off of your hands tonight. Miss Joe said with an impressiveness of tone that greatly subdued his husband. "When I read in the Bible, sometimes and find much said about little children. How the saviour rebute the disciples who would not receive them. How he took them up in his arms and blessed them and how he said that whosoever gave them even a cup of cool water should not go and unrewarded. Now it is a small thing for us to keep this poor, motherless little one for a single night to be kind to her for a single night to make your life comfortable for a single knight." Said Mr Joe. The voice of the strong rough man shooked. Miss Joe turned her head away so that the moisture in his eyes might not be seen. Mrs Thompson did no