Thankful Rest

h beat the poor flowers to the earth, spoiled the fruit, and overflowed the river till half the meadow lay under water. There was plenty of work in t

nd awkward, and her work was very badly done indeed. At three o'clock Aunt Hepsy sent her to wash her face, and gave her a long side of a sheet to hem. So Lucy was sitting on the settle, with a very grave and sorrowful-looking face, when Tom came in at four. His uncle had no need of him just then, and had sent him to the house to be out of the way. Keziah

ked Tom at length. "How sober you

." Miss Hepsy entered at that moment, fortunately without having heard Lucy's patient speech. "Don't lean your wet, dirt

ely sat up l

e doin'?" was he

wheels," answered To

wn opposite Lucy. "It's a pity boys ain't learned to sew and knit," she said grimly.

k you, Au

e panes, were the only sounds to be heard in the house. Tom drew a half-sheet of paper and a pencil from his pocket, laid it on the table, and kept his attention there for a few minutes. Lucy ventured to c

, Lucy?" Lucy looked distr

your pocket, Tom?" she said, tur

er, aunt,

o' paper, nor go stuffin' em into

t, Aunt Hepsy,

d," was her dry re

psy, and you wouldn

t?" she said angrily. "I'll let you feel th

. I won't let you see

he flung her knitting on the rug and s

I wish I'd made it uglier," cried he an

ded from her face and was replaced by a kind of purple hue. She lifted her hand and brought it with full force on Tom's cheek. He sprang to his feet quivering with rage, and pain, and humiliation. Hi

e you, and I wish I'd died before I came to this horrid place. It's worse than being a begg

her out to the yard. "Ye'll be cool, I guess, afore I let

ce hidden and her work lyin

in't growin' up to be hanged, my name ain't Hepsy Strong

ollowed, only one person could help him, and that was Mr. Goldthwaite. There had been many quiet talks with him since the first Sunday evening, and his lessons had sunk deep into the boy's heart, and he had indeed been earnestly trying to make the best of the life and work which had no interest nor sweetness for him. As he sped through the long, wet grass, heedle

claimed when she opened the door. "What is

s only me; I want to

ss Goldthwaite, more amazed than ever. "Come in and get dried

pulling him into the lobby and closing the door. Then she made him come to the kitchen and remove his boots and jacket. "I have not a coat to fit, so you'll need to sit in a shawl," laughed she; and the sound was so infectious that, miserable though he was, Tom laughed

ith Aunt Hepsy this afte

it," answered she very gr

eet eyes on the boy's downcast, sorrowful face. "I am not going to lecture you, Tom," s

ttle proudly. "I am not a

persecutors, when he could so easily have smitten them all to death if he had

or anything or anybody, except to get it out somehow. I was keeping so straight, too; I hadn

hink? Our life, you know, is nothing but falling and rising again, and will be till we reach the land

different. I shall never be able to get on with them though I live a hundred years. And O Miss Goldthwaite,

Miss Carrie hopefully. "You will prize it all the more because of this sharp disci

," said Tom with a new great

tongue of yours. And I hope it will be a long time before its master loses hold of the bridle again." She went with him to the kitchen and helped him to dress, and then opened the door for him. "Now, Tom, you are to go home and tell your aunt

not mind; he was wondering how to frame his apo

d twice, and was answered at last by Aunt Hepsy, who looked visibly relieved. Feeling

you I'm sorry I drew the picture and spoke to you as I did

home again; ye've gev Lucy a fever almost. See an' don't do it again, th