him comfortable.'

"'Then why can't we get him some?' I inquired.

"'Aunt doesn't like us to go to the wood by ourselves; and Natilie is
engaged to-day,' replied Vea.

"'I'll tell you how we will manage it,' I replied, laughing. 'We will
ask uncle to go with us.'

"'But do you think he will go with us?' said Vea eagerly.

"'Oh yes, I think he will--I am sure of it, almost,' I said; 'because I
heard your aunt telling him she had some important letters to write,
and he said he would take a walk in the garden till she was done.'

"Uncle John was very kind, and consented to go with us; and not only so,
but took us to the best places, and while we filled our baskets sat
reading beside us. Then, when we had picked enough, he told us stories
while we rested; and we were very happy. Something he said about a boy
he once knew made Vea think of Patrick, for she exclaimed, quite
suddenly,--'Oh! do you know, sir, we have found Patrick out at last!
When he was lying at the cottage, there were so many poor people came to
ask for him, that even aunt became interested; and she made inquiries,
and we found that Patrick was in the habit of helping them in some way
or other. One old woman told us he actually drew all the stock of
drift-wood she has at her cottage, and piled it up there for her.'

"'But how did he manage to do it without you finding him out?' said
Uncle John.

"'Oh, he rose and went out very early in the morning,' replied Vea. 'The
servants were often complaining of the state of his boots; so, in case
they would find him out, he used to leave them in the garden and go
without his stockings. And do you know, sir, he was telling me such a
sad story about that poor woman, and the reason why he helped her. She
has lost her husband and three sons; and then her only child, a little
girl, was drowned one day looking for drift-wood on the sea-shore.'

[Illustration: GATHERING WILD FLOWERS.]

"'That will be Widow Martin then, I suppose!' said my uncle. 'Her story
was indeed a sad one.--I am very glad to hear such good accounts of my
young friend Patrick.'

"'And I am glad about it too, sir,' said Vea. 'Aunt Mary will be so
pleased; but do you know, I am afraid Alfred has been the bad boy all
the time, for since Patrick has been ill he is never done falling into
disgrace. Aunt was seriously angry with him; and I overheard Patrick
saying, "You see, Alfred, I often told you, you would be found out in
the end; I couldn't a