during these painful years his brave little wife by her garden
and her poultry materially helped to keep the family in food and to meet
in some degree the household expenses. She was her own servant except
that the Widow Martin came to her aid twice a week. Her skill with
needle and sewing machine and a certain creative genius which she
possessed enabled her to evolve from her husband's old clothes new
clothes for her boy, and from her own clothing, when not too utterly
worn, dresses for her two little girls. And throughout these years with
all their toil and anxiety she met each day with a spirit undaunted and
with a face that remained serene as far at least as her husband and her
children ever saw. Nor did she allow the whole weight of trials to taint
the sweetness of her spirit or to dim her faith in God. Devoted to her
husband, she refused to allow herself to criticise his business ability
or methods. The failure, which she could not but admit, was not his
fault; it was the fault of those debtors who declined to pay their just
dues.

In an hour of desperation she ventured to point out to her husband that
these farmers were extending their holdings and buying machinery with
notes that bore interest. "And besides, Michael," she said, "Lawrence
must go to High School next year. He will pass the Entrance examination
this summer, and he must go."

"He shall go," said her husband. "I am resolved to make a change in my
method of business. I shall go after these men. They shall no longer use
my money for their business and for their families while my business and
my family suffer. You need not look that way, I have made up my mind and
I shall begin at once."

Unfortunately the season was not suitable for collections. The farmers
were engrossed with their harvesting, and after that with the fall
ploughing, and later with the marketing of their grain. And as the weeks
passed Mr. Gwynne's indignant resolve that his customers should not do
business on his money gradually cooled down. The accounts were sent out
as usual, and with the usual disappointing result.

Meantime Mr. Gwynne's attention was diverted from his delinquent debtors
by an enterprise which to an unusual degree awakened his sympathy and
kindled his imagination. The Reverend Heber Harding, ever since his
unfortunate encounter with the travelling evangelist, was haunted with
the uneasy feeling that he and his church were not completely fulfilling
their function