ssociation of Fourth street church. "But," they added, "all this
and much more, would never have been but for our dear, faithful pastor,
the Rev. John Jay."

[Illustration: Decoration]

CHAPTER XIV.

"WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT."

GUY had lost his cheerfulness, his sisters thought. Certainly he had not
his old gayety of manner, and they anxiously inquired if he were sick.

"I am sure you must be," urged Ruth; "won't you see a doctor, Guy? Then
there is another thing, you read too much; indeed you will injure
yourself if you continue to study so."

But he only laughed at their fears, and continued to spend his evenings
at home over his books. Seeing that he did not seek other society, the
girls gave little entertainments; not costing much to be sure, not more
perhaps than some little things they needed, but now did without, so
that he might be surrounded by pleasant company, and acquire a taste
for the society of good people.

Now it never once occurred to Guy that his sisters were doing this for
him. He thought they must be becoming more fond of society, and it
pleased him very much, for he did not see why they should not shine in
the very highest circles. Before long he meant that they should. And now
when their friends came, he did his best to entertain them for their
sake, and they were overjoyed at his returns of brilliancy and wit.

Now that the winter had really set in, and promised to be severe, Ruth
recollected that Guy's overcoat had not been taken out of the cedar
chest, where it had been laid in Spring.

"It is no wonder he has not asked for it," she thought, as she looked at
the thread-bare sleeves, and noticed the rusty appearance of the whole
coat. Spreading it out, she looked at it, then sitting down thought of
what could be done. "Now there is hartshorn, that dissolved in water,
cleans cloth beautifully; but even if I did scour it, Guy could never
wear a thread-bare coat."

Then came the question: "How can he get another? I know if he could, he
would have had it by this time. I must have been thinking of myself and
my own clothes, or I should not have lost sight of this so long. I will
see how much money there is; at any rate if it should take every cent in
the house, Guy must have the coat."

For a long time Ruth sat in the cold room making plans; finally she
decided to have a talk with Agnes about it, because it would never do,
not to let her have a share in the pleasure of mak