overcoat and his new
boots--a New-Year's present.

The grandmother tied up a pair of shoes and a few socks in a little
bundle. When she handed it to David, he burst into tears. He felt that
he was really going from his dearest friend. She wept aloud for a few
minutes, but when she saw how much it affected him, she wiped away her
tears, and attempted to cheer him. He summoned his resolution and
became once more calm.

Mrs. B---- took him by the hand, and led him down stairs. As he left
the room, I gave mine to his grandmother, who uplifted it in both
her's, as if pleading, in silent agony, for strength to bear this new
trial. I shall never forget the expression of that wrinkled, up-turned
face. Dear old grandmother! Who will comfort her now? David will not
forget her, but he cannot put his arms around her neck, nor cheer her
with the sunlight of his bright face. She is alone--none of her
kindred near. The lady who took charge of David will do what she can
for her, but her heart must yearn for the dear boy that poverty and
age compelled her to give to the fostering care of strangers.

When David reached the street, the tears were tracing their way over
his round, plump cheek, but soon a smile played around his mouth. Mrs.
B---- took him into a toy-shop, and purchased for him a tin horse
suspended in a wheel, which he could roll about the room. He selected
this himself, and it was delightful to see with how much pleasure he
looked at it, as he carried it in his hand.

We concluded to make no more calls that day, but to take David
directly to Mrs. B----'s. When his coat and cap were taken off, he
began to roll the horse across the floor. Sometimes he would come and
stand by my side, and examine it closely. I said to him--

"Have you ever been in the country?"

"Oh, yes. I was there a month, when we buried mother."

"Where were you?"

"We were with Elek, grandma's son."

"Why doesn't your grandmother live with him?"

"He isn't kind to her."

"Was his wife kind?"

"No; she said she wouldn't live with him if grandma did."

"What did you see in the country?"

"I saw the fields, and the trees, and horses, and cows."

"Did Elek have a cow?"

"Yes; and she went away every day, and at night she came home, and
they milked her."

"Did you see any birds?"

"I saw birds no bigger than that," said he, putting his hand over his
horse so as to hide more than half of it, "and they sang all the time.
And there were