nt; there's a good lad. I shall have
hard work, I fear, to take myself home, let alone the cart."

"Never trouble about that," said Jacob, cheerily. "I'll wheel your cart
home, if you can walk on slowly and show me the road."

"Bless you, lad; that'll be gradely help--`a friend in need's a friend
indeed.' If you'll stick to the handles, I'll make shift to hobble on
by your side. I'm better now."

They turned down a by-street; and after a slow walk of about a quarter
of a mile--for the old man was still in considerable pain, and was much
shaken--they arrived at a low but not untidy-looking cottage, with a
little outbuilding by its side.

"Here we are," said the knife-grinder. "Now come in, my lad. You shall
have your tea, and we'll have a chat together arterwards."

Old Crow pulled a key out of his pocket, and opened the house door. The
fire was burning all right, and was soon made to burst into a cheerful
blaze. Then the old man hobbled round to the shed, and unbolting it
from the inside, bade Jacob wheel in the cart. This done, they returned
into the kitchen.

"Sit ye down, my lad," said the knife-grinder. "Deborah'll be back
directly; the mills is just loosed."

"Is Deborah your daughter?" asked Jacob.

The old man shook his head sorrowfully.

"No; I've never a one belonging me now."

"That's much same with myself," said Jacob. "I've none as belongs me;
leastways I cannot find 'em."

"Indeed!" exclaimed the other. "Well, we'll talk more about that just
now. Deborah, ye see, is widow Cartwright's wench; and a good wench she
is too, as e'er clapped clog on a foot. She comes in each morn, and
sees as fire's all right, and fills kettle for my breakfast. Then at
noon she comes in again to see as all's right. And after mill's loosed,
she just looks in and sets all straight. And then, afore she goes to
bed, she comes in, and stretches all up gradely."

"And are you quite alone now?"

"Quite. But I've a better Friend as never leaves me nor forsakes me--
the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope, my lad, you know summat about him."

"Yes; thank the Lord, I do," replied Jacob. "I learned to love him when
I was far away in Australia."

"In Australia!" cried the old man. "Deborah'll be glad to hear what you
have to say about Australia, for she's a brother there. And how long
have you been come back from yon foreign land?"

"Not so very long; but I almost wish as I'd never been."

"And why not?"

"