p him company, and his aunt
prepared to clear away the supper dishes.

She had scarcely commenced upon this when a knock was heard at
the door. The visitor proved to be old Mrs. Perkins, a great-aunt
of James Watson, who was an inveterate gossip. Her great delight
was to carry news from one house to another.

"How do you do, Mrs. Bradford?" she began. "I was just passin' by,
and thought I'd come in a minute."

"I am very glad to see you, Mrs. Perkins. Won't you have a cup of
tea?"

"No thank you. The fact is, I've just took tea at my nephew
Watson's. There I heard the news, and I couldn't help comin' right
round and sympathizin' with you."

"Sympathizing with me! What for?" asked Mrs. Bradford, amazed.
On general principles, she felt that she stood in need of sympathy,
but her visitor's tone seemed to hint at something in particular.

"It ain't possible you haven't heard the news?" ejaculated Mrs.
Perkins, feeling that she was indeed in luck, to have it in her
power to communicate such important intelligence to one who had
not heard of it.

"I hope it isn't anything about Ben," said Mrs. Bradford alarmed.

"Yes, I may say it is something about Benjamin," answered Mrs.
Perkins, nodding in a tantalizing manner.

"He hasn't got into any scrape, has he? He hasn't done anything
wrong, has he?" asked Aunt Jane startled.

"No, poor child!" sighed the old lady. "That's the wust on't. It
ain't what he has done; it's because he won't have anything to do."

"For mercy's sakes, tell me what you mean, Mrs. Perkins."

"Hasn't Benjamin told you that he's lost his place at the factory?"

"Is this true, Mrs. Perkins?" asked Mrs. Bradford, turning pale.

"Yes, business is dull and fifty men and boys have been turned off.
James Watson and your Benjamin are among them."

"Ben never told me anything about it," faltered Mrs. Bradford.
"Heaven only knows what we shall do."

"Oh, I guess you'll get along someway," said Mrs. Perkins,
complacently. She was not herself affected, having sufficient
property to live upon. "Well, I must be going," said the old lady,
anxious to reach the next neighbor, and report how poor Mrs.
Bradford took it. "Don't you be too much worried. The Lord
will provide."

"I am afraid we shall all starve," thought Mrs. Bradford mournfully.

She opened the shed door, and said: "Ben, is it true that you've
lost your place at the mill?"

"Yes, aunt," answered Ben. "Who told you?"

"Ol