ases, then?" she said.

"I do, ma'am, plaise your honor," replied the pedlar.

"Stop a moment, then," she replied. "I have some superfluous articles of
dress that I may dispose of."

The whole mother rushed into her heart at the thought; the tender and
loving wife forgot everything but the means of obtaining food for
her husband and children. She went to her dressing-room, and in a few
minutes returned, accompanied by Lilly Stewart, her own servant-maid
previous to ker marriage, to whom their recent distresses had been
no secret, and who was deeply and deservedly in the confidence of the
family.

Whilst she was, absent in her dressing-room the pedlar resumed his song,
as was his custom when alone--a circumstance which caused Mrs. Temple
to remark, as she and Lilly went down to, the parlor--"Alas! dear Lilly,
what a mistaken estimate does one portion of mankind form of another.
This poor pedlar now envies us the happiness of rank and wealth which
we do not feel, and I--yes, even I--what would I not give to be able to
carol so light-hearted a song as that which he is singing! Who is this
man, Lilly, do you know him?"

"Why, ma'am, if all they say is true, every one knows him, and nobody
knows him. He's known as the _Cannie Soogah_, or jolly pedlar. They
say, that although he prefers this kind of life, he's very wealthy.
One person will tell you that he's a great rogue, and would cheat
Satan himself, and others say he's generous and charitable. In other
respects," continued. Lilly, blushing, "he's not very well spoken of,
but it may be false. I have always found him myself very civil; and them
that spoke harshly of him were people that he kept at a distance."

The pedlar ceased his song as soon as they made their appearance in
the parlor, into which Lilly admitted him for the sake of mutual
convenience.

"Here's a shawl--a beautiful shawl, Mr. ---- what's this your name is?"

"The name that I have for set days and bonfire nights," he replied, "is
one I seldom tell," and at the same time there was a dry air of surprise
about him on hearing her ask the question; "but the name I am generally
known by is the _Cannie Soogah_, which manes, ma'am," he added,
addressing himself in a respectful manner to Mrs. Temple, "the jolly
merchant or pedlar."

"Well, Cannie," said Lilly, pronouncing the word with more familiarity
than could have been expected from their apparent unaquaintance with
each other, "here's a beautiful sh