ng, but there are three
little ones. Oh, good Lord, don't ever let me hear the children cry
for bread!"

As Grannie whispered these words out into the darkness, she laid her
left hand tenderly on the flaxen head of her youngest grandchild. Her
hand stroked down the smooth, round head; the child stirred in her
dreams, murmured "Grannie," and turned over on her other side. She was
very well, and very happy--as plump as a little button--a bonny,
bright-eyed creature. Grannie used to adore her stout legs.

"Kitty have always been so well fed," she used to say; "that's the
secret--there's nothink like it--nothink."

And she had held the fat baby, and by and by the fat little girl, up
admiringly for less fortunate neighbors to criticise.

Now the fiat had fallen; the bread-winner could no longer earn the
family meal, and Kitty and the others would have to do without their
bread and butter.

"It is true, and it must be faced," thought the old woman. "The p'int
to be considered now is, how is it to be faced? Wot's the best way?"

Grannie thought matters over very carefully. Before the morning she
had marked out a line of action for herself. Christmas Day should come
and go before any of the dark shadow which filled her own breast should
descend upon the younger members of the household. David and Alison
knew about it, or at least they partly knew, although it was impossible
for them to quite realize the extent of the disaster. It was arranged,
too, that Harry was to leave school, so he also must partly guess that
something was up; but the little ones had never known sorrow yet, and
Grannie resolved that they should have a perfect Christmas Day.
Afterward, if Alison would only consent to marry Jim, half the family
would be provided for. For Grannie, although she was proud, had no
false pride, and she felt that a man who was earning such magnificent
wages as two pounds a week might undertake the care, at any rate for a
time, of two little children. But even granted that Alison and the two
youngest were off her hands, there were still David, Harry, and Annie
to provide for. Grannie could not see her way plain with regard to
these three members of the family. She resolved to ask the advice of
an old clergyman of the name of Williams, who had often before given
her valuable counsel. Mr. Williams was most kind; he was full of
resources; he took a great interest in the poor; he had known Grannie
for close on twen