oor. I used to send her half of anything nice I
had, but I found they took it. I did wish then," he added, with a
sudden flush, "that I had been a strong man!"

"How shocking!" I said.

"Yes," he answered; "it was that first set me thinking how many
mercies I had. And then there came such a good parson to St. John's,
and he taught me many things; and then I knew your father; and the
neighbours have been very kind. And while I could work I got good
wage, and laid by a bit; and I've sold a few things, and there'll be
these to sell when I'm gone; and so I've got what will keep me while
I do live, and pay for my coffin. What can a man want more?"

What, indeed! Unsatisfied heart, make answer!

A fit of coughing that shook the crazy room interrupted him here. When
he had recovered himself, he turned to my father.

"Ay, ay, I have many mercies, as you know, Sir. Who would have thought
I could have kept a bit of green like that plant of mine in a place
like this? But, you see, they pulled down those old houses opposite
just before I got it, and now the sun couldn't come into a king's room
better than it comes into mine. I was always afraid, year after year,
that they would build it up, and my bit of green would die; and they
are building now, but it will last my time. Indeed, indeed, I've had
much to be thankful for. Not," he added, in a low, reverential tone,
"not to mention greater blessings. The presence of the LORD!
the presence of the LORD!"

I was awed, almost frightened, by the tone in which he spoke, and by
the look of his face, on which the shadow of death was falling fast.
He lay in a sort of stupor, gazing with his black eyes at the broken
roof, as if through it he saw something invisible to us.

It was some time before he seemed to recollect that we were there, and
before I ventured to ask him. "Where did you get your plant?"

He smiled. "That's a long story, master; but it was this way. You see,
my father died quite young in a decline, and left my mother to
struggle on with eight of us as she could. She buried six, one after
another; and then she died herself, and brother Ben and I were left
alone. But we were mighty fond of one another, and got on very well. I
got plenty of employment, weaving mats and baskets for a shop in the
town, and Ben worked at the factory. One Saturday night he came home
all in a state, and said there was going to be a cheap trip on the
Monday into the country. It was the first t