ars came
slowly into her eyes, mournful tears, and rolled down her cheeks
hopelessly. Whatever was to become now of her little family? Her
father, she feared, was entering upon a serious illness, which might
last no one knew how long. Who would nurse him? and if Dolly did, who
would do the work of the household? and if her father was laid by for
any considerable time, whence were needful supplies to come from?
Dolly's little stock would not last for ever. And how would her mother
stand the strain and the care and the fatigue? It seemed to Dolly as
she stood there at the door, that her sky was closing in and the ground
giving way beneath her feet. Usually she kept up her courage bravely;
just now it failed.

"Dolly," her mother's voice came smothered from over the balusters of
the upper hall.

"Yes, mother?"

"Send Nelly for the doctor as soon as you can."

"Yes, mother. As soon as it is light enough."

The doctor! that was another thought. Then there would be the doctor's
bill. But at this point Dolly caught herself up. "_Take no thought for
the morrow_"--what did that mean? "_Be careful for nothing;_ but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known unto God." And, "Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ?" The words loosed the bands which seemed to have bound
Dolly's heart in iron; she broke down, fell down on her knees in the
porch, resting her head on the seat, and burst into a thunder-shower of
weeping, which greatly cleared the air and relieved the oppression
under which she had been labouring. This was nearly as uncommon a thing
for Dolly as her former hopeless mood; she rose up feeling shaken, and
yet strengthened. Ready for duty.

She went into the little sitting-room, set open the casement, and put
the furniture in order, dusting and arranging. Leaving that all right,
Dolly went down to the kitchen and made the fire. She was thinking what
she should do for breakfast, when her little handmaid made her
appearance. Dolly gave her some bread and butter and cold coffee, and
sent her off to the village with a note to the doctor which she had
meanwhile prepared. Left to herself then, she put on her kettle, and
looked at the untouched pieces of beefsteak she had cooked last night.
She knew what to do with them, thanks to Mrs. Jersey. The next thing
was to go out into the dewy garden and get a handful of different herbs
and vegetables growing there; and what