,--or would if he wam't as good-natured as the
day's long. But there aint one too many, after all said and done, for
I've got nothing else,--so if it warn't for them I should be poorly
off." With which reverse statement of the case, Mrs. Ling complacently
smoothed down four or five heads, and tied as many aprons.

"Ma," said little Mary, "will Mr. Linden sing for us to-day?"

"I dare say--if you ask him pretty," said her mother. "No, I guess he's
busy and won't be bothered."

"He never _is_ bothered," said Mary persistently, while two or three of
the others recovering from their apples and shyness, ventured up to
Faith again and began to stroke her furs.

"What does he sing for you, Jenny?" said Faith, taking the little
picture-book girl on her lap, and glad to put her own face down in a
somewhat sheltered position.

"O he sings hymns--" said Jenny, gazing abstractedly at the lion and
the cat by turns,--"and other things too, sometimes."

"Hymns are very interesting. And beautiful--don't you think so?" said
Mary drawing nearer.

"Yes, indeed I do," said Faith stretching out her hand and pulling the
little girl up to her. "What ones do you like best, Mary?"

But Mary's answer stayed, for Mr. Linden came back at that moment, and
skilfully making his way up to Faith without running over any of the
little throng, he told her he was ready. And Faith, though secretly
wishing for the song as much as any of the children, set Jenny on the
floor and rose up; while Mr. Linden laughingly shewed her "an excellent
way of investing ten cents," by giving the children each one. Meanwhile
Mrs. Ling had been emptying the basket. There was the cold turkey in
the full splendour of its rich brown coat--a good large turkey too; but
lest there should not be enough of it to go round to so many mouths,
Mrs. Derrick and Faith had added a nice piece, ready boiled, of salt
pork. Then there were potatoes, and some of Faith's bread,--and a paper
of tea and another of sugar; and there was arrowroot, made and unmade,
for the sick woman, with some broth jelly. It was one of those houses
where a good deal was wanted, and the supply had been generous in
proportion. Mrs. Ling was at her wits' end to dispose of it all; and
the children watched her in a gale of excitement, till the last thing
was carried off, and Mrs. Ling began to shake out the napkins and fold
them up. But then they came round Mr. Linden with their petition,
urging it with such hu