ds keeping up his hopes and strengthening
his resolutions. She knew more than most children of the various ways,
in which she sometimes made valuable suggestions to Willie, of which he
gladly availed himself. Among others, she one day asked him if he had
applied at the agency offices. He had never thought of it--wondered he
had not, but would try. He did so, and for a time was buoyed up with
hopes held out to him; but they proved fleeting, and he was now almost
in despair, when his eye fell upon an advertisement in a newspaper,
which seemed to afford another chance. He showed it to Gerty. It was
just the thing.

Gerty was so sanguine, that Willie presented himself the next day at the
place specified with a more eager countenance than he had ever yet worn.
The gentleman talked with him some time; asked a great many questions,
hinted his doubts about his capability, and finally declared he was not
eligible. He returned with such a heavy heart that he could not meet his
mother, and so he went to True's room. It was the night before
Christmas. True had gone out, and Gerty was alone. She was preparing a
cake for tea--one of the few branches of the cooking department in which
she had acquired some skill. She was just coming from the pantry, with a
scoop-full of meal in her hand, when Willie entered. He tossed his cap
upon the settle, and leaned his head upon his hands, and this betrayed
the defeat the poor boy had met with. It was so unlike Willie to come in
without speaking--it was such a strange thing to see his bright young
head bowed down with care, and his elastic figure looking tired and old,
that Gerty knew at once his brave heart had given way. She laid down the
scoop, and walking up to him, touched his arm with her hand, and looked
up anxiously into his face. Her sympathetic look was more than he could
bear. He laid his head on the table, and in a minute more Gerty heard
great heavy sobs, each one of which sank deep into her soul. She often
cried herself--it seemed only natural; but Willie--the laughing, happy,
light-hearted Willie--she had never seen _him_ cry; she didn't know he
_could_. She crept up on the rounds of his chair, and putting her arm
round his neck, whispered, "I shouldn't mind, Willie, if I didn't get
the place; I don't believe it's a _good_ place."

"I don't believe it is, either," said Willie, lifting up his head; "but
what shall I do? I can't get any place, and I can't stay here doing
nothing."