, where she bought a cheap, but soft woolen shawl, of
a brilliant scarlet yellow, and black palm-leaf pattern, and a pair of
long yarn stockings; then gathering her bundles close together on her
arm, she hurried away to overtake the wood. When the carter came to
Biddle Street, he stopped his horse, and declared "he would not go a
step further with such a small load unless she paid him something
extra; he had come a mile already."

"You have not much further to go," plead May.

"I won't go another step," he said, with an oath.

"And I will not submit to extortion," said May, speaking gently, but
firmly, while she fixed her calm, bright eyes on his. "I know the
number of your cart, and informed myself at the office of the charges
you are authorized to make, and if you do not proceed, I will complain
of you."

Intimidated by her resolute manner, the baffled driver muttered and
swore, while he applied the whip to his horse's flanks, and pursued the
route indicated by May until they came to the very verge of the city
limits, where grand old oaks still waved their broad limbs in primeval
vigor over sloping hills and picturesque declivities. Near a rustic
bridge, which spanned a frozen stream, stood a few scattered huts, or
cottages, towards the poorest of which she directed her footsteps.
Standing on one of the broken flags, which formed a rude sort of
pathway to the door, she waited until the wood was emptied near by, and
paying the man, requested the sawyer to commence sawing it forthwith;
then lifting the latch softly, she entered the humble tenement. It
contained one small room, poorly furnished, and with but few comforts.
An old negro woman sat shivering over a few coals on the hearth, trying
in vain to warm her half-frozen extremities.

"Why, Aunt Mabel, have you no fire?" said May, going close to her, and
laying her hand on her shoulder.

"Oh, Miss May! Lord bless you, honey! You come in like a sperrit.
No, indeed, honey; I ain't had none to speak on these two days."

"And your feet are almost frozen," said May, with a pitying glance.

"They's mighty cold, misses; but sit down, and let me look at you; it
will warm me up," said the old woman, trying to smile.

"Let me put these on your poor old feet first," said May, kneeling
down, and drawing off the tattered shoes from her feet, while she
chafed them briskly with her hands; then slipped the soft warm
stockings and slippers on them, ere the old creature