seems so ungrateful!" Nora sobbed. "Such a poor return for the
life you have given me! I have tried to forget. I can't tell what is
right for me to do. I'm sorry I said anything."

"No, Nora," said Miss Barnes promptly. "You should tell me all your
wishes and feelings. If they are wrong, I can help you outgrow them;
if right"--she hesitated--"why, I must help you."

Nora fell on her knees with the most impulsive movement Miss Barnes,
had ever seen.

"Oh, I do believe you are an angel!"

"Far from it, Nora," said Miss Barnes smiling, "but I've set out to
make you happy, and if I find whims and notions in your head, I
suppose I'll have to follow them out. But seriously, dear child, I
must say I have had a little uneasy feeling of responsibility in my
heart ever since I've had you. And there's nothing to hinder my being
as odd as I please, and now let me hear your plans."

"I have no plans. I have only longings to do something for them."

Well; plans grew fast as they always do when planners are anxious to
do something. Long into the night they talked, and the very next day
the work began. Nora captured a poor little girl who came to beg, and
took her in to Miss Barnes, in spite of the horror of the servants.
They found she had no parents, and decided to take her, and Nora went
on to make her decent, with more pleasure than she had ever known.

So it went on; before the end of a month, Miss Barnes found herself
more interested than she had been in anything. And Nora grew bright
and happy as the months rolled by, and one after another wretched girl
was gathered out of the streets and brought to a home.

As soon as one girl was trained and fitted to take a place in some
one's kitchen, or sewing-room, or nursery, a dozen places opened to
her. By telling a little of her story, Miss Barnes interested her new
mistress in the girl, who was thus started out in a useful,
independent life.

This institution, though it never had a name, grew and flourished, and
Nora still lives in the Barnes Home, manages the Barnes income, and
"lends a hand" wherever needed.

* * * * *

"And that's the story of how the Barnes Home came to be," said Mrs.
Wilson, in ending.

"And was that nice lady that you went to see about a maid," cried
Kristy eagerly, turning to her mother, "was she Nora?"

"Yes," said her mother, "she was Nora."

"That was fine!" said Kristy. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Wilson."

"T