after their shillings, and their
wives and daughters have less to spend. It was besides a wet autumn, and
bread rose greatly in price. When I add to this that Diamond's mother
was but poorly, for a new baby was coming, you will see that these were
not very jolly times for our friends in the mews.

Notwithstanding the depressing influences around him, Joseph was able to
keep a little hope alive in his heart; and when he came home at night,
would get Diamond to read to him, and would also make Nanny produce her
book that he might see how she was getting on. For Diamond had taken her
education in hand, and as she was a clever child, she was very soon able
to put letters and words together.

Thus the three months passed away, but Mr. Raymond did not return.
Joseph had been looking anxiously for him, chiefly with the desire of
getting rid of Ruby--not that he was absolutely of no use to him, but
that he was a constant weight upon his mind. Indeed, as far as provision
went, he was rather worse off with Ruby and Nanny than he had been
before, but on the other hand, Nanny was a great help in the house, and
it was a comfort to him to think that when the new baby did come, Nanny
would be with his wife.

Of God's gifts a baby is of the greatest; therefore it is no wonder that
when this one came, she was as heartily welcomed by the little household
as if she had brought plenty with her. Of course she made a great
difference in the work to be done--far more difference than her size
warranted, but Nanny was no end of help, and Diamond was as much of a
sunbeam as ever, and began to sing to the new baby the first moment he
got her in his arms. But he did not sing the same songs to her that he
had sung to his brother, for, he said, she was a new baby and must have
new songs; and besides, she was a sister-baby and not a brother-baby,
and of course would not like the same kind of songs. Where the
difference in his songs lay, however, I do not pretend to be able to
point out. One thing I am sure of, that they not only had no small share
in the education of the little girl, but helped the whole family a great
deal more than they were aware.

How they managed to get through the long dreary expensive winter, I can
hardly say. Sometimes things were better, sometimes worse. But at last
the spring came, and the winter was over and gone, and that was much.
Still, Mr. Raymond did not return, and although the mother would have
been able to mana