his rule--for he was a carpenter--he had been making a
calculation, drawing the figures in the little puddles of gin
upon the counter. He looked up and saw Mrs. Crowder herself
as gay as her daughters, with a cap and colored ribbons
flying off her head, and a pair of gold earrings almost
touching her plump shoulders. "A glass of gin, ma'am, is what
I was waiting for to-night, but I think I've paid the last
'_fools' pence_' I shall put down on this counter for many a
long day."

* * * * *

George Manly hastened home. His wife and his two little girls
were sitting at work. They were thin and pale, really for
want of food. The room looked very cheerless, and their fire
was so small that its warmth was scarcely felt; yet the
commonest observer must have been struck by the neatness and
cleanliness of the apartment and every thing about it.

"This is indeed a treat, girls, to have dear father home so
soon to-night," said Susan Manly, looking up at her husband
as he stood before the table, turning his eyes first upon one
and then upon another of the little party; then throwing
himself into a chair, and smiling, he said,

"Well, children, a'n't you glad to see me? May not those busy
little fingers stop a moment, just while you jump up and
throw your arms about your father's neck, and kiss him?"

"O yes, we have time for that," said one of the girls, as
they both sprang up to kiss their father.

"But we have no time to lose, dear father," said Sally,
pressing her cheek to his, and speaking in a kind of coaxing
whisper close to his ear, "for these shirts are the last of
the dozen we have been making for Mr. Farley, in the
Corn-market."

"And as no work can be done to-morrow," added Betsy gravely,
who stood with her little hand in her father's, "we are all
working as hard as we can; for mother has promised to take
them home on Monday afternoon."

"Either your eyes are very weak to-night, dear wife," said
George, "or you have been crying. I'm afraid you work too
hard by candlelight."

Susan smiled, and said, "_Working_ does not hurt my eyes,"
and as she spoke, she turned her head and beckoned with her
finger to her little boy.

"Why, John, what's this that I see?" said his father. "What,
you in the corner! Come out,