and I have a mother;
even if she doesn't care for me as other girls' mothers do for them,
it's better than no one."

The Bird Woman's glance fell, for the girl was not conscious of how much
she was revealing. Her eyes were fixed on a black pitcher filled
with goldenrod in the centre of the table and she was saying what she
thought.

"As long as I could go to the Brushwood school I was happy, but I
couldn't go further just when things were the most interesting, so I was
determined I'd come to high school and mother wouldn't consent. You see
there's plenty of land, but father was drowned when I was a baby, and
mother and I can't make money as men do. The taxes are higher every
year, and she said it was too expensive. I wouldn't give her any rest,
until at last she bought me this dress, and these shoes and I came. It
was awful!"

"Do you live in that beautiful cabin at the northwest end of the swamp?"
asked the Bird Woman.

"Yes," said Elnora.

"I remember the place and a story about it, now. You entered the high
school yesterday?"

"Yes."

"It was rather bad?"

"Rather bad!" echoed Elnora.

The Bird Woman laughed.

"You can't tell me anything about that," she said. "I once entered a
city school straight from the country. My dress was brown calico, and my
shoes were heavy."

The tears began to roll down Elnora's cheeks.

"Did they----?" she faltered.

"They did!" said the Bird Woman. "All of it. I am sure they did not miss
one least little thing."

Then she wiped away some tears that began coursing her cheeks, and
laughed at the same time.

"Where are they now?" asked Elnora suddenly.

"They are widely scattered, but none of them have attained heights out
of range. Some of the rich are poor, and some of the poor are rich. Some
of the brightest died insane, and some of the dullest worked out
high positions; some of the very worst to bear have gone out, and I
frequently hear from others. Now I am here, able to remember it, and
mingle laughter with what used to be all tears; for every day I have my
beautiful work, and almost every day God sends some one like you to help
me. What is your name, my girl?"

"Elnora Comstock," answered Elnora. "Yesterday on the board it changed
to Cornstock, and for a minute I thought I'd die, but I can laugh over
that already."

The Bird Woman arose and kissed her. "Finish your lunch," she said, "and
I will bring my price lists, and make a memorandum of what you think y