minutes. When he returned he found Katy trying
to make the teakettle boil, but with very poor success.

"Now, Katy, show me the logs, and I will soon have a fire."

The lame girl conducted him to the cellar, where Harry found the
remnants of the old box which Katy had tried to split. Seizing the
axe, he struck a few vigorous blows, and the pine boards were reduced
to a proper shape for use. Taking an armful, he returned to the
chamber; and soon a good fire was blazing under the teakettle.

"There, marm, we will soon have things to rights," said Harry, as he
rose from the hearth, where he had stooped down to blow the fire.

"I am sure we should have perished if you had not come," added Mrs.
Flint, who was not disposed to undervalue Harry's good deeds.

"Then I am very glad I came."

"I hope we shall be able to pay you back all the money you have spent;
but I don't know. Joseph has got so bad, I don't know what he is
coming to. He is a good-hearted man. He always uses me well, even when
he is in liquor. Nothing but drink could make him neglect us so."

"It is a hard case, marm," added Harry.

"Very hard; he hasn't done much of anything for us this winter. I have
been out to work every day till a fortnight ago, when I got sick and
couldn't do anything. Katy has kept us alive since then; she is a good
girl, and takes the whole care of Tommy and Susan."

"Poor girl! It is a pity she is so lame."

"I don't mind that, if I only had things to do with," said Katy, who
was busy disposing of the provisions which Harry had bought.

As soon as the kettle boiled, she made tea, and prepared a little
toast for her mother, who, however, was too sick to take much
nourishment.

"Now, Katy, you must eat yourself," interposed Harry, when all was
ready.

"I can't eat," replied the poor girl, bursting into tears. "I don't
feel hungry."

"You must eat."

Just then the children in the trundle bed, disturbed by the unusual
bustle in the room, waked, and gazed with wonder at Harry, who had
seated himself on the bed.

"Poor Susy!" exclaimed Katy; "she has waked up. And Tommy, too! They
shall have their supper, now."

They were taken up; and Harry's eyes were gladdened by such a sight as
he had never beheld before. The hungry ate; and every mouthful they
took swelled the heart of the little almoner of God's bounty. If the
thought of Julia Bryant, languishing on a bed of sickness, had not
marred his satisfaction, he had been pe