Mother Meg

Blunt began

hem with new eyes-eyes that had been lightened by a ray from above. She scarcely knew it, and yet, instead of gloomy h

would soon be home now. They must not find home more d

ow different it looked even with that little bit of care! Next, deciding that she should just have time to clean the hearth, she set about

ther word was already hovering there-Pattie's new word, "Jes

y? we're awful

yer, while I turn round a bit. It 'ull come all the soone

ook the little ones under his charge on the doorstep, while the

been out to tea, Kittie, and I've heard words as has made me

, but she recognized that the tone was different, and concluding that her mot

ed to the bread, and though the tea was nearly as colourless as it was t

e was the fare, and as Kittie bustled about

e hard for us, and about bein' so short of food and all

l, pausing on her way to the cup

worritin' all our days, but likes us best to ask Him to 'elp us bear our troubles; and she says as He lightens hers and He will mine. Well, if that's true, I'd like t

d said all this, and Kittie's watered in sympathy

me treacle! That's 'cause the porridge cost less nor the bread would ha' done. We saved a penny or

went to the door and began to call; but there was no need. Ji

dren went into different corners, or wherever they could be quietest, to learn their home-lessons. Then mother quickly cleared away, and set the table straight for the father. A meagre meal for a working man. She felt it bitterly as she spread the few slices of brea

e 'em the bread," she thought. "F

on going to open it, she found old Mrs. Seymo

' as your husband had been with us this aftern

ve cried, she thought. At last she said, "

e yours, and so I've brought this bloater if you'll excuse it,

Mrs. Blun

and tell him to ask no questions about it, but

word, and when she turned to the fire with her t

ere coursing each other dow

ome dry bread, what was his astonishment to be greeted by an unu

rned round

n't come out of our to-morrer's breakfast neither, so don't you think it; and I

rst at the nice supper provided for

where she quickly undressed them and put them to bed. When she returned again, the other

to look in her face, as if to see if there were a change there. But he saw n

'ull get to that mending. Jim's wearin'

how," said Kittie,

od girl and do yer best. You've been ta

s she fumbled in her pocket for her thimble; "

rning can leave sooner. I've telled you that a hund

nswered Kittie, "the less

"perhaps the Lord can help you in your troubles as well as m

uld have been so lightened could she have left school, made the subject return again and again to worry her. Ina

he corner of her mother's room, behind the screen of a large towel-horse, which

said, "perhaps the Lord would hel

ing as that? And who was this "

, and if this had anything to do with this "Lord," of whom her mother seem

he street, and she watched through the open door her mother helping them to their rough little b

and the sharp rap of her scissors on the bare table were the only sounds inside the room. Outside the noisy roar went on as usual

een a thinkin' there must be something in th

ugh," he

k up over old Mrs. Seymour's ironing-board.

you'd a deal better ask

oughts, and pursued, without noti

akes 'em different, I'd

ine notions. Ye've enough to do to mind u

been put to," his wife wen

persistency, but he remembered the brightened room this evening, the abse

and began searching on the top shelf

ch she had been standing, and Kittie could

e. "I knew as 'twas somewheres. Supposin'

h new notions, keep 'em to yerself. I'm goin'

when the door banged behind him

inking so, when, after turning over a good many pages, her mother began to read out in a su

t Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him

means Jesus! I didn't know that. And people is asking Him to do something for 'em, and He seems qu

he palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus

e must get that book and see what more it said. At any rate of this she was certain, that the Lord Jesus answered to both those applicants, "I will." He did not say "no" to either, and if s

o her all the time, and that His ear was