A Letter of Credit

d for a few minutes' interview. He did not make it longer; but after a very brief conversation on

e. "They've got the second

ort of

ort, I guess. Religious. I mean the mother is. I recko

ay their ren

now; but it comes up to the day. I don't believe

aying is not only difficult but imposs

yers, won't pay honest wages for honest work. How is a woman to live, that can't get more than a third or

t eyes, while at the same time she bit off h

as that?" aske

int livin' no longer, then dyin' aint exactly dyin'. 'Taint the worst thing, anyhow; if it warnt for the folk l

receive a vi

more'n a year now, there aint a livin' soul as has called to ask after 'em. I g

ey will see me. I sh

down her work and

er head inside the door, "h

olour came into her face, a

rt of a missionary; they come round on

Rotha, her colour fading

ee you? He's a nic

Rotha. "I don't want

hurt you to see

curiosity grew and unwillingness abated. She asked the stranger in with tolerable civility. He was nice looking, she confessed to herself, and very nicely dressed! n

t," Rotha ann

e kinder of you t

king of kindnes

f what

icular. You do n

ardon. Everyb

ss from eve

d

ople can do

What sort

ple. Those that have a

at sort of people," sa

, did

ught I

ught I was o

lieve

n also in the other instances. Perhaps you were thi

," Rotha

money can bu

l composure; "but the people who have all that

mean by the '

id not

is one of them, as w

as stil

could afford to do

y enough," Rot

buy with money, th

"Yes, indeed! I would st

, and we would go away f

have somebody to do the

nd plenty of flowers, an

without

ends!-everybody in the village and in the country was a f

no friends he

N

ave stayed where, as you sa

ut we c

d stop your mother's working. Do

e were at least two sides to her character. "She is not strong at all, and she wants

ome work I was thinking to offer her. Or per

aid Rotha, "if we ca

shirts.

e cents a piece, if they

I like my work particularly done

or one shirt?"

Do you think your m

girl clapped her

ot a master tai

N

ere. I don't like them

myself as a friend,

darted into Rotha's mind. The visiter saw it in her fac

for mother to answ

o her. I put the

ou are talking of be

o bold a pr

t cannot

y n

for a friend. You do

posal was, that I shou

there were two sid

come to know me as well as I know you,

know me?" said

way of writing themselves somehow in their faces

ha said d

ey

don't k

? But do you like to hear the

now. I nev

before me a person who likes t

my own way, I should not be doing what I am d

the better of all circumstances; only o

kes to have his own way

n occasion your will is crossed, whether by persons

anyb

s you are apt to shew your displeas

tha wonderingly. "You cann

face opposite to her, to see if it too

u have never yet learned to care

body?" sa

t with yo

n, mother and I a

ot intim

ferent from her. It is not onl

u not a Chr

d manner might have a little to do with this; poor Rotha had rarely in her short life spoken to any one who had the polish of manner that belongs to good breeding and the habit of society; but that was not the whole. She felt the security and the grace with which ever

nted to be

ps people out of the kingdom of heaven. 'Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life,' the Lord said to

ot help that,

wly, "you cannot help that;

e a Christian, wh

that you do not want to do? Du

on is not o

N

love of God. How can I

bout that question it will not be difficult to find the an

rice. Mother does not want anything but the prop

d I shall give

not want

ve not been introduced to each other. You

Carpe

entleman, offering his hand. Roth

wly up the short flight of stairs, and sat down by her fireside

he new event, "somebody has been

arson? I shall have the thin

lor, nor any such horrid person.

akes yo

gentleman. He's a missionary. Do you know

in gen

ssionary, only he does no

is work in

e no heathen

are w

hat can b

ght and refuse it, than ne

ld be better not to send mi

ak, dear, and put them away; a

it is not t

I am tired

an is?" pursued Rotha, beginning now t

d some tea. How much

a week," said the girl, peering into t

said the mother. "I could hardly

who wants you to make shirts f

d afford to get tea then. Who was that, Rotha? and wh

made, and I told him that was the way you did everything

this p

city missionary. Hi

s. Carpenter. "I

ut you will be glad of

ad, and

roper price?" inquired

n uncomm

e him offer an

way of the world, so perhap

hristian,

es

always do the

know what the right thing is.

esides the cups and plates; but there was a loaf of bread, and Rotha made a s

ot like this. And I wish you had some Medwayville cream, mother. I

are a little of that he

with joy

to be taking some comfort. But her face was thin and worn, the hands were very thin; a perso

me my question? What do

t what Mrs. Marb

was very well dressed, but clothes

ainly

I mean exactly; but I should think, to look at him and hear him, that he knew everything and had seen al

rpenter

anybody before of w

old Medwayville did not. O they were kind and good as they could be, some of them; but mother, they could not make a bow to save their l

as stiff," said Mrs

the least; but mother

you, Rotha. Your descriptio

dle of shirts. He inquired now very kindly into Mrs. Carpenter's state of health, and offered to send his own physician to see her. But she refused; and the manner of her refusal persuaded Mr. Digby that she was aware of her own condit

sed, and Mr. D

st putting on the small tea kettle. Mr. Digby sat down and made kind inquiries. The answ

r appetite?

n the open air and stirring

strength for 's

t m

hout eating. Rotha, what time do

I put the kettle on

e connection, may I ask, betwe

aid Mrs. Carpenter smiling. "I c

rning and am-which I am sorry you are not

y, dear. But tea is not much to a hungry man," she went on; "and

ad and butter, I will see what I can get for my pa

he might take a fancy to do. She had seen him n

n as their visiter had gone

et something for

ike him t

wh

us di

e foolis

is doing what he c

u any ob

e; but for you and me- Mother, we ha

mother. "My child, wh

to us, mother; and I don

ss, what we ha

e had not muc

d you t

ut, Rotha, when he came t

siness to ask

you are u

want to be grat

anybody, my child, th

setting the table, rather in dudgeon. "W

become of you in this w

t sp

I shou

ide a goo

, or you either," Mrs. Ca

t think you hav

of the devil. And you are mistaken in thinking there is anything

er way; but she looked dissatisfied. Presently

aid softly, "and a boy with hi

me in, followed by a boy with a basket. The

ould not find anything in this neighbourho

rpenter. "It is very lo

like

you like them? Saw? or roasted? W

on, and perceiving the very acceptable fragrance that came from them. Mr. Digby admonished her presently to make the tea; and then they had a merry meal. Absolutely merry; for their visitor, he could hardly be called their guest, spiced his ministrations with so pleasant a manner that nothing but cheerfulness could keep its ground before him. At the first taste of the oysters, it is true, some associations seemed to come over Mrs. Carpenter which threatened to make a sudden stop to her dinner. She sat back in her chair, a

a fine, fat oyster, "the only way to

to like oysters,

es

hy

be useful

never had oysters before, and

e South Sea island, and be oblige

ing to be a

more than

at I like, and

o not know whether you like oyster

e small, Rotha," said her mother

as obliged to confess, she liked it; and the meal, as I said, went merrily on; Rotha from that time doing her fall

he exclaimed when t

I don't like him to bring them. I do no

And it is not a

to him. And mother, I don't l

he likes? I am sorry t

very foolis

ks as if he kne

course. Am I not

d oyster shells with a good deal of decision

knows it,

ust mind him. He is different

ence you mean is, tha

otha, suddenly standing s

le people," said

f course; but wha

ot care for anything else; at least I should not be

not make any difference i

t talk to you about it, Ask Mr

ss I will! What makes you thin

ld be l