Jane Lends A Hand

and, lifting her tousled head from

his sign that the morning was advancing, and the fact that all the children had had their first summons to get up and dre

rest days of mid-winter. His children were not, said he, to be softened and rendered unfit to endure the various hardships of life by pampering. His wife, the jolly comfort-loving Gertrude, sometimes confided privately to Grandmother Winkler that she thought it was too hard on

bound rules of the household every day of her life, and cheerfully paid her penalties with a sort of serene stoicism. She had inherited from her placid, happy-tem

were dressed in their warm woolen frocks inside of ten minutes. Since they were six years old, Mr. Lambert had permitted no one to help them but themselves; and so, with their little cold red

ast, which had already been announced by ap

n, and stood transfixed with horror at the sight of Jan

Ja-

e above the mountain of bed-clothes; a pair

wn. "What

ion of grave importance. The two plump, rosy-cheeked little girls, with their stiffly starched white pinafores, and with their yellow pig-tails sticking out at the sides

ced Jane unblushingly, "I don't

emonstrated the

ane, "but I would have if I got up too sudden

vered their rosy mouths wit

; furthermore, if it were accepted the chances that Mr. Lambert would recommend a bitter dose and a dull day in the house had to be con

l be down-stairs in three minutes. The day after to-morrow's Saturday anyho

rupted by fits of abstraction, during which, with one foot on the chair, and the button-hook

ing in gables and dormer windows which gave it its quaintly picturesque outl

able position; rightly theirs as the unfailing reward of industry, honesty, and the othe

ad settled there, and had founded what deserves the name of an Inst

cakes, those golden breakfast-rolls, or those plum-puddings which have immortalized the name. And in view of the importance which su

iness, or the ability to make small savings bring in generous increase. At the same time, the shop was never moved

inkler had laid himself with so muc

tions of little townspeople had stuffed their round stomachs with those incomparable spice-cakes and ginger-nuts, had

to son; until the day when Uncle Franz Winkler had gone to se

Lambert, a grave, practical-minded young man; and this grave, practical-minded young man (who, as the years went on became more and more grave, not to say, se

grain; but at the some time he had no inclination to allow his wife's inheritance to decline, and while he managed his own affairs, Ge

s and even impious conduct of Uncle Franz, the question had risen, who should be regarded as the heir to the business and the name? For there were no more Winklers. Gertrude wanted her only son, Carl, to be her heir, although he was a Lambert. But Mr. Lambert had other ideas

place in Jane's mind as she took her time to wash and dress on that October morning. What engrossed he

al warmth. She opened her window again, and leaned out, looking critically from east

of deep, untroubled blue. A light, fresh wind rustled through the hazel-nut tree whose boughs touched her wind

tto of the industrious folk of Frederickstown, one and all. Wagons covered with white canvas hoods, and filled with tobacco, others, overflowing with pumpkins, celery, apples and cranberries-all the rich autumn produce of the fertile farming

final summons-and this in the firm cold t

g? Or must I

he window she fled, clattering down the

table-a miniature old lady with a frilled cap,-Mr. Lambert at the other end, Carl at his right and flaxen haired Elise at his left

alls, with its pots of geraniums, and Chinese lilies,-which were Elise's special care-its immaculately dusted cupboards on whose shelves gleamed rows of solid old German pewter ware, was the scene in which the Lambert's, great and small, carried on a large part of their daily affairs. In one corner stood Mr. Lamber

ated, and, with their heads bent reverently over their pl

e as inconspicuously as possible; and accordingly just befo

incorrigible Jane. Moreover, he had made it a rule, always, if possible, to avoid unpleasantness at meals, owing to the unfavorable effects upon the digestion. Cons

orning,

e to kiss his cheek, and then to give her mother a hug that

Mrs. Lambert, patting Jane's ruddy cheek,

orridge, then fumbled for his steel-rimmed spectacles in the pocket of his

letter which lay beside her father's plate. It bore a foreign stamp, and she guessed, and guessed rightly that it had some bearing on Mr. Lambert's g

hat from

h perfect truth, but in his unfortunately superior

, with a pomposity ludicrously like his father's,

a long pale face, straight brown hair, which was cut in a bang across his forehead, and a pair

ready saw the successful, complacent, cool-tempered man. But at the same time he neither cared for, nor could boast of great popularity. His mother felt more awe than affection for him; in all of his sisters but Jane, he inspired only a sort of timid admiration and respect; and his school-companions summed him up tersely as a "muff" and a "grind." For, while he walked away with the highest honors at the close of every session, he was, if the truth must be told, something of a coward. He had moods of sulkiness,

ng authority; and at his unsolicited correction, she promptly br

ur own b

, his spectacles glistening warni

h to leave

Papa,

. Have the goodn

Papa

ite right. He is older than you, and

reshed herself by making a most hideous grimace at her brother, who, more

s face anxiously, not daring to urge him to share its news with her. It covered three or four pages of

king to herself; and in the same dreamy undertone, she explained this singular observation, "Everything a

Carl also in a low tone, "so you do

ce, and I could see him inside of my head just as plainly as anything. He had red hai

t a doubt, this will be a burden, a heavy responsibility; but I hope I am not deficient in generosit

say, Peter?" asked Mrs. Lamber

r is from y

ecognized his hand af

ess idler, a hair-brained, irresponsible ne'er-do-well comes to no good end, and leaves bette

tly agitated, "what are you saying?" She stretched out her hand

control yourself." He looked at her calmly and firmly, and she

leared his th

ill see your way to granting me this, seeing that I am a dying man and have no one to turn to and being in a forran country. My son, Paul, will soon be left alone, I fear, which is a bad thing for a young lad and I am hoping that perhaps being kinsfolk and he being a likely young fellow, good hearted though a bit unlicked, you may find your way to giving him a home until he can shift for himself. I haven't done all I should have done by the lad, perhaps, livin

ess to my poor boy. And now I will close with respectful regards to yourself and give my love to m

ully your

z Win

bear that. Have just told him that I am sending him back to America with a friend, Mr. Morse,

understand it but who felt that it had brought some grave news, looked first at their father and then at their mother. Carl watched Mr. Lambert, and Elise's plump, rosy face was solemn; but Jane, as

, who had not said a word, got up, took her son's letter out of M

r. Lambert's face showed that he had not guess

is throat, and said in a gentle but

heaven, and we should learn to endure our sorrows-er-uncomplainingly. Furthermore, Providence has

ly wiping her eyes on her napkin. "But when I think

the road to health at this moment. Let us hope for the best. Let us prepare to

of her brother, in years of absence his features had somewhat faded from her memory. She was not fond of sorrow or melancholy, and was re

uite true, Peter. After all

bert, briskly. "And now m

cousin, Papa?

ignored he

e? Who will have his welfare more deeply at heart? I hope my son, that in comparing your lot," he turned to Carl, "with that of this unfortunate young man, you will realize your b

er own train of thought, "then Paul is a Winkler. A

had not yet occurred to anyone,

true!" exclai

urse!" cri

ven had his domestic affairs very much in mind. "Yes, we must prepare to welcome our nephew. I hope, m

mbert, her eyes again filling with tears. "And I never even knew

bert; "I presume that the boy will arrive in a day or

warehouse. Elise helped the fat young servant girl to clear away the dishes; Carl went out to bring in wood for the s

n was sitting, weeping quietly; and the slow tears of age were trickling down her wrinkled,

d one. "I understood him, never fear. He was a brave, fine boy-and he alwa

t you cry." She kissed the old woman, and patted her, feeling

er Winkler, and in an unusually silent, an