\"who has promised to be a father to the fatherless?\" continued he.

\"but i\"ve getten six children, sir, and the eldest not eight years of age.

i\"m not meaning for to doubt his power, sir,--only it needs a deal o\"

trust;\" and she began to cry afresh.

\"hoo\"ll be better able to talk to-morrow, sir,\" said the neighbour. \"bestfort now would be the feel of a child at her heart. i\"m sorry theytook the babby.\"

\"i\"ll go for it,\" said margaret. and in a few minutes she returned,carrying johnnie, his face all smeared with eating, and his hands loadedwith treasures in the shape of shells, and bits of crystal, and the head ofa plaster figure. she placed him in his mother\"s arms.

\"there!\" said the woman, \"now you go. they\"ll cry together, and forttogether, better nor any one but a child can do. i\"ll stop with her as longas i\"m needed, and if yo\" e to-morrow, yo\" can hāve a deal o\" wisetalk with her, that she\"s not up to to-day.\"

as margaret and her father went slowly up the street, she paused athiggins\"s closed door.

\"shall we go in?\" asked her father. \"i was thinking of him too.\"

they knocked. there was no answer, so they tried the door. it wasbolted, but they thought they heard him moving within.

\"nicholas!\" said margaret. there was no answer, and they might hāvegone away, believing the house to be empty, if there had not been some

accidental fall, as of a book, within.

\"nicholas!\" said margaret again. \"it is only us. won\"t you let us e in?\"

\"no,\" said he. \"i spoke as plain as i could, \"bout using words, when ibolted th\" door. let me be, this day.\"

mr. hale would hāve urged their desire, but margaret placed her fingeron his lips.

\"i don\"t wonder at it,\" said she. \"i myself long to be alone. it seems theonly thing to do one good after a day like this.\"

..**t**

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