1857.] A Story for the JloUdai/a. 25 



the snow, leaving the door to take care of itself, and was up into the 

 car in a twinkling. It did not take long, with John's active assist- 

 ance, to transfer the contents of the car to the widow's store-room, 

 which had been for a long time wanting in almost everything. 



' Grood-night to you, madam,' said the carman, as he was retiring, 

 ' and may to-morrow be the merriest Christmas you ever spent. It 

 is n't every one who has a friend like yours.' 



' No, and may God reward him,' said Mrs. Elliott fervently, as the 

 man closed the door and left her alone with her children. 



And now the timely present was more carefully examined. It 

 consistedof many articles ; first, and not the least welcome, was half 

 a barrel of flour. Then there was a bag of corn meal, another of 

 potatoes, with sugar, tea, rice, molasses, butter, etc., some warm 

 stockings for the children, a cheap thick shawl for herself, and a pair 

 of gum shoes — besides a good many little things that had all been 

 selected with a strict regard to their use. A large chicken for a 

 Christmas dinner, and some loaves of fresh Dutch cake for the chil- 

 dren had not been forgotten. Added to all this, was a letter con- 

 taining five dollars, in which the generous donor said that on the 

 next day he would send her a small stove and half a tun of coal. 



Edward Mayfield slept sweetly and soundly that night. On the 

 next day, which was Christmas, he got a stove for Mrs. Elliott. It 

 was a small, cheap and economical one, designed expressly for the 

 poor. He sent it with half a tun of coal. 



Three or four days after Christmas, Mrs. Green said to Lizzy and 

 Jane as they sat sewing : 



' I declare girls, we 've almost forgotten our washerwoman, poor 

 Mrs. Elliott. It is some weeks since she sent us word that she had 

 sprained her wrist, and could not do our washing until it got well. 

 I think you had better go and see her this morning. I should not 

 wonder if she stood in need of something. She has two children, 

 and only one of them is old enough to earn anything — and even he 

 can only bring home a very small sum. We have done wrong to 

 forget Mrs. Elliott.' 



' You go and see her Lizzy,' said Jane, ' I do n't care about visit- 

 ing poor people in distress, it makes me feel bad.' 



' To relieve their wants, Jane, ought to make you feel good,' said 

 Mrs. Green. 



' I know it ought, but I had rather not go.' 



' Oh yes, Jane,' said Lizzy, ' you must go with me. I want you 



