A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE. 39 



before ; and when we looked at his poor 

 worn face and bony hands, and then when 

 our eyes met one another, I thought no two 

 people on earth could be more miserable. 

 I noticed, as I got in, the broken window 

 was mended ; and so, for something to talk 

 about, and turn our thoughts a bit, I spoke 

 about it. " Oh," said my wife, " I forgot 

 to tell you that George came and put it in, 

 and said he'd do any other little thing for 

 us like that, and be glad of it." This George 

 was a poor outcast of a boy that I'd got the 

 painter and glazier to take, when it was 

 worth his while to please me ; and he'd be- 

 haved well, and got on, and made himself a 

 workman and useful. And while I was out 

 he'd walked down, and asked my wife to 

 let him mend the broken square; for he said 

 I'd made a man of him, and he'd never for- 

 get it while he could handle a diamond ; and 

 before he'd see our window go broken, he'd 

 go without a day's victuals. It almost made 

 me whimper to see this bit of sunshine, when 

 every thing else looked so cloudy. 



It was late in summer, and I was up 

 early next morning and off to my work, got 

 it done, and went into the house to get my 



