122 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER, 
did you not let us know of your circumstances ? 
and we would have seen that you did not 
suffer.” 
Thank you, Miss Dean, but I and the chil¬ 
dren get along very well. Parched corn is very 
wholesome, but it is hardly suitable diet for 
poor Alice, who so much needs more nourish¬ 
ing food in her feeble health, and with such con¬ 
stant employment.” 
“ Now, dear mother,” was the daughter’s ten¬ 
der answer, “ how can you say that, when I am 
stronger than you are, and am not so harassed 
with cares ? I am sure I have no cause to com¬ 
plain, but I am distressed to see my poor 
mother living on parched corn.” 
“ No, no, my child,” was the affectionate re¬ 
ply, “ I am doing very well; but my heart aches 
for you, and I shall not allow this day to pass 
without obtaining something fit for my poor 
dear child to eat.” 
To relieve this painful scene, though it so 
strikingly illustrated both the faith and the af¬ 
fection of mother and daughter, Ella said, 
“ It gives us much pleasure, Mrs. Farley, to 
be able to supply both yourself and daughter 
with some additions to your comforts, for we 
