128 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
want, and then turn away without making the 
slightest effort to mitigate the burdens and 
sorrows of the afflicted, there could be little 
hope of success in any attempts to arouse such 
hearts to noble sensibility. But duty was duty; 
and, though discouraged, he was not despairing. 
He would pursue the course he had marked, 
trusting that a divine blessing might yet make 
the effort a gratifying success. 
On the day following the visit of the young 
folks Mr. Dean himself went over the lake to 
the Farleys’ to see what steps were necessary 
to supply their needs, especially in the case of 
the lost cow; and his great surprise can well 
be imagined when he found a very fine animal 
already grazing near the widow’s home, and the 
family rejoicing in an abundance of fresh milk. 
Nor was his surprise lessened when he further 
learned that the widow’s larder had been re¬ 
plenished with a barrel of flour and a liberal 
supply of groceries. To his careful inquiries 
as to the kind friends who had thus so gene¬ 
rously attended to their needs, the happy family 
could only reply that some nameless friends had 
sent the things by the hands of some neighbors, 
but made it a condition that no efforts should 
