might have been a protest.

In fact, Lucy became an important personage in the neighborhood. She
was sought for advice, called upon for comfort, and asked to share
many joys. Her approach was usually heralded by a shout, "That's
her a-comin'!" and she was invariably escorted across the commons by
a guard of ragged but devoted youngsters. And the friendship of
these simple people opened her eyes to the great problems of
humanity, and as she worked among them and knew life as it was, the
hard little bud of her girlhood blossomed into the great soft rose
of womanhood.

"Didn't you meet Mr. Bob up the street?" asked Mrs. Wiggs, as she
led the way into the kitchen. "Him an' Billy have jes' left, goin'
out to the fair grounds. Mr. Bob's jes' naturally the best man I
ever set eyes on, Miss Lucy! Got the biggest heart, an' always doin'
something kind fer folks. Jes' now talkin' 'bout gittin' Asia a
place at the tile fact'ry. I don't see how you missed 'em! If he'd
a sawn you with them vi'lets in yer belt, an' them roses in yer
cheeks, I bet he wouldn't 'a' went."

"Oh, yes, he would!" said Lucy, emphatically. "My roses don't appeal
to Mr. Bob."

"Well, he likes yer eyes, anyway," said Mrs. Wiggs, determined to
carry her point.

"Who said so?" demanded Lucy.

"He did. I ast him. I said they was regular star-eyes, jes' shining
blue with them black eyelashes rayin' out all 'round, an' he said
yes, that was the right name fer 'em--star-eyes."

There was a mist over the star-eyes as Lucy turned away.

"That's right; set right down there by the winder. It's so pretty
out today it makes you feel good clean down yer back."

"I believe you always feel that way," said Lucy, pulling off her
gloves. "Don't you ever worry over things?"

Mrs. Wiggs grew serious. "I'm lonesome fer Jimmy all the time," she
said simply. "Some folks goes right under when trouble comes, but I
carry mine fur an' easy."

"I don't mean grieving," said Lucy; "I mean worrying and fretting."

"Well, yes," admitted Mrs. Wiggs, taking a hot iron from the stove,
"I 've done that, too. I remember onct last winter I was tooken
sick, an' I got to pesterin' 'bout what the childern 'ud do if I
died. They wasn't no money in the house, an' they didn't know
where to git none. All one night I laid there with my head 'most
bustin', jes' worryin' 'bout it. By an' by I was so miserable I ast
the Lord what I mus' do, an' he tole me." There was absolute
conviction in