n, when they first come to school, pine after home; but
what can I do for him? I must not make any difference between him and
the other boys.'

"One morning in the beginning of December, when the boys were playing
in the churchyard before breakfast, little Marten, not being able to
run, or scarcely to walk, by reason of his chilblains, came creeping
after them; his lips were blue and cold, and his cheeks white. He
looked about for some place where he might be sheltered a little from
the cold wind; and at length he ventured to creep into the porch of an
old house, which stood on one side of the churchyard. The door of the
house was open a little way, and Marten peeped in: he saw within a
small neat kitchen, where was a bright fire; an elderly maid-servant
was preparing breakfast before the fire; the tea-kettle was boiling;
and the toast-and-butter and muffins stood ready to be carried into the
parlour. A large old cat slept before the fire; and in one corner of
the kitchen was a parrot upon a stand.

"Whilst Marten was peeping in, and longing for a bit of
toast-and-butter, a little old lady, dressed in a gray silk gown,
wearing a mob-cap and long ruffles, came into the kitchen by the inner
door. She first spoke to the parrot, then stroked the cat; and then,
turning towards the porch-door, she said (speaking to the maid):

[Illustration: "_A little old lady, dressed in a gray silk gown, came
into the kitchen._"--Page 101.]

"'Hannah, why do you leave the door open? The wind comes in very cold.'
So saying, she was going to push the door to, when she saw poor little
Marten. She observed his black coat, his little bleeding hands, and his
pale face, and she felt very sorry for him. 'What little fellow are
you?' she said, as she held the door in her hand. 'Where do you come
from, and what do you want at my door?'

"'My name is Marten,' he answered, 'and I am very cold.'

"'Do you belong to the school, my dear?' said she.

"'Yes, ma'am,' he answered; 'my mother is dead, and I am very cold.'

"'Poor little creature!' said the old lady, whose name was Lovel. 'Do
you hear what he says, Hannah? His mother is dead, and he is very cold!
Do, Hannah, run over to the school-house, and ask the master if he will
give this little boy leave to stay and breakfast with me.'

"Hannah set down a tea-cup which she was wiping, and looking at Marten:

"'Poor young creature!' she said. 'It is a pity that such a babe as
this should be in