seen the baby. I suppose you'll put him in
the Orphan Home in the city."

"No, I shall do nothing of the sort," was the emphatic reply. "He
shall stay here until his mother comes for him."

"H'm," and the widow tossed her head in a knowing manner, "then you'll
have him on your hands for a long time. Do you for a moment imagine
that a mother who is heartless enough to leave her baby with total
strangers, will come for him? Not a bit of it. Mark my word, she's
only too glad to be rid of it, and is off somewhere now having a good
time. I should be very careful, if I were you, about bringing up such
a child. You can't tell who his parents are, and he may inherit all
their bad qualities."

The clergyman made no reply. He merely stroked his chin, and thought
of the sob he had heard at the door that dark night.

"Such a child," Mrs. Marden continued, in her most doleful voice, "is
sure to bring trouble upon you sooner or later. But, then, we all have
our troubles, and must expect them. Ever since poor Abner was taken
from me my life has been full of trials and tribulations. He was very
good to me, and we were so happy."

At this point the widow produced her handkerchief, and wiped away the
tears which were flowing down her cheeks. Parson Dan knew, and all the
neighbours knew, that if Mrs. Marden's life was "full of trials and
tribulations" after her husband's death, Mr. Marden had more than his
share of them before he died, due directly to his wife's incessant
nagging.

"Yes, I have my troubles," and the widow resumed her tale of woe.
"They never cease, for just as soon as one is removed another springs
up."

"Why, what's wrong now?" the parson queried.

"What! haven't you heard?" and the visitor looked sharply at the
clergyman.

"No, I can't say that I have, especially of late."

"Dear me, and it's the talk of the whole parish. But, then, I suppose
you've been so taken up with this new addition to your family that you
have had no time to give to the cares of the widow and the fatherless."

A perceptible shade of annoyance passed over Parson Dan's face, and a
sharp word of retort sprang to his lips. He repressed this, however,
and answered as gently as possible.

"You know, Mrs. Marden," he began, "that often I am the last person to
hear what is being said throughout the parish. I try not to listen to
all the gossip which takes place, as I have more important things to
occupy my mind. So----"