lth, and she and her seven young
children were in great distress. Mrs. Taylor was trying to collect some
money to relieve the poor woman till her husband was again able to work,
and she asked Mrs. Braham for a subscription. To Teddy's surprise, she
answered,--

"I am sorry that I cannot help you in the matter."

"But the smallest sum will be acceptable," said Mrs. Taylor; "five
shillings, or even half-a-crown."

"I cannot even give you half-a-crown," and Teddy's quick ears heard his
mother's voice falter as she said the words.

"Then," said Mrs. Taylor coldly, "I suppose it is no good to ask you to
give your usual yearly donation towards the summer treat for the
Sunday-school children?"

"It pains me to refuse you, but I must."

An uncomfortable silence followed. Mrs. Taylor rose to go, but Mrs.
Braham motioned her to resume her seat.

"This must seem so strange to you," she said, "that I feel I must
explain. My husband has had a sudden and very serious loss. He is now a
comparatively poor man, and it would not be right for me to give, as I
have hitherto been pleased and thankful to do."

Teddy could not bear to see tears in his mother's eyes. He went and
stood by her side while Mrs. Taylor expressed her sympathy, and also her
sorrow at having wounded Mrs. Braham's feelings. But Mrs. Braham said,
with a smile, that no apology was needed; and then, having seen her
visitor to the hall-door, she returned to the drawing-room, and took
Teddie on her knee. He was eleven years old, but that was still his
favorite seat. Very gently she put back the hair from his forehead and
kissed him, and then suddenly she bent her head and burst into a fit of
weeping. Wise Teddie only pressed his arms more closely round her neck,
and said nothing till the tears began to stop. Then he whispered,--

"Won't you tell me all about it, mother?"

"Dear, this is the first real trouble you have known," she answered,
"and I am so sorry that your young, happy life should be clouded. If we
could keep the knowledge from you we would, but that is impossible."

Then she told him how his father had become surety for a friend, and
explained that this meant a promise to pay a certain sum of money in
place of the friend, if that friend should find himself unable to pay
it. Mr. Braham had made a promise to pay a large amount on this
condition, and it had fallen on him to fulfil his word.

"Is father _quite_ poor now?" Teddie asked; "as poor as the