service. Many a time did he tell of the consternation both he and
Sally felt on making this discovery. He was sitting at the end of the
table one evening with the plan in his hand marking off his work, and
his wife was busy about something in the room, when, all at once, Abe
exclaimed, "Eh, lass, what dost ta think they've done?"

Sally looked rather startled and said, "Who? what?"

"Why, they've plann'd me in High Street on a Sunday mornin'."

"Niver!" gasped Sally, coming to look at the plan herself; "where is
it?"

He placed his finger on the number which indicated his work, and she
saw it was a fact.

"Well," she said, "thaa canna goa; thaa has no claathes fit to wear
amang them grand foak."

Now Abe would never have given his clothes a thought if she had not
brought the matter before his mind in the way she did; now, however, he
remembered his coloured suit and his thick boots, and felt they were
scarcely befitting the place he was called to occupy, however well they
might do among plain people in the country places. At length he said,
"But if I'm plann'd, I mun goa, and if they don't loike my claathes, I
canna help 't." Meanwhile the date of the High Street event drew near,
and the following Sunday would find "Little Abe" at his post of duty.
He was far more anxious about his work than his appearance, so that all
the care on this matter fell upon his wife. She was bothered sadly
about his clothes. Saturday came, and, poor thing, she was bestowing
especial attention upon his old coat, mending button-holes, cleaning
spots out, brushing, shaking, and scrutinizing the old garments as she
had never done before. That evening they were sitting together, just
before Abe went out to the Band Meeting in the Chapel; a loud knock
came to the door. In a moment Sally opened it, and a man handed her a
large parcel, simply saying, "That's for Mr. Lockwood," and immediately
went away.

"What's this?" exclaimed Sally, feeling and patting the parcel.

"Nay, lass, don't ask me; thaa mun open 't, and then I'll tell the'."

A table-knife soon severed the string by which it was tied, and the
good woman proceeded with nervous fingers to unfold the wrapping, and
out came a black cloth suit for her husband. Neither of them could
speak for a moment or two; she lifted her apron to wipe her eyes; Abe's
lip quivered, and his eyes brimmed over; he couldn't help it, big round
tears fell on his clasped hands as they rested on