for the farmer's wife
by knitting or sewing, and as may be imagined, this anxiety to help her
benefactors, added to her modest and winning manner, gave great
pleasure to the kind-hearted peasants.

By and by the care which had been bestowed upon James, and the
nourishing food which he had got, began to tell upon him, and soon he
was so far restored as to be able to get up out of bed. As soon as he
felt returning strength, he was desirous of doing something. Resuming
their old habits, Mary gathered for him branches of willow and hazel,
and with these her father made a pretty little basket, which he offered
to the farmer's wife as a small token of gratitude.

When he felt himself quite recovered, he said to his hosts--

"We have been long enough a burden to you. It is time we should go and
seek our fortunes elsewhere."

"Why should you leave us, my good James?" said the farmer, taking the
old man by the hand. "I hope we have not offended you in any way? The
year is now far advanced; the winter is at the door. If you have any
hardship again you will certainly be sick."

James warmly assured them that the only motive he had for desiring to
leave them was the fear that he and his daughter were burdensome.

"If that is all," said the farmer heartily, "pray do not distress
yourself further. The spare room which you occupy prevents you from
being burdensome to us in the smallest degree, and you gain enough to
supply your wants."

"Yes, that is true," added the farmer's wife. "Mary alone earns enough
with her needle to support you; and as for you, James, if you wish to
exercise your trade of basket-maker, you will have your hands full. Not
long since I took your pretty basket with me to the market, and all the
countrywomen who saw it wished to have one like it. If you like I will
procure customers, and I promise that you will not soon be in want of
work."

The old man and his daughter were only too glad to remain with their
kind-hearted friends, who expressed themselves as thoroughly pleased
with the new arrangement.

CHAPTER IX.

A NEW HOME.

James and his daughter were now settled down in a place which they
could call home; they furnished their rooms in a simple style, with
nothing more than they needed for everyday wants. It gave Mary great
pleasure in again being able to prepare her father's meals, and to look
after his comforts in every way; and together they led a life of quiet
happiness. The good fr