coming hours would bring.
Nettie looked at them lovingly, for she was very fond of them and had a
great many thoughts about those hills. "As the mountains are round about
Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people;"--that was one thing
they made her think of. She thought of it now as she was dressing, and
it gave her the feeling of being surrounded with a mighty and strong
protection on every side. It made Nettie's heart curiously glad, and her
tongue speak of joyful things; for when she knelt down to pray she was
full of thanksgiving.

The next thing was, that taking her tin pail Nettie set off down to the
spring to get water to boil the kettle. It was so sweet and pleasant--no
other spring could supply nicer water. The dew brushed from the bushes
and grass as she went by; and from every green thing there went up a
fresh dewy smell that was reviving. The breath of the summer wind,
moving gently, touched her cheek and fluttered her hair, and said God
had given a beautiful day to the world; and Nettie thanked him in her
heart and went on rejoicing. Sunday was Nettie's holiday, and
Sunday-school and church were her delight. And though she went in all
weathers, and nothing would keep her, yet sunshine is sunshine; and she
felt so this morning. So she gaily filled her pail at the spring and
trudged back with it to the house. The next thing was to tap at her
mother's door.

Mrs. Mathieson opened it, in her nightgown; she was just up, and looked
as if her night's sleep had been all too short for her.

"Why, Nettie!--is it late?" she said, as Nettie and the tin pail came
in.

"No, mother; it's just good time. You get dressed, and I'll make the
fire ready. It's beautiful out, mother."

Mrs. Mathieson made no answer, and Nettie went to work with the fire. It
was an easy matter to put in some paper and kindle the light wood; and
when the kettle was on, Nettie went round the room softly setting it to
rights as well as she could. Then glanced at her father, still sleeping.

"I can't set the table yet, mother."

"No, child; go off, and I'll see to the rest. If I can get folks up, at
least," said Mrs. Mathieson, somewhat despondingly. Sunday morning that
was a doubtful business, she and Nettie knew. Nettie went to her own
room to carry out a plan she had. If she could manage to get her things
conveyed up to the attic without her mother knowing it, just so much
labour and trouble would be spared her, and her mother migh