the tune and
the words ran in her ears,

"Jesus all the day long
Is my joy and my song;
O that all his salvation might see!"

So, thinking busily, Nettie got home and ran up stairs. What a change!
It looked like a place very, very far from those gates of pearl.

Her mother sat on one side of the stove, not dressed for church, and
leaning her head on her hand. Mr. Mathieson was on the other side,
talking and angry. Barry stood back, playing ball by himself by throwing
it up and catching it again. The talk stopped at Nettie's entrance. She
threw off her bonnet and began to set the table, hoping that would bring
peace.

"Your father don't want any dinner," said Mrs. Mathieson.

"Yes I do!"--thundered her husband; "but I tell you I'll take anything
now; so leave your cooking till supper--when Lumber will be here. Go
on, child! and get your work done."

There were no preparations for dinner, and Nettie was at a loss; and did
not like to say anything for fear of bringing on a storm. Her mother
looked both weary and out of temper. The kettle was boiling,--the only
thing about the room that had a pleasant seeming.

"Will you have a cup of tea, father?" said Nettie.

"Anything you like--yes, a cup of tea will do; and hark'ye, child, I
want a good stout supper got this afternoon. Your mother don't choose to
hear me. Mr. Lumber is coming, and I want a good supper to make him
think he's got to the right place. Do you hear, Nettie?"

"Yes, father."

Nettie went on to do the best she could. She warmed the remains of last
night's porridge and gave it to Barry with treacle, to keep him quiet.
Meanwhile she had made the tea, and toasted a slice of bread very
nicely, though with great pains, for the fire wasn't good; and the
toast and a cup of tea she gave to her father. He eat it with an
eagerness which let Nettie know she must make another slice as fast as
possible.

"Hollo! Nettie--I say, give us some of that, will you?" said Barry,
finding his porridge poor in taste.

"Barry, there isn't bread enough--I can't," whispered Nettie. "We've got
to keep a loaf for supper."

"Eat what you've got, or let it alone!" thundered Mr. Mathieson, in the
way he had when he was out of patience, and which always tried Nettie
exceedingly.

"She's got more," said Barry. "She's toasting two pieces this minute. I
want one."

"I'll knock you over, if you say another word," said his father. Nettie
was frightened, for s