r, frowning; but he remembered his promise,
and he felt Nettie in his arms yet. "What on earth good will that do
you?"

"A great deal of good. It would please me so much, father."

"What do you want me to go to church for?" said Mr. Mathieson, not sure
yet what humour he was going to be in.

"To thank God, father, that there was a Christmas; when Jesus came, that
we might have a New Year."

"What? what?" said Mr. Mathieson. "What are you talking about?"

"Because, father," said Nettie, trembling, and seizing her chance,
"since Jesus loved us and came and died for us, we all may have a New
Year of glory. I shall, father; and I want you too. Oh do, father!" and
Nettie burst into tears. Mr. Mathieson held her fast, and his face
showed a succession of changes for a minute or so. But she presently
raised her head from his shoulder, where it had sunk, and kissed him,
and said--

"May I have what I want, father?"

"Yes--go along," said Mr. Mathieson. "I should like to know how to
refuse you, though. But, Nettie, don't you want me to give you anything
else?"

"Nothing else!" she told him, with her face all shining with joy. Mr.
Mathieson looked at her and seemed very thoughtful all supper time.

"Can't you strengthen that child up a bit?" he said to his wife
afterwards. "She does too much."

"She does as little as I can help," said Mrs. Mathieson; "but she is
always at something. I am afraid her room is too cold o' nights. She
aint fit to bear it. It's bitter up there."

"Give her another blanket or quilt, then," said her husband. "I should
think you would see to that. Does she say she is cold?"

"No,--never except sometimes when I see her looking blue, and ask her."

"And what does she say then?"

"She says sometimes she is a little cold."

"Well, do put something more over her, and have no more of it!" said her
husband, violently. "Sit still and let the child be cold, when another
covering would make it all right!" And he ended with swearing at her.

Mrs. Mathieson did not dare to tell him that Nettie's food was not of a
sufficiently nourishing and relishing kind; she knew what the answer to
that would be; and she feared that a word more about Nettie's
sleeping-room would be thought an attack upon Mr. Lumber's being in the
house. So she was silent.

But there came home something for Nettie in the course of the Christmas
week, which comforted her a little, and perhaps quieted Mr. Mathieson
too. He brought