R VI.

THE HOUSE-RAISING.[2]

[2] A festival common in America on the completion of a house.

It grew colder and colder in Nettie's garret--or else she grew thinner
and felt it more. She certainly thought it was colder. The snow came,
and piled a thick covering on the roof and stopped up some of the chinks
in the clapboarding with its white caulking; and that made the place a
little better; then the winds from off the snow-covered country were
keen and bitter.

Nettie's whole day was so busy that she had little time to think, except
when she went upstairs at night; covered up there under her blankets and
quilts, and looking up at the stars, she used to feel sadly that things
were in a very bad way. Her father was out constantly o' nights, and
they knew too surely where he spent them. He was not a confirmed
drunkard yet; but how long would it take, at this rate? And that man
Lumber leading him on, with a thicker head himself, and Barry following
after! No seeming thought nor care for his wife and daughter and their
comfort; it was with great difficulty they could get from him enough
money for their daily needs; and to make that do, Nettie and her mother
pinched and starved themselves. Often and often Nettie went to bed with
an empty stomach, because she was not hearty enough to eat porridge or
pork, and the men had not left enough of other viands for herself and
her mother. And neither of them would pretend to want that little there
was, for fear the other wanted it more.

Her mother was patient and quiet now; not despairing, as a few months
ago; and that was such joy to Nettie that she felt often much more like
giving thanks than complaining. Yet she saw her mother toiling and
insufficiently cared for, and she went to bed feeling very poor and thin
herself; then Nettie used to look at the stars and remember the Lord's
promises and the golden city, till at last she would go to sleep upon
her pillow feeling the very richest little child in all the country.
"They shall not be ashamed that wait for me"--was one word which was
very often the last in her thoughts. Nettie had no comfort from her
father in all the time between New Year and spring. Except one word.

One morning she went to Barry secretly in his room, and asked him to
bring the pail of water from the spring for her. Barry had no mind to
the job.

"Why can't mother do it?" he said, "if you can't?"

"Mother is busy and hasn't a minute. I always do it for