. Checkynshaw's check to
her father when she carried his dinner. The barber was astonished as
well as pleased with the gift, and, having drawn the check, deposited
the money in the Savings Bank, as a provision for dark days, like those
through which they had passed at the beginning of Andre's illness.

After supper the family gathered around the cooking-stove in the
kitchen. Never before had they been so happy as now, and never before
were they so strongly attached to each other. They had passed through
the storm of privation and trial--they had triumphed over adverse
circumstances. Leo tried to study his lesson, while Andre and Maggie
were talking about the great event of the day, and comparing their
present situation with the first days of the barber's illness, when all
of them were trembling for the future.

"God has been very good to us, my children, and I hope we shall always
be grateful to him for his mercies," said Andre, as a tear, which he
could not repress, stole down his pale cheek.

"I'm sure I never felt so good before in my life; and I know my prayers
mean more to me now than ever before," replied Maggie.

"We have been faithful to each other, and God has been faithful to all
of us, as he always is, even when we forsake and forget him."

"Ah, _mon pere_, how could we help being faithful to you, when you were
always so kind to us!" exclaimed Maggie, as she rested her hand on
Andre's arm. "And Leo--he has really been a lion! You don't know how
brave he was; how he worked, and how he persevered! It was all _make_,
and no _break_--wasn't it, Leo?"

"It has been, so far," replied Leo, less demonstrative, but not less
delighted than the other members of the family. "I think we can do
anything we make up our minds to do. I have made up my mind to take the
Franklin medal this year, and, make or break, I'm going to do it."

Leo bent over his slate again, and seemed to be determined, make or
break, that he would attend to his lessons, whatever happened in the
room. Unfortunately, in this instance, it was at least a partial break,
for a very imperative knock was heard a few moments later at the front
door. Andre answered the summons, and admitted Mr. Wittleworth.

"I hope I don't intrude," said Fitz, as daintily as Paul Pry himself
could have said it.

"Take a seat, Mr. Wittleworth," added Maggie, giving him a chair at the
stove.

"Thank you. I don't often go out evenings, for mother is alone. My
friends