came with its cold, blustering
winds, and severe changes of weather. Mrs. Graystone failed visibly. She
could no longer conceal from the fond eyes that watched her, that her
days were numbered.

Clemence's time was so completely taken up in nursing the invalid, that
she was obliged to abandon all other employment, and her income ceased
entirely. She knew not what to do. She was in debt to Mrs. Mann, without
the means of payment, and she knew that the kind woman could illy
sustain the burden. Mrs. Linden was her only friend, and she was a widow
of limited means.

Pondering deeply upon the subject, a thought struck her, which she
resolved to act upon immediately. First, having installed Mrs. Mann as
nurse in her place, she hastily donned hat and shawl, and hurried out
into the street. It was a cold, raw, disagreeable day. Little pools of
water, that had formed in the hollows of the sidewalks, were fast
freezing into ice, and the keen, cruel wind seemed to penetrate to the
very marrow of one's bones.

People, well wrapped in rich furs, strong-minded ladies bent on a
mission, portly gentlemen on their way to their counting rooms, and
troops of bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked school-girls, passed her on her way.
Two little pinched, hollow-eyed children came out of a red brick
building, which bore in large letters over the spacious doorway, "The
Orphan's Home," and walked beside her. A little eager voice fell on her
ear:

"I tell you, Marthy, they don't give you _nothin'_ to eat to the 'Home.'
And I'm _so_ hungry! Wouldn't it be nice if we could have all we wanted
to eat, just once? I dream every night that mamma comes to me, and
kisses and pets me as she used to. Perhaps if we are good and patient,
we may go to her some day."

"Poor little creatures," sighed Clemence. "What can I do to alleviate
their sorrows?"

She looked again at the wan, childish faces, then drew out her slender
portmonnaie. "The Lord will provide," she thought, as the time-worn
"Charity begins at home," rose to her lips, at sight of her scant supply
of means. "Come here, dears," she said, beckoning to them.

The little ones crept up to her with shy, downcast eyes. She went with
them into a confectioners, and filled their hands with crisp cakes and
steaming rolls, and watched them with a moisture in her eyes, as they
eagerly grasped at what was to them a royal feast.

"Never mind thanking me, children," she said, as they poured out a dozen
incoherent