course that was much too little. What did he pay you?"

"A dollar."

"How much were you expecting to get?" asked Nancy, in a
business-like tone.

"I was hoping to get seventy-five cents a day. That would be
less than I got at the factory."

"I think your work was worth that much myself," said the
spinster.

Ben felt encouraged.

"My father is getting old. He forgets that money won't buy as
much as it did in his younger days. He means to be just."

"Then I don't think he succeeds very well," thought Ben.

"I understand such things better," proceeded Miss Nancy, "and I
try to make up for father's mistakes, as far as I can. Now tell me
what are you meaning to do with the money you received for this
job?"

"I shall give it all to Aunt Jane," answered Ben.

"You are a good boy," said Nancy approvingly. "And she will
buy groceries with it, I suppose?"

"Yes, Miss Nancy. It is about all she has to depend upon."

"Just so. Now, Ben, I will tell you what I will do. Father keeps me
pretty close myself, as far as money goes, but we have plenty in the
house of groceries and such things as your aunt will need to have.
Now, will it do just as well if I give you the balance that you have
earned in that form?"

"It will do just as well, Miss Nancy, and I am very much obliged to
you for your kindness."

"I am not kind, only just," said Nancy. "I don't think it honest to pay
too little for work, nor father, either, for that matter, only he doesn't
always set the right value on it. Maggie, you may bring me the large
covered basket in the back room up-stairs."

Maggie brought the basket at once, and Miss Nancy went with it into
the storeroom, or buttery. She tied up various parcels of sugar, tea,
and flour, and added two loaves of bread and a couple of pies, quite
filling the basket.

"There," she said, "I guess you'll find a dollar and a half's worth of
articles here. Give my love to your aunt, and tell her from me that
they are not a gift, but that you have fairly earned them."

"Thank you, Miss Nancy," said Ben, overjoyed at his good luck.
"You may say you are not kind, but I am sure you are."

Miss Nance was really pleased by this recognition of her attempt to
do justice.

"If it's kindness," she said, "you are very welcome. Do you find it
hard to get along, Benjamin?"

"Pretty hard, since I have lost my place at the factory, Miss Nancy."

"Tell your aunt," said Miss Nancy significantly "that