ll of which was said just for the
pleasure of talking to sympathizing faces,--without the least idea of
what was at the door. The blanket was too old a want to be spoken of,
but Faith needed only to look at the bed. And then she looked at Mr.
Linden, in delighted watch to see what his next move would be; in the
intervals of her chat with Mr. Roscom, which was very lively.

Mr. Linden had finished his work, and stood balancing his hammer and
listening to the catalogue of wants with a smile both grave and bright.

"Are these just the things you wish for?" he said. "Well--'your Father
knoweth that ye have need of them,'--and he has sent them by our hands
to-day; so you see that you may trust him for the future."

He laid his hand on Faith's shoulder as an invitation to her to follow,
and went out to the sleigh. She was at the side of it as soon as he,
and in it the next minute, stopping to give him only with the eye one
warm speech of sympathy and joy.

"You haven't put up a basket specially for these people, of course,"
she said,--"so we shall have to take the things from everywhere.
There's a beautiful chicken in that basket, Endecott--I know; that's
the largest one we have left; and bread--there aren't but two loaves
here!--shall we give them both? Or do we want one somewhere else?"

"I think we may give them both. And Faith--don't you think a roasted
apple might alternate usefully with the potato?"

Faith dived into the receptacle for apples and brought out a good
quantity of the right kind. Potatoes were not in very large supply, but
tea and sugar were--blessed things!--unfailing.

"And here is a pumpkin pie!" said Faith--"I am sure they'll like
that--and as many cookies and cruller as you like. And what else,
Endecott?--O here's a pair of those big socks mother knit--wouldn't
they be good here?"

"Very good, dear child!--and this blanket must go--and some
tracts,--that will furnish more reading. You run in with those,
Faith--these other things are too heavy for you."

"I've strength enough to carry a blanket," said Faith laughing.

"Well, run off with that too, then," said Mr. Linden, "only if your
strength gives out by the way, please to fall on the blanket."

Faith managed to reach the house safely and with a bright face
deposited the blanket on a chair. "I got leave to bring this in to you,
Mrs. Roscom," she said. "I suppose you know what Mr. Linden means you
to do with it."

Perhaps they had seen no