board near the door of
the room.

"Yes granny," he answered, "I am quite hungry."

"Bress your little heart," she remarked, giving him a large piece of
bread. "Here is some ting to eat."

Taking the child on her knees, she watched him until he had completed
eating the food, when putting him down, she opened a trunk, and pulled
out a clean white sheet, which she placed on a little mattress near
the bed.

"Come now," she said, "go to bed now like a good boy."

The child obeyed her, and was soon enjoying a refreshing sleep.

"Where will you sleep to-night, auntie," asked Mrs. Wentworth, who had
been a silent observer of the old woman's proceedings.

"I got some tings 'bout here; missis, dat will do for a bed," she
answered.

"I am sorry I have to take away your bed to-night," remarked Mrs.
Wentworth, "but I hope I will be able to pay you for your kindness
some time."

"Dat's all right," replied the old negress, and spreading a mass of
different articles on the floor, she crept in among them, and shortly
after fell asleep, leaving Mrs. Wentworth alone with her thoughts,
watching over the sleeping forms of her children.

The next morning the old woman woke up early, and lighting fire, made
a frugal but amply sufficient breakfast, which, she placed before her
uninvited guests. Mrs. Wentworth partook of the meal but slightly, and
her little son ate heartily. Ella being still asleep, she was not
disturbed. Shortly after the meal was over, the old negro left the
cabin, saying she would return some time during the day.

About nine o'clock, Ella woke, and feebly called her mother. Mrs.
Wentworth approached the bedside, and started back much shocked at the
appearance of her child. The jaws of the little girl had sunk, her
eyes were dull and expressiveless and her breath came thick and
heavily.

"What do you wish my darling," enquired her mother.

"I feel quite sick, mother," said the little girl, speaking faintly
and with great difficulty.

"What is the matter with you?" Mrs. Wentworth asked, her face turning
as pale as her child's.

"I cannot breathe," she answered, "and my eyes feel dim. What can be
the matter?"

"Nothing much, my angel," replied her mother. "You have only taken a
cold from exposure in the air last night. Bear up and you will soon
get well again."

"I feel so different now from what I did before," she remarked.
"Before I was so hot, and now I feel as cold as ice."

Mrs. Wentworth put her