thinking,
that she would fain learn to weave lace?"

"Oh, Father, please, you won't say nay!" pleaded Cissy, embracing her
father's arm with both her own. "I want to bring you in some money."
Cissy spoke with a most important air. "You know, of an even, I alway
have a bit of time, after Will and Baby be abed, and at times too in the
day, when Will's out with George Felstede, and I'm minding Baby; I can
rock her with my feet while I make lace with my hands. And you know,
Father, Will and Baby 'll be growing big by and bye, and you won't have
enough for us all without we do something. And Rose says she'll learn
me how, and that if I have a lace pillow--and it won't cost very much,
Father!--I can alway take it up for a few minutes by nows and thens,
when I have a bit of time, and then, don't you see, Father? I can make
a little money for you. Please, _please_ don't say I mustn't!" cried
Cissy, growing quite talkative in her eagerness.

Johnson and Rose looked at each other, and Rose laughed; but though
Cissy's father smiled too, he soon grew grave, and laid his hand on his
little girl's head, as she stood looking up earnestly.

"Nay, my little maid, I'll never say nought of the sort. If Rose here
will be so good as to learn thee aught that is good, whether for body or
soul, I will be truly thankful to her, and bid thee do the like and be
diligent to learn. Good little maid! God bless thee!"

Then, as Cissy trotted into the cottage, well pleased, Johnson added,
"Bless the little maid's heart! she grows more like her mother in Heaven
every day. I'll never stay the little fingers from doing what they can.
It'll not bring much in, I reckon, but it'll be a pleasure to the
child, and good for her to be ever busy at something, that she mayn't
fall into idle ways. Think you not so, Rose?"

"Indeed, and it so will, Johnson," answered Rose; "not that I think
Cissy and idle ways 'll ever have much to do one with the other. She's
not one of that sort. But I shouldn't wonder if lace-weaving brings in
more than you think. I've made a pretty penny of it, and I wasn't so
young as Cissy when I learned the work, and it's like everything else--
them that begin young have the best chance to make good workers. She'll
be a rare comfort to you, Cissy, if she goes on as she's begun."

Johnson did not reply for a moment. When he did, it was to say, "Well,
God keep us all! I'm right thankful to you, Rose, for all your goodnes