t was on the gatepost,--a nenvelope with
money in it, and on the outside it says, 'Christmas greetings to the Six
Sisters.' Now will you believe someone lost it? It ain't Mr. Strong's
writing, though. Maybe the Christ Child brought it. Oh, Gail, do you
s'pose He did?"

CHAPTER IX

FAITH'S AWAKENING

"Do you know where Faith is?" asked Gail one Saturday morning in early
spring, finding Hope busy at making the beds, which was the older
sister's work.

"She discovered a heap of old magazines somewhere about the place and is
in the barn reading. Says her head aches too hard to work today,"
answered Hope, with an anxious pucker in her usually serene forehead.

"I don't know what to do with that girl," sighed Gail, as she adjusted
her dustcap and picked up a broom. Her face looked so worried, and her
voice sounded so discouraged that Hope paused in her task of plumping up
the pillows to ask in alarm, "Do you think she is any worse than usual?"

"She gets worse every day," answered Gail, somewhat sharply, and two
tears rolled slowly down her pale cheeks.

"Oh, dearie, don't cry," coaxed Hope, dropping her pillows and throwing
her arms about the heaving shoulders. "It will be better pretty soon.
I'll do all of Faith's work. I only wish I were older."

Peace waited to hear no more. She had gone upstairs for a clean apron
before setting out for town with a basket of eggs and, unknown to the
two sisters in the room across the hall, had heard all they said.

"I didn't s'pose Faith was sick," she whispered with white lips as she
flew down the path to the gate, swinging the heavy basket dangerously
near the ground in her heedlessness. "I thought she was just lazy. She
never does anything but mope around the house and read or play the
organ, but I thought it was 'cause she didn't want to. S'posing she
should die! Then we'd have three angels. Oh, dear, I don't see why one
family should have so many! I wonder if there isn't something that will
cure her. Gail hasn't called the doctor yet. I am going to ask him
myself!"

She slipped through the gate and sped up the road toward town, still
musing over this new trouble, and so completely wrapped up in her
thoughts that she did not even see her beloved Mr. Strong until he
called to her, "Why, hello, Peace! Are you coming over to see our baby
today! Elizabeth, will be glad to have you."

Her face lighted up at sight of her friend, but she shook her head at
his invitation