.

The poor girl felt as she had never felt before. Upon her devolved the
responsibility of providing for her mother. She had no other friend,
and that day seemed to open a new era in her existence. She felt strong
for the work before her, and resolved to lose not a single day in
putting her resolution into operation. The teachings of her mother,
breathing a spirit of piety and resignation, were grateful to her
heart, and added new strength to her arm.

There was still food enough in the house for Katy's supper, for her
mother could not eat, though she drank a cup of tea. The morning sun
would shine upon them again, bringing another day of want and
wretchedness, but the poor girl banished her fears, trusting for the
morrow to Him who feedeth the hungry raven, and tempereth the wind to
the shorn lamb.

She laid her head upon her pillow that night, not to sleep for many a
weary hour, but to think of the future; not of its sorrows and
treasured ills, but of the golden opportunities it would afford her to
do something for her sick mother. At one o'clock the next day Dr.
Flynch would come for the rent again and her mother could not pay him.
She felt assured he was cold and cruel enough to execute his wicked
threat to turn them out of the house, though her mother had not been
off her bed for many weeks. What could be done? They could not pay the
rent; that was impossible; and she regarded it as just as impossible to
melt the heart of Dr. Flynch. But long before she went to sleep she had
decided what to do.

Worn out with fatigue and anxiety, she did not wake till a late hour;
and her mother, who had kept a weary vigil all night, was glad to see
her sleep so well, and did not arouse her. She was refreshed by her
deep slumbers, and got up feeling like a new creature. She had scarcely
made a fire and put on the tea-kettle, before a knock at the door
startled her. Who could wish to see them in their poverty and
want?--who but some evil person, coming to heap some new grief upon
them? She scarcely had the courage to open the door, but when she did
so, she saw the smiling face of Tommy Howard.

"Good morning, Katy," said he, as he handed her a little basket he had
brought. "Mother sent this over, and wants to know how Mrs. Redburn
does to-day."

"She is about the same. What is in this basket, Tommy?"

"O, you know;" and he turned to run away.

"Stop a minute, Tommy," called Katy. "I want to speak to you."

"Well, what i