, smitten with a
sudden pity for the motherless girl. "And we will be glad to see ye when
ye come back again."

For this, too, it was that Iola as well as Margaret could never forget
that afternoon.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen," cried Dick, striking an attitude,
"though the 'good cheer' department may seem to have accomplished the
purpose for which it was organised, it cannot be said to have outlived
its usefulness, in that it appears to have created for itself a sphere
of operations from which it cannot be withdrawn without injury to all
its members. I, therefore, respectfully suggest that the department be
organised upon a permanent basis with headquarters at the Mill and my
humble self at its head. All who agree will say 'Aye'."

"Aye," said Barney with prompt heartiness.

"Me, too," cried Iola, holding up both hands.

"Mother, what do you say?"

"Aye, laddie. There's much need for good cheer in the world."

"And you?" turning to Margaret, who stood with Mrs. Boyle's arm thrown
about her, "how do you vote?"

"This member needs it too much"--with a somewhat uncertain smile--"to
say anything but 'Aye'."

"Then," said Dick solemnly, "the 'good cheer' department is hereby and
henceforth organised as a permanent institution in the community here
represented, and we earnestly hope that its members will continue in
their faithful adherence thereto, believing, as we do, that loyalty to
this institution will be its highest reward."

But none of them knew what potencies of joy and of pain lay wrapped up
for them all in that same department of "good cheer."

VIII

BEN'S GANG

The harvest time in Ontario is ever a season of delightful rush and
bustle. The fall wheat follows hard upon the haying, and close upon the
fall wheat comes the barley, then the oats and the rest of the spring
grain.

It was this year to be a more than usually busy time for the Boyle
boys. They had a common purse, and out of that purse the payments on the
mortgage must be met, as well as Dick's college expenses. For the little
farm, with the profits from the mill, could do little more than provide
a living for the family. Ordinarily the lads worked for day's wages,
the farmers gladly paying the highest going, for the boys were famous
binders and good workers generally. This year, however, they had in mind
something more ambitious.

"Mother," said Dick, "did you hear of the new harvesting gang?"

"And who might they be?" as