ice was very
pleasant, as she replied to her request,--

"Certainly you can remain for the night, for I have never yet denied so
small a favor (as a shelter for the night) to any one who sought it.
Come in at once, and I will endeavor to make you and your little boy
comfortable, for you look very much fatigued."

The woman gladly followed the kind old lady into the house, and seated
herself in the comfortable rocking chair which she had kindly placed for
her; she also placed a seat for the child, but he refused to leave his
mother's side, and stood leaning upon the arm of her chair. The old lady
soon after left the room saying, as she did so, that she would soon
bring them some refreshment, of which they evidently stood much in need.

Mr. Humphrey, the husband of the old lady, soon came in, and his wife
said a few words to him in a low voice in the adjoining room; a kind
expression was upon his countenance when he entered the room where were
the strangers. He coaxed the little boy to come and sit upon his knee,
by the offer of a large red-cheeked apple which he took from his pocket.
He stroked his brown curls and asked him to tell him his name.

"Ernest Harwood," replied the boy.

Mr. Humphrey told him he thought it a very nice name, and also that he
thought him a very fine little boy. The little fellow blushed, and hid
his face at the praise thus bestowed upon him.

Mrs. Humphrey soon after re-entered the room, bringing a small tea-tray,
on which was a cup of tea and some other suitable refreshment for the
weary woman; she also brought a bowl of bread and milk for the child.
The woman drank the tea eagerly, like one athirst, but partook sparingly
of the more substantial refreshment which Mrs. Humphrey urged upon her;
but the sight of the brim-full bowl of bread and milk caused the eyes of
the little boy to glisten with pleasure, and he did ample justice to the
hospitality of the benevolent old lady.

Mrs. Harwood wished to give Mrs. Humphrey some account of the
circumstances which caused her to be travelling alone with her child,
but the worthy and considerate lady would not allow her to further
fatigue herself by talking that night, and insisted upon her retiring at
once to rest.

"To-morrow," said she, "I shall be happy to listen to any thing you may
wish to communicate."

Mrs. Humphrey conducted the woman and her child up stairs to a neat
bed-room where, after making every arrangement necessary to their
c