? A young thing like you?" He peered at
her in his intent way. "I guess you have grit," he said.

"Not much," she answered. "But my eyes are better, they tell me. Time
will show. Can't something be done for yours?"

"Oh, yes, they are going to operate on the right one in the spring,
but it is not likely to do any good; and then I shall have just half
an eye left."

Norah and James Mandeville now entered unobserved.

"I have got to row up that plumber," Giant Despair continued, looking
at his hat. "As I told you, I don't approve of a shop in this
neighborhood, but I don't see anything that looks like one. Good day,"
and with a grim smile he went out more quietly than he had entered.

"Who would ever have expected a visit from Giant Despair?" cried
Norah, "and he seems to have a bit of humor about him, too."

"I am sorry for him. He looks as if he had no one to take care of him,
and he is nearly blind, as you can tell," said Marion.

When Mammy Belle came for her charge at noon, Marion asked her if she
knew anything about old Mr. Goodman.

"Yes'm," answered Belle, "I knows him, Miss Marion," smoothing her
apron.

"Does he live alone in that big house on the Terrace?"

"Yes'm, and he's mighty rich and crusty. He don't waste no pleasant
words, and he don't waste no money. Law, Miss Marion, he's got rusty
dollars layin' up in bank."

"Rusty dollars?" repeated Norah.

"Yes, honey, been layin' thar so long they's rusty. Get up offen the
floor, James Mandeville. You won't have no skin on your knees, fust
you knows."

"Then will I have to be born again to get some?" inquired the small
boy, sitting back on his heels to consider the matter.

"Law, chile, what you talkin' 'bout? You mus' think you's
Nickorydemus! Miss Norah's settin' there laughin' at you. Come 'long
home with mammy."

"Isn't there a delightful variousness about our neighborhood?" said
Norah. "Do you see that sun? Tell me I am not a prophet!"

"You are an angel to put up with me," sighed Marion, but her face was
no longer gloomy.

"I have been constructing a grab-bag, and you shall have the first
grab;" and Norah brought out a bag made of rainbow ribbons. "This is
outwardly symbolic of the cheer within. The principle on which it
works is simple. Whenever I find a consoling sentiment, I write it on
a card and drop it in, then when I am low in my mind, I take one out.
Help yourself."

"What an absurd person you are!" said Marion, obediently pu