comforted, and did not wish for any interruption to their thoughts; but after a while he began to enquire how long the time still was, and was told only just a fortnight, and that there were only two more market-days, and she still had to earn twenty-three shillings. He knew that he could at once have settled the matter by giving her the money, but he was too good a friend to Fanny to do that: it would, if she was to succeed, be depriving her of a great happiness; and if she was to fail, it would be leading her to expect that by some means or another she would get what she longed for, and it would be in a manner rewarding her for the very simple duty of trying to help her mother, in doing which she was at the same time pleasing herself; therefore, though much touched at her expressions of grief for the loss of her home, and admiring her industry and perseverance, even when suffering a great deal, he would never have thought of such a thing as helping her with money, but he said he would go to the landlord to prevail upon him to give them another fortnight, so that if Fanny could get well in a week, she would still have three to dispose of; and he suggested that when she was again able to walk, that she needn't wait for market-days, but take her basket to the different ladies' houses, and he would give her a good word to them. "But first of all, Fanny, we must have you get well-no more work till you are all right; but go to bed now, like a good child, and I will send you some medicines, and will come again to-morrow. Good-bye, Mrs. Aiken, keep a good heart, and all will go well yet;" and as usual the good Doctor left comforted hearts behind him, and many were the blessings bestowed upon him by his humble friends. THE VILLAGE HOME. Part IIE. "The low sweet tones of Nature's lyre Sweet roses, one by one, nor autumn leaves decay." Christian Year. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow." St. Matthew, vi. 28. "How few the happy secret find Of your calm loveliness! Christian Year. THE next day, when the Doctor came, he said Fanny was a great deal better, that she might get up, but must not attempt to go out just yet, or she would only throw herself back again, as he was certain she had already done. She looked very wistfully at him, to know what news he had for her, and not wishing to keep her in suspense, he told her he had seen their landlord, and had told him all their story; that he found him a very difficult man to deal with, for he had always been accustomed to have his own way, and did not like to be contradicted, or opposed in anything he had set his mind upon. But he said he had spent a full hour with him, using every argument he could think of, and determined not to leave him till the point was gained, and he had at length yielded, so far as to say he would give one week more, viz., till next Monday fortnight, and that if the money was paid on the evening of that day he would be satisfied. Mrs. Aiken felt her eyes fill with tears as she thought of all the trouble their kind friend had taken for them; and Fanny burst forth with "Oh, dear sir! how can we thank you enough for all you have done, and so busy as you always are, to think of your giving us a whole hour, and asking a favour for us. Oh, sir! I shall always be grateful to you, whether I succeed or not; and oh, how happy it would make me if I could only show my gratitude; but what can a poor girl like me do, sir ?" She couldn't add any more, for her voice trembled, and she felt as if she should burst out crying, so many feelings crowded into her poor little heart all at once. The Doctor wouldn't appear to notice it, but only said, "Never mind about thanking me, Fanny; time enough by-and-bye-get well first; and now you must give me some of your pincushions, and housewives, and we shall see what kind of a shopman I shall make.” He tried to talk in a joking sort of way, for he saw her heart was very full, and she saw his intentions, for she was a very quick child, especially when her perceptions were sharpened by gratitude, and so she very soon got composed; and her mother gave her the basket, and she chose half a dozen of each of the neatest and prettiest among them, and they were then carefully put up in paper, so that the good doctor could without inconvenience put the parcel in his pocket. Who so happy as Fanny, when he rode away and left her full of hope, that with his help she might perhaps succeed in her arduous task. The poor child never thought of all her aches and pains, and did not in the least degree shrink from resuming her hard and incessant work, and it wouldn't be at all lessened, for her mother's hand was no better, and while Fanny had been ill they had been obliged to pay a girl to do the household work, so you may think how difficult they found it to live at all, having literally now only the sale of their few vegetables and eggs to depend upon. Most fortunately it was beautiful hot summer weather, so that very little firing was wanting, and they did with herb tea instead of buying any: it was a hard |