She turned wishfully upon her mother her young bright eyes as she entered, but did not move or utter a word.

The children, who had been amusing themselves upon the floor, sprang to their feet, and, catching hold of the basket she had brought in with her, ascertained in a moment its contents.
"Fish and taters! Fish and taters!" cried the youngest, a little girl, clapping her hands, and dancing about the floor.
"Won't we have some dinner now ?" said Henry, the oldest boy, looking up into his mother's face with eager delight, as he laid his hands upon her arm.
"Yes, my children, you shall have a good dinner, and that right quickly," returned the mother in a voice half choked with emotion, as she threw off her bonnet, and proceeded to cook the coarse provisions she had obtained at the sacrifice of so much feeling.

It did not take long to boil the fish and potatoes, which were eaten with a keen relish by two of the children, Emma and Harry.

The gruel prepared for Ella, from the flour obtained at Mrs.Grubb's, did not much tempt the sickly appetite of the child.

She sipped a few spoonfuls, and then turned from the bowl which her mother held for her at the bedside.
"Eat more of it, dear," said Mrs.Gaston.