Who could wish to see them in their poverty and want ?--who but some evil person, coming to heap some new grief upon them?
She scarcely had the courage to open the door, but when she did so, she saw the smiling face of Tommy Howard.
"Good morning, Katy," said he, as he handed her a little basket he had brought.

"Mother sent this over, and wants to know how Mrs.Redburn does to-day." "She is about the same.

What is in this basket, Tommy ?" "O, you know;" and he turned to run away.
"Stop a minute, Tommy," called Katy.

"I want to speak to you." "Well, what is it ?" "You haven't told anybody about it--have you ?" "About what ?" "What I told you yesterday," replied Katy, hanging her head with shame.
"What do you mean ?" "That we had nothing to eat," and Katy blushed as though it was a crime to be hungry and have nothing to eat.
"Not a soul--catch me! that is, I hain't told nobody but mother." "I am sorry you did, even her.

My mother is very proud, if she is poor; but she wasn't always so poor as she is now, for she is the daughter of a rich merchant." "You don't say so." "Yes, I do, Tommy; so please don't say a word about it to anybody but your mother, and ask her not to mention it." "Not a word, Katy, mother won't say a word either." "And sometime I'll tell you all about it.