Part 7 (1/2)

”Oh, dear! I'm sorry!” came from the shoemaker, in a depressed voice.

A woman was sitting in Grant's shop when the boy came in; she had now risen, and was leaning on the counter; a look of disappointment was in her face.

”It can't be helped, Mrs. Lee,” said Grant. ”I was sure of getting the money from him. He never disappointed me before. Call in to-morrow, and I will try and have it for you.”

The woman looked troubled as well as disappointed. Slowly she turned away and left the shop. A few minutes after her departure, Herriot came in, and, after some words of apology, paid the bill.

”Run and get this note changed into silver for me,” said the shoemaker to his boy, the moment his customer had departed.

”Now,” said he, so soon as the silver was placed in his hands, ”take two dollars to Mrs. Lee, and three to Mr. Weaver across the street. Tell Mr.

Weaver that I am obliged to him for having loaned me the money this morning, and sorry that I hadn't as much in the house when he sent for it an hour ago.”

”I wish I had it, Mrs. Elder. But, I a.s.sure you that I have not,” said Mr. Weaver, the tailor. ”I paid out the last dollar just before you came in. But call in to-morrow, and you shall have the money to a certainty.”

”But what I am to do to-day? I haven't a cent to bless myself with; and I owe so much at the grocer's, where I deal, that he won't trust me for any thing more.”

The tailor looked troubled, and the woman lingered. Just at this moment the shoemaker's boy entered.

”Here are the three dollars Mr. Grant borrowed of you this morning,”

said the lad. ”He says he's sorry he hadn't the money when you sent for it awhile ago.”

How the faces of the tailor and his needlewoman brightened instantly, as if a gleam of suns.h.i.+ne had penetrated the room.

”Here is just the money I owe you,” said the former, in a cheerful voice, and he handed the woman the three dollars he had received. A moment after and he was alone, but with the glad face of the poor woman, whose need he had been able to supply, distinct before him.

Of the three dollars received by the needlewoman two went to the grocer, on account of her debt to him, half a dollar was paid to an old and needy coloured woman who had earned it by scrubbing, and who was waiting for Mrs. Weaver's return from the tailor's to get her due, and thus be able to provide an evening's and a morning's meal for herself and children. The other half-dollar was paid to the baker when he called towards evening to leave the accustomed loaf. Thus the poor needlewoman had been able to discharge four debts, and, at the same time re-establish her credit with the grocer and baker, from whom came the largest portion of the food consumed in her little family.

And now let us follow Mrs. Lee. On her arrival at home empty-handed, from her visit to the shoemaker, who owed her two dollars for work, she found a young girl, in whose pale face were many marks of suffering and care, awaiting her return.

The girl's countenance brightened as she came in; but there was no answering brightness in the countenance of Mrs. Lee, who immediately said--

”I'm very sorry, Harriet, but Mr. Grant put me off until to-morrow. He said he hadn't a dollar in the house.”

The girl's disappointment was very great, for the smile she had forced into life instantly faded, and was succeeded by a look of deep distress.

”Do you want the money very badly?” asked Mrs. Lee, in a low, half-choked voice, for the sudden change in the girl's manner had affected her.

”Oh, yes, ma'am, very badly. I left Mary wrapped up in my thick shawl, and a blanket wound all around her feet to keep them warm; but she was coughing dreadfully from the cold air of the room.”

”Haven't you a fire?” asked Mrs. Lee, in a quick, surprised tone.

”We have no coal. It was to buy coal that I wanted the money.”

Mrs. Lee struck her hands together, and an expression of pain was about pa.s.sing her lips, when the door of the room opened, and the shoemaker's boy came in.

”Here are two dollars. Mr. Grant sent them.”

”G.o.d bless Mr. Grant!” The exclamation from Mrs. Lee was involuntary.