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"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 FOB 
 
 THE MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME. 
 
 BY 
 
 COUSIN CAKKIE. 
 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 
 
 443 & 445 BROADWAY. 
 LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN. 
 1864. 
 
ENTEBED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by 
 D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of tho United States for 
 the Southern District of New York. 
 
 
KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 " I AM sorry for you, Lilian, but they say 
 the change must be made, and, much as I 
 regret, I am unable to prevent it." 
 
 The speaker, a tall, grave-looking, middle- 
 aged man, was principal of the public school 
 in a small New England village. The words 
 were addressed to a young girl not more than 
 fifteen years of age, in deep mourning, who, 
 with her head bowed upon the desk before 
 which she was seated, and her whole frame 
 quivering with suppressed sobs, seemed the 
 very picture of helpless distress. The stern 
 man's features lost much of their sternness, 
 and something very like a tear shone for a 
 moment in his usually cold gray eye, as he 
 glanced from the weeping girl to a little 
 child who stood by her side, crying because 
 
 742 
 
4: "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 her sister did, though she scarcely knew the 
 reason why. He moved uneasily, and hastily 
 repeated, " I am very sorry, Lilian." 
 
 The young girl arose, and, extending her 
 hand to him, said, with trembling lips, 
 a Thank you for your kind sympathy, Mr. 
 Wise. I know it is not in your power to 
 help me, or you would do so." Then hastily 
 tying on her bonnet, she took her little sis- 
 ter's hand, and, leaving the schoolhouse, 
 walked with a hurried step to a pretty little 
 cottage situated on the same street. 
 
 Lilian Ross was an orphan. Her father 
 died when she was but nine years old, her 
 brother Herbert fourteen, and little Eva a 
 beautiful blue-eyed baby. In less than a year 
 after his father's death, Herbert went away 
 on a sea voyage with an uncle. The ship 
 was lost on its homeward trip, and all on board 
 perished. 
 
 Mrs. Ross with her remaining children 
 continued to reside in the little white cottage 
 which had long been their home, until about 
 six months previous to the time at which our 
 story commences, when, after a long sickness, 
 she died, leaving her young daughters alone 
 in the world, penniless and almost friendless. 
 
 Lilian soon learned that, as the annuity 
 upon which they had hitherto lived ceased at 
 
her mother's death, she must do something for 
 the support of herself and little Eva, and hear- 
 ing that an assistant teacher in the village 
 school was about leaving, she applied for the 
 situation, which, notwithstanding her youth, 
 was readily granted her, for she had been a 
 favorite pupil in the school, and all felt sym- 
 pathy for her in her unprotected situation. 
 
 The cottage was taken by a nice, motherly 
 old lady, Mrs. Smith, and her daughter. 
 They had been friends of Mrs. Ross, and were 
 much attached to her children. Lilian and 
 Eva boarded with them, so they were not 
 obliged to leave their old home ; and though 
 they sadly missed their mother, these kind 
 friends did all in their power to supply her 
 place ; and if Lilian did sometimes feel very 
 weary when the day's task was over, still she 
 was happy in the thought that by her own ex- 
 ertion she was enabled to support herself and 
 little sister in comfort. 
 
 But this Friday evening, Mr. "Wise had' 
 asked her to remain a few moments after 
 school, and when the children had all gone 
 away with their merry voices and careless 
 hearts, he told her that the school committee 
 had decided that it would be necessary to 
 have an older and more experienced teacher 
 in her place, and that consequently, after the 
 
6 
 
 next week, which closed the fall term, her 
 services would be no longer required. 
 
 The good man felt very sad at the pain 
 he was obliged to inflict, and it is with his 
 words of pity that our story opens. 
 
 With a sad heart Lilian performed the 
 duties of her last week in school. Many a 
 time did her tears blister the page of the 
 primer from which some little child was la- 
 boriously lisping A, B, 0, to the sorrowful 
 surprise of the little one, who missed the en- 
 couraging smile of its young teacher. 
 
 Friday evening again came around. She 
 received her quarter's salary from Mr. Wise, 
 and for the last time crossed the threshold of 
 the old red schoolhouse, where she had spent 
 so many hours of happy childhood, and where 
 she had had her first struggle with the cares 
 and responsibilities of life. 
 
 The next day, Lilian sat by the windows 
 of her own room, thinking sadly of the hard 
 lot which had deprived her of her only sup- 
 port, and striving in vain to form some plan 
 for the future. All was dark to her, and as 
 the chilling November blast swept the few 
 dead leaves from the 'naked branches, and the 
 great drops of rain slowly trickled over the 
 window pane, Nature seemed to have no mes- 
 sage for her but of death, desolation, and tears. 
 
Presently the door was thrown open and 
 little Eva bounded into the room. She had 
 quite forgotten the sorrow which she could 
 not comprehend, and her bright eyes sparkled 
 with pleasure, as she ran to her sister's side, 
 holding up a few autumn flowers which she 
 had found in a sheltered nook of their little 
 garden. 
 
 Lilian tried to force an answering smile, 
 but the child saw that she was too sad to 
 share her delight in her treasures, and with a 
 subdued look and quiet step, she stole away, 
 and throwing herself on the rug before the 
 fire, she commenced arranging her flowers. A 
 very pretty picture was little Eva Ross as she 
 sat there. Her bright curls, which lay in 
 wild confusion over her black dress y shone in 
 the firelight like burnished gold ; her cheeks 
 were flushed with exercise, and her red lips 
 parted with a smile of satisfaction as the bou- 
 quet grew beneath her skilful little fingers. 
 
 Presently she began to sing at first in a 
 low murmuring tone that did not arouse her 
 sister from her sad musings ; but soon her 
 voice rose more clearly, and the words she 
 sang became distinct. 
 
 Lilian turned to listen. A bright contrast 
 was the happy child and her gay flowers to 
 the dark clouds and bare tempest-tossed 
 
8 "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 boughs upon which the young girl had been 
 looking. And in as great contrast to her own 
 foreboding thoughts was the simple song 
 which the little one was singing. 
 
 God bless the flowers, the gentle flowers, 
 
 That come to cheer us here ; 
 They brighten many dusky hours, 
 
 And chide full many a tear. 
 
 For will not He who keeps the flowers 
 
 Amid these autumn blasts, 
 Protect us too, in darkening hours, 
 
 Until the storms are past ? 
 
 These trusting words, which little Eva sung 
 in her artless way, stole like dawning light 
 over the heart of her sister, awakening her 
 sleeping faith and painting with the rainbow 
 hues of hope the heavy clouds which hung 
 around her spirit. She started up and catch- 
 ing the little warbler in her arms, covered her 
 with kisses. Then she bathed her swollen 
 eyes, resolving to waste no more time in use- 
 less tears, but to arouse herself and look about 
 for some employment, however humble, that 
 would bring them the necessities of life. Be- 
 lieving that He who had thus far provided for 
 them w r ould still continue his watchful c^re. 
 
 Eva was delighted to see her sister smile 
 once more, and was soon prattling to her of 
 
the time she had gathering her flowers ; how 
 the wind almost blew her away and the rain 
 splashed in her face. Then together they ar- 
 ranged the bright blossoms in their little blue 
 vases, and were just admiring their handi- 
 work, when Mrs. Smith came to tell Lilian 
 that Miss Jackson wished to see her. 
 
 Miss Jackson was a cheerful, busy little 
 
 body the one dressmaker of B , who 
 
 knew every one in the village, a great many 
 people out of it, and was a particular friend 
 of good Mrs. Smith. When she heard that 
 Lilian had lost her situation in the school, she 
 was very indignant, and said more hard things 
 of the trustees than her genial heart had ever 
 thought or her smiling lips uttered before of 
 any one. But her sympathy did not exhaust 
 itself in words, as human sympathy is too apt 
 to do : she determined, as she said, to " keep 
 one eye open, and see if something would not 
 turn up for the poor girl." Many a talk she 
 and Mrs. Smith had on the subject. The lat- 
 ter would glady have kept the orphans with 
 her free of charge, but she was poor herself, 
 and could not gratify all her generous im- 
 pulses. 
 
 And now Miss Jackson had come to an- 
 nounce that something had " turned up," in 
 the shape of a New York milliner, who was 
 
10 
 
 visiting her brother, Deacon Sharp, and who 
 wished to find a young girl to go back to the 
 city with her and make herself generally use- 
 ful in her establishment. Miss Jackson had 
 been at the Deacon's house fitting a dress for 
 Mrs. Sharp, and as the subject was discussed 
 in her hearing, she at once thought of Lilian, 
 and was so enthusiastic in her praise as to 
 convince Mrs. Pettigue that she would have 
 found an inestimable treasure, if the young 
 girl could be persuaded to accompany her. 
 
 It was accordingly agreed that the bus- 
 tling little dressmaker should call on Lilian 
 that very day, and, if she was willing to try 
 city life, bring her to see her would-be em- 
 ployer. 
 
 Poor Lilian was much distressed at the 
 thought of leaving her quiet country home 
 and the dear friends who had shared her joys 
 and sympathized with her sorrows ; but she 
 must in some way support herself and Eva, 
 and it might be many a long day before she 
 could find employment in the village ; so driv- 
 ing back her tears, she prepared to accompany 
 Miss Jackson to the Deacon's. 
 
 Mrs. Smith wept bitterly as she thought 
 how lonely the cottage would be without lit- 
 tle Eva's merry songs and laughter, and how 
 long the winter evenings would seem with no 
 
11 
 
 Lilian to read aloud, while she and her daugh- 
 ter were busied with their sewing an knit- 
 ting ; and deeper than any selfish sorrow was 
 the pain of seeing her darlings go forth from 
 the safe shelter of he? humble roof to wrestle 
 with the trials and temptations of the great city. 
 But she could not bid them stay ; she could 
 only pray that the Father of the fatherless 
 would guide and guard them amid the dangers 
 which would surround them when she should 
 be no longer near to counsel and direct. 
 
12 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 CHAPTEK II. 
 
 THE interview between Mrs. Pettigue and 
 Lilian was very satisfactory to the former, 
 who congratulated herself upon her good for- 
 tune in having secured the services of so mod- 
 est and ladylike a girl; whose quiet, gentle 
 manners she felt sure would add another 
 charm to her already famous establishment. 
 But very far from satisfactory was the im- 
 pression made upon poor Lilian by her new 
 acquaintance. Mrs. Pettigue was a thin, sal- 
 low w^oman, with restless, piercing black eyes, 
 that seemed ever on the alert to discover some 
 fault or failing in others. She was dressed in 
 the extreme of fashion, but no outward adorn- 
 ing could conceal her native vulgarity. When 
 conversing with the young orphan she inva- 
 riably spoke in the gentlest of tones, but with 
 so evident an effort, that Lilian readily guessed 
 it was not her usual manner of speaking to 
 those who were dependent upon her. Nor 
 was she far from right. There was enough 
 
13 
 
 tyranny swelling in the heart which throbbed 
 beneath Mrs. Petti gue's fashionably cut bod- 
 ice, to have furnished the Czar of all the 
 Kussias, and the Emperor of Morocco to boot ; 
 and though her domain was small, her sub- 
 jects were made to feel the weight of her 
 iron seep 're none the less keenly. But 
 she was quick to perceive that Lilian pos- 
 sessed characteristics which, though not con- 
 genial to her own nature, were calculated to 
 please many -of the most influential of her 
 patrons ; and thinking that the fact of her 
 having so pleasing an attendant in her rooms 
 might result in an increase of custom, she was 
 very anxious to secure her services, and so 
 much overacted her role of disinterested bene- 
 factress that Lilian soon saw through the 
 disguise. Still, as there seemed no alterna- 
 tive, she accepted her propositions, and after 
 agreeing to return with her to New York the 
 next week, left the good Deacon's house, with 
 a heavier heart even than that with which she 
 had entered. Not so with gay, hopeful, lit- 
 tle Miss Jackson : she was too single-minded 
 herself to suspect another of duplicity, and 
 too blind with regard to the faults of her 
 neighbors, to discover aught else in the honest 
 Deacon's sister than that she was a very obli- 
 ging body, who had given her some valuable 
 
14 
 
 information about the fashions, and finally 
 had quite won her heart by speaking so kind- 
 ly to Lilian, and providing her with so good 
 a situation ; and though she could not help 
 feeling sad at the thought of so soon parting 
 with her and her little pet Eva, she reproved 
 herself for what she called her selfishness, and 
 as they walked homeward^ in the cold driz- 
 zling rain, she talked cheeringly and hopefully 
 to her young companion, of the future, which 
 she was determined should be bright, and how, 
 one of these days, when she had made her for- 
 tune in New York, she and little Eva would 
 
 come back to dear old B , and they should 
 
 all be so happy as to quite forget that they 
 had ever been sorrowful. 
 
 Lilian listened and tried to feel encouraged 
 and to answer in the same cheerful strain, but 
 a choking sensation in her throat would not 
 let her speak, so she walked on in silence, and 
 in silence she returned the good-night kiss of 
 her cheery, bustling friend, at the gate of the 
 little cottage. 
 
 Little Eva was the only one of the house- 
 hold whose sleep was undisturbed that night. 
 Mrs. Smith and her daughter lay awake, vain- 
 ly trying to form some plan by which the 
 parting might be avoided, and when at last 
 they were forced to relinquish this hope, their 
 
15 
 
 thoughts were kept busy with self-denying 
 plans to furnish the young orphans with a 
 comfortable outfit for their journey. 
 
 " There is my bombazine dress, Rebecca," 
 said the old lady ; " it was bought when your 
 father died, and that is ten long years ago. 
 ThQ waist and sleeves are pretty much gone, 
 and I was thinking of having the skirt made 
 into a petticoat this winter ; but perhaps it is 
 most too good for that, and there is enough 
 of it to make Eva a dress and sacque. When 
 it is sponged and pressed it will look very 
 nice. I will see Miss Jackson about it to- 
 morrow. If she will cut and fit the dress, we 
 can manage the rest ourselves." 
 
 To this Miss Becky readily agreed ; then 
 after a moment's reflection, she said, " And 
 mother, you know I am having my black de- 
 laine, made over ; Miss Jackson fitted the new 
 lining yesterday, but really I go out so little 
 I hardly need it. With a little altering she 
 can make it a very nice dress for Lilian." 
 
 Mrs. Smith thought over her daughter's 
 already scanty wardrobe, and demurred at her 
 making the sacrifice; but her objection was 
 soon overruled by Miss Becky, who declared 
 that she could do so well without the dress 
 that she wondered she had ever thought of 
 having it made up for herself. 
 
16 
 
 Thus, with noble self-forgetfulness, the 
 mother and daughter through many hours of 
 the night were wakeful and busy with eco- 
 nomical but generous contrivances for the 
 comfort of their dear ones, and even when at 
 last they fell asleep, dreamed of footing stock- 
 ings and knitting mittens for them. 
 
 Think you not that the recording angel 
 who bent above the couch of those two poor 
 w r omen, noting down their little self-sacrifices, 
 bore to the courts of heaven as bright a page 
 as that which chronicled the millionaire's gift 
 of thousands to some popular charity ? 
 
 While her kind friends were thus striving 
 to forget their own grief in planning for her 
 welfare, Lilian, relieved from the restraint, 
 which, for their sake and that of little Eva, 
 she had placed upon herself when with the 
 family, wept and sobbed most bitterly. For- 
 getting that she had resolved so short a time 
 before never more to despond, but always to put 
 her trust in God, she now looked despairingly 
 upon the darkest spot in her unpromising fu- 
 ture, and felt that she was utterly forsaken. 
 The loud striking of the old clock as it marked 
 the slowly passing hours, seemed now a knell 
 for the happy days that were gone, and now 
 an alarm, warning her of those which w r ere 
 approaching. It was not until the gray morn- 
 
17 
 
 ing light looked in at her chamber window 
 that the wearied and excited girl found sweet 
 forgetfulness in sleep. 
 
 The few remaining days of the orphans' 
 stay in their old home were so fully occupied 
 with the hurried preparations for their de- 
 parture, that there was but little time to give 
 way to unavailing regrets. A few friends 
 came to bid them good-by, and express their 
 good wishes for their future. Together they 
 visited a few favorite spots, and knelt at 
 their parents' graves, but all was done hur- 
 riedly and in a kind of excitement which 
 prevented the full realization that it was the 
 last time, it might be for years, and it might 
 be forever, that they were to look upon these 
 dear scenes and faces which had so long been 
 familiar to them. 
 
18 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 TIME moves with, no laggard pace when 
 he bears us onward to some dreaded future, 
 however distant it may seem, and Lilian's lit- 
 tle week of respite flew past on such rapid 
 wings that before she had learned fully to 
 comprehend the fact that she was to go forth 
 in the wide cold world, the appointed day 
 had arrived. The last stitch had been taken 
 in the humble outfit ; the trunk she and 
 Eva needed but one stood ready locked and 
 strapped ; her bonnet and shawl lay on the 
 snowy counterpane of the bed where she had 
 dreamed childhood's bright dreams, and be- 
 side which she had knelt to ask for strength 
 to bear the sorrows that pressed so heavily on 
 her youth. Mrs. Smith with trembling hands 
 was stowing away in a little basket the nice 
 things which were to beguile their journey, 
 and Miss Becky was for the last time smooth- 
 ing little Eva's curls, while her tears, which 
 fell like rain upon the golden ripples, so 
 blinded her that she could hardly see to per- 
 
19 
 
 form the loving task. Nothing remained but 
 to look once more into the room where her 
 mother died, and say the last sad words of 
 farewell to those who had so faithfully en- 
 deavored to fill her place. Bravely she strove 
 against the feeling of utter .desolation that 
 chilled her very heart ; but when old Ponto, 
 who had been the playmate of her childhood, 
 came and thrust his shaggy head in her lap, 
 and gazing into her face with a wistful, in- 
 quiring look, as if he suspected she was about 
 to leave him, and would reproach her for the 
 desertion, her forced fortitude gave way, and 
 throwing her arms around the neck of the 
 old favorite, she wept bitterly. 
 
 Little Eva, who had been secretly instruct- 
 ed by Miss Jackson to " be a good girl, and 
 not give her sister any trouble, and on no ac- 
 count to let her see that she was sorry to 
 leave the old place, but to keep singing and 
 playing about as if nothing was the matter," 
 had all the morning been striving to carry 
 out the somewhat difficult part assigned her, 
 thereby gaining for herself the reputation 
 with some of the neighbors of being a " heart- 
 less little minx, who cared no more about 
 leaving her old friends than if they were so 
 many stocks and stones." Little did those 
 who judged her know that the child loved 
 
20 
 
 even the very " stocks and stones " about the 
 humble homestead with an ardor which they 
 were incapable of appreciating, and that the 
 songs which gave such offence came welling 
 wearily up from a heart which longed to give 
 vent to its grief in childish lamentations ; that 
 what they condemned as heartlessness, was 
 smiled upon by good angels as an evidence 
 of noble self-forgetfulness. But Eva's self- 
 control, heroically as she had struggled for it, 
 deserted her at last ; for when she saw her 
 sister weeping on the neck of old Ponto, the 
 grief which she had so long kept tightly locked 
 in her baby heart, burst forth in passionate sobs. 
 Miss Becky caught the child to her breast and 
 mingled her tears with those of her little fa- 
 vorite, and kind-hearted Mrs. Smith strove 
 with trembling lips to speak the words of 
 comfort which she could not feel. 
 
 " Hoity, toity ! what is all this about ? " 
 exclaimed Deacon Sharp, who had come up 
 with his light wagon to convey the young 
 travellers together with his sister to the near- 
 est railroad station, and who, entering without 
 knocking, had come upon the little household 
 at the moment they were thus giving vent to 
 their grief at parting. " Why, Lillie," he 
 continued, " one would think that Pont was 
 your last friend, and about to suffer a just 
 
21 
 
 penalty on the gallows for all the robberies of 
 my henroost that he has been guilty of. 
 Cheer up, child ! I promise you, I will not 
 touch a hair of his wicked old head while -you 
 are gone. And you too, rosebud ! " (toss- 
 ing Eva in the air,) " take care, you will put 
 out those bright eyes, and then you can't see 
 the fine sights when you get to York." 
 
 The blunt but good-natured Deacon did 
 much toward restoring the composure of the 
 sorrowful group, for there is no surer check 
 to the outward manifestation of grief than 
 that which it receives from the unsympa- 
 thizing though not unfriendly ridicule or jest. 
 
 The brief farewells were hurried through, 
 and Lilian soon found herself seated beside 
 Mrs. Pettigue, who. looked with ill-concealed 
 impatience upon her pale face and swollen 
 eyes, and who, instead of speaking words of 
 comfort and encouragement, began almost im- 
 mediately to tell her how foolish she was, not 
 to follow her advice and leave Eva behind, 
 dwelling on the burden and hinderance she 
 would be to her in the city, and assuring her 
 that she would never consent to have the 
 child loitering about her rooms. Poor Lilian 
 listened to the fretful tirade in silence, seeing 
 in it but the beginning of trouble, and half 
 condemning herself for taking her little sis- 
 
22 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 ter to share the dreary lot which she saw 
 opening before her. 
 
 "When they reached the cars, all was 
 noise and confusion, and the youthful travel- 
 lers, bewildered by the novel sight and sounds, 
 scarcely heard the Deacon's hearty good-by, 
 or realized that they were flying with almost 
 the swiftness of thought away from their hap- 
 py home. 
 
 Mrs. Pettigue, to whom a ride on the rail- 
 road was no new thing, ensconced herself 
 comfortably in a corner of the seat, and gave 
 her attention wholly to the perusal of the last 
 new novel. Little Eva, relieved from the sur- 
 veillance of those piercing black eyes, knelt 
 by the window, and with childhood's elas- 
 ticity of spirit, forgot her grief in wondering 
 admiration of the varied scenes which flitted 
 before her gazfe. Thus left to herself, Lilian 
 drew her veil closely over her face and lost 
 all consciousness of outward things in moody, 
 troubled thought. 
 
 The incongruous party were borne swiftly 
 on their journey, and reached New York early 
 in the evening a dark, chill, drizzling even- 
 ingthe atmosphere redolent of a gassy odor, 
 the pavements slippery with a muddy slime, 
 the men, women, and children who thronged 
 the streets wearing on their brows a discon- 
 
23 
 
 tented, gloomy frown, or a careworn look that 
 told of a life of anxiety and toil. Forlorn in- 
 deed was the first impression of the city re- 
 ceived by the orphans, who had never before 
 been ten miles from their quiet village home. 
 
 They mechanically followed Mrs. Pettigue 
 into the omnibus which was to take them 
 within a short distance of her boarding house, 
 where they were to remain for the night, and 
 until other accommodations could be found 
 for them. Poor little Eva clung to her sister 
 in terror as the noisy, unwieldy vehicle 
 dashed recklessly through the crowded streets, 
 while Lilian feeling all the utter hopelessness 
 of first homesickness, almost wished that some 
 catastrophe might put an end to that life 
 which she imagined had forever lost all 
 charms for her. 
 
 The next morning all things seemed to 
 wear a more hopeful aspect. Lilian, having 
 wept herself to sleep the night before, began 
 to feel something of the reaction which usu- 
 ally follows any vielent demonstration of emo- 
 tion, whether it be of joy or grief, and looked 
 with growing interest upon the strange city 
 sights to which her excited little sister, who 
 had taken her stand at the window, was con- 
 tinually calling her attention. The Bun shone 
 brightly through the ragged openings of the 
 
fast retreating clouds, casting its cheerful 
 light over the scene which had seemed so 
 gloomy the previous evening. 
 
 It had been decided before they left B 
 that, if they could procure rooms, it would be 
 better for them to take lodgings in some 
 quiet, respectable neighborhood, as they 
 could in that way live more economically, 
 and (which was a great consideration with 
 good Mrs. Smith) in greater seclusion than at 
 some third or fourth-rate boarding house, 
 which would be the best that their means 
 could provide. Accordingly, on this, the 
 first morning after their arrival, Mrs. Petti- 
 gue told Lilian that she should not expect 
 her to enter upon the duties of her new call- 
 ing until the following day, but would send 
 to her one of the girls in her employ, whose 
 mother sometimes had furnished rooms to let, 
 as she thought there could be some arrange^ 
 ment made for their accommodation there. 
 
 Ellen Havens, for whose visit Lilian was 
 thus prepared, was a lively, thoughtless girl, 
 naturally kind hearted, but as she was gov- 
 erned entirely by impulse, her quickly formed 
 friendships were not of a very abiding char- 
 acter. She was charmed by the beauty of 
 her new acquaintance, and touched by her 
 air of sadness. Little Eva she pronounced a 
 
most bewitching little fairy, and almost de- 
 voured the astonished child with kisses, while 
 she enumerated the advantages of her moth- 
 er's rooms, and expatiated on the happiness 
 in store for them all when they should form 
 one household, though she added, with a 
 shrug of the shoulders, that Mrs. Pettigue's 
 evil temper was a sad drawback to the fe- 
 licity of any unfortunate mortal who was 
 placed in her power. 
 
 Lilian listened almost in silence, as they 
 walked toward Mrs. Havens's, to Ellen's 
 graphic description of the " scenes " which 
 were sometimes enacted in Mrs. Pettigue's 
 work rooms. Her heart failed her as she 
 heard this evidence in confirmation of her 
 own preconceived opinion of her employer, 
 which, under the influence of the cheerful 
 sunlight, she had begun to hope was unjust. 
 
 The mother of Ellen was a fretful, care- 
 worn looking woman, a decided contrast to 
 her sprightly daughter. She had seen better 
 days, and never ceased to lament her changed 
 fortunes. Her clouded brow and complain- 
 ing voice raised a perpetual protest against 
 the hard fate which had banished her from a 
 life of ease and comfort to one of toil and 
 privation ; but though she mourned for the 
 past, she did not fail to do what she could to 
 2 
 
26 " KEEP A GOOD HEAUT." 
 
 supply the necessities of the present. When, 
 by her husband's death, she was left with 
 three little children to provide for, and found 
 that, after the estate was settled, the only 
 property remaining to her was the house and 
 furniture, she decided to take boarders, as the 
 sole means open to her by which she could 
 support the family. 
 
 For a time she succeeded very well, but 
 in a few years the neighborhood was so 
 changed by the encroachments of business, 
 that she found it difficult to procure a suffi- 
 cient number of boarders of a class that she 
 was willing to receive. Accordingly she was 
 induced to rent some of her rooms to one or 
 two respectable families, whose means would 
 not allow them either to board or to occupy 
 a whole house by themselves. 
 
 Poor Mrs. Havens had many trials, but 
 the bitterest of all was that, in spite of her 
 exertions, she could not save her children 
 from rough contact with the world. It was a 
 sad day to her when she gave her reluctant 
 consent that Ellen, her eldest daughter, 
 should accept an offered situation at Mrs. 
 Pettigue's ; but long and expensive illness 
 had not only exhausted her slender purse, 
 but added debt to their other perplexities. 
 It was necessary something should be done, 
 
27 
 
 and Ellen, with her usual impulsiveness, was 
 eager to try her hand at making the beautiful 
 things which so charmed her in the milliner's 
 windows. 
 
 She had been in the employ of Mrs. Pet- 
 tigue for nearly a year when Lilian made her 
 acquaintance, and had long since discovered 
 that the lot she had chosen was a hard one. 
 Many a time did she look with envy upon 
 the fair purchaser of some "love of a bon- 
 net " which she herself had helped to form. 
 Ah ! she knew not that the costliest lace and 
 flowers might shade a brow throbbing with 
 an anguish deeper than any she had yet fath- 
 omed, or perhaps she would have murmured 
 less. 
 
 It was soon arranged that Lilian and little 
 Eva should become the occupants of Mrs. 
 Havens's vacant apartments a third-story 
 back room of moderate size, with a smaller 
 one opening from it, which would do very 
 well for a bedroom ; the larger one was to 
 serve as parlor and dining room all in one. 
 A kitchen Lilian said they could very well 
 dispense with, for she must be " maid of all 
 work," and would certainly have no time to 
 cook. 
 
 Both rooms were furnished neatly, though 
 plainly, and when the windows were draped 
 
28 
 
 with the pretty chintz curtains which Mrs. 
 Smith had insisted Lilian should take, because 
 they had been her mother's, they had quite a 
 cosy appearance. 
 
 In the course of the afternoon, Mrs. Ha- 
 vens, who felt quite an interest in the young 
 orphans, offered to go out with them if there 
 were any purchases they wished to make. 
 Lilian gladly accepted the offer. The remains 
 of the lunch which Mrs. Smith had prepared 
 for them the day before .served very well in 
 place of dinner, but it was necessary she 
 should buy something for supper, and she 
 was almost afraid to venture into the 
 crowded streets alone. 
 
 Their first visit was to a china store, 
 which, though a very unpretending establish- 
 ment for the city, filled our little country-bred 
 Eva with admiration. While her sister, with 
 the advice and assistance of Mrs. Havens, was 
 selecting the few cups and plates which were 
 absolutely necessary for their use, she strayed 
 off by herself, gazing in unutterable delight 
 upon the beautiful objects which surrounded 
 her. She fancied that she was in Fairyland, 
 and that the bright flakes of prismatic light, 
 which fell upon her from a large cut-glass 
 vase in the window, were real, tangible jewels 
 with which the fairies were decking her. She 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEABT." 29 
 
 stooped to let the bright shower fall on her 
 golden curls, and bared one white, plump arm 
 to see how the quivering gems would become 
 it, But suddenly she forgot her fantastic 
 play, for her roving eye chanced to rest on a 
 little Parian figure, more beautiful than any- 
 thing even her beauty-loving little heart had 
 ever dreamed of. It represented a child 
 standing on the sea beach. On one side 
 loomed up a barren rock, on the other the 
 foam-crested waves dashed even to her feet, 
 while her garments and hair were wildly 
 tossed by the tempest. Her dimpled hands 
 pressed a cross tightly to her breast, and the 
 upturned face wore an expression of sweet, 
 calm trust, in striking and beautiful contrast 
 to the marks of violence and desolation which 
 the other portions of the work evinced. On 
 the brow rested one of the rainbow-hued rays 
 with which little Eva had been toying. 
 
 The child gazed in silent rapture, while 
 her bosom heaved and her eyes filled with 
 tears whose source she could not have told. 
 Presently she drew nearer, and, mounting a 
 high stool that stood by the shelf on which 
 rested this creation of an art which seems al- 
 most divine, she pressed her full, warm lips 
 on the still, calm brow of the image, murmur- 
 ing to herself low and lovingly, " Beautiful, 
 beautiful ! " 
 
30 
 
 u Here, little girl ! hands off ! " exclaimed 
 a rough voice. At the same time she was 
 lifted, not very gently, from her seat and 
 placed upon the floor. Terrified and abashed, 
 she cast one timid glance at the frowning 
 face of her reprover, and then looked wildly 
 around for Lilian. Just then a hand was laid 
 protectingly on her head, and, raising her 
 tearful eyes, she perceived a gentleman with 
 a kind, benevolent face bending over her, and 
 saying to the angry shopman : 
 
 " Let the little one look, if it gives her 
 pleasure. I will see that she injures nothing." 
 
 The nervous proprietor of fragile mer- 
 chandise bowed deferentially, and, hastening 
 away to attend a customer, left the field to 
 Eva and her champion. 
 
 The gentleman placed her again on the 
 seat from which she had been so unceremoni- 
 ously deposed, and with kind and gentle 
 words soon succeeded in dispelling the cloud 
 which had momentarily cast its .shadow over 
 her bright brow. 
 
 " So you admire this little marble girl, do 
 you, Eva ? " asked her new friend, placing his 
 hand on the figure, upon which her eyes had 
 been fixed while she answered the questions 
 he had put regarding her name and home. 
 
 She raised her eyes to his face, and replied 
 
31 
 
 earnestly, " I love it, oh ! so dearly ! I never 
 saw anything so beautiful before. I shall 
 never, never forget it ; " and again the little 
 enthusiast bent down and kissed the " thing 
 of beauty," the very remembrance of which 
 would be to her " a joy forever." 
 
 The gentleman smiled with an expression 
 half amused, half sad ; then, taking the child's 
 little hand in his, he continued, u Has she no 
 message for you, Eva ? " 
 
 She looked up at first with a puzzled air, 
 then her lips half parted, but she made no 
 reply. 
 
 " Tell me, my child, do you know what 
 this figure represents ? " he repeated. 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Eva. " It is a little girl 
 on the sea shore. The great high rock will 
 not let her go that way, and here the sea is 
 sending its waves dashing against her. The 
 bright sky is all covered up with wild, black 
 clouds ; the lightning flashes as if the heavens 
 were on fire, and the thunder, the sea, and the 
 wind fill the whole air with dreadful noise " 
 
 u Wait, my child," interrupted the gentle- 
 man with a smile, " How do you know all 
 this ? Here we have the little girl, and the 
 rock, and the waves, to be sure, but why do 
 you think that there are clouds hanging 
 above, and storms raging around her ? " 
 
32 
 
 " I can tell there is a storm, because, see 
 how her hair and her dress are tossed by the 
 wind ; and I know how dreadful it is, for I 
 was on the beach in a thunder storm once 
 with mamma. Oh, it was awful ; I was so 
 frightened that I screamed and cried. But 
 this little girl is better than I she remembers 
 who made the sea and the rocks, who guides 
 the clouds and the lightning she hears sweet 
 music in the sound of the thunder and the 
 roaring of the waves, for God is speaking to 
 her." 
 
 The little hands which had been moving 
 in nervous gestures, dropped passively in her 
 lap, and the flushed face, quivering with ex- 
 citement, was reverently bowed as the child 
 ceased speaking. Her companion looked at 
 her in amazement. Was this the same child 
 that he had watched but a moment ago play- 
 ing with a sunbeam, now translating so elo- 
 quently the beautiful hieroglyph which he 
 had thought far beyond her comprehension? 
 .He laid his hand on her head, and smoothing " 
 back her curls, said in a low, grave voice : 
 
 " Little Eva, listen to the lesson which 
 this image of Faith should teach you. When 
 distress surrounds you, and dangers threaten, 
 you must not, as you did at the sea beach, 
 give way to helpless terror, but, like her, look 
 
S3 
 
 upward and see a Father's hand beckoning 
 through the tempest. The path of life lies 
 through many a rocky pass, but do 'not fear ; 
 though the chilling waves of sorrow and 
 trouble dash over you, have faith in God ; 
 know that He doeth all things well." 
 
 He had spoken as if forgetful how young 
 a child was his auditor, and to many of her 
 age his words might have been unintelligible ; 
 but there was a thoughtful little brain under 
 those golden ringlets, and not only did she 
 understand the words of the stranger, but her 
 young heart thrilled with the new thoughts 
 and resolves which they awakened. She had 
 been taught to believe that God was ever 
 near, watching all her actions and guiding all 
 her ways, but never before had she so realized 
 it, and she rejoiced in the thought that she 
 could hear and follow her Heavenly Father's 
 call, even though it must be through the tem- 
 pest. 
 
 She looked up, and replied slowly and 
 earnestly, " I don't think I shall ever be 
 afraid of anything in the wide world again." 
 
 The gentleman smiled somewhat sadly ; 
 she saw it, and her lips .parted as if to speak, 
 but just then her sister called her. Turning 
 to " little Faith," she bestowed a caress in 
 which was mingled fondness and a feeling 
 2* 
 
34: 
 
 akin to reverence. Then demurely giving her 
 hand to her new friend, she slid from the ele- 
 vated seat, arid the next moment was with 
 Lilian and Mrs. Havens, once more in the 
 street. The new sights and sounds by which 
 she was surrounded, drove the incident in the 
 china store from her thoughts for the time 
 being, and she enjoyed vastly the dignity and 
 responsibility of carrying the basket, in which 
 were deposited, as they were purchased, the 
 simple viands that were to constitute their 
 supper, and breakfast for the next morning. 
 
 When they reached home, she was so 
 tired with the long walk and excitement, that 
 she was quite content to sit on a low seat by 
 the fire with her doll in her arms, and watch 
 her sister as she placed the little tea kettle on 
 the stove, and spread on the table the snowy 
 damask, which, as well as the curtains, had 
 been their mother's. But when Lilian un- 
 rolled the spoons marked with that mother's 
 name, and placed them on the table, her eyes 
 filled with tears as she contrasted the happy 
 past, of which they were mementoes, with the 
 lonely, cheerless present. She turned away to 
 hide her grief from little Eva ; but the child's 
 quick ear caught the half audible sigh, and 
 stealing to her side, she whispered, " Don't 
 feel bad don't cry, Lilian." 
 
LILIAN IN HEK NEW HOME. 
 
" KEEP A GOOD HEART." 35 
 
 Yet when her eye fell upon the simple 
 household treasures of the old homestead, the 
 chilling feeling of loneliness and homesickness 
 crept over her heart too. For one moment 
 she struggled with the fast-rising tears, and 
 then, kneeling by her sister's side, she sobbed 
 as if her heart would lo*eak. 
 
 Lilian raised her to her lap, and locked in 
 each other's arms, the orphans wept. Lilian 
 was the first to recover herself; hastily brush- 
 ing away her tears, she exclaimed : 
 
 " There, darling ! I have spoiled all your 
 pleasant day with my selfish tears. Come, 
 birdie, dry your eyes, and we will try to talk 
 of something cheerful." 
 
 The child was soon comforted, but in a 
 moment she turned to her sister and asked : 
 
 u It isn't wicked to cry, is it, Lilian ? " 
 
 " Why, no, little sister. Why do you ask 
 such a question ? " 
 
 " Because I thought once to-day that it 
 would be, and that I should never cry again ; 
 but being sorry isn't like being afraid to trust 
 God, is it ? " 
 
 Lilian shook her head she could not trust 
 her voice to reply. 
 
 " No, it can't be wrong, Lillie," continued 
 the child, " for if we were never sorry for 
 anything, how could we tell whether we 
 
86 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 trusted Him or not? If we hadn't any 
 trouble we couldn't be like little Faith, could 
 we?" 
 
 "Who is little Faith, Eva? " asked Lilian, 
 somewhat puzzled. And the little girl was 
 soon giving an animated description of the 
 beautiful figure, and the kind gentleman she 
 had seen at the china store. While she was 
 yet talking, there came a rap at the door. 
 Eva sprang to open it, admitting a boy with 
 a huge basket containing the dishes which 
 Lilian had purchased, and for which they 
 were waiting supper. 
 
 Eva was delighted, and her sister looked 
 on with some satisfaction as the boy placed 
 one article after another carefully on the car- 
 pet. At last he handed out a pretty painted 
 mug, and the number was complete. Eva 
 thought it very beautiful, and when she saw 
 the words " For my little sister," written in 
 gilt letters within the delicate rose wreath, 
 she knew it was for her, and bounding to her 
 sister's side, she almost smothered her with 
 kisses. 
 
 The errand boy stood looking on with a 
 good-natured grin, then, again turning to his 
 basket, he produced something carefully 
 wrapped up ; removing the wrappings he 
 placed on the table what do you think? 
 
Eva could hardly believe her eyes, but it was 
 " beautiful little Faith." 
 
 " There is some mistake," Lilian said to 
 the boy ; " this does not belong here." 
 
 " I guess it does leastwise, boss told me 
 to leave it here 'long with them things," and 
 with an awkward bow, he disappeared down 
 the stairs. 
 
 Eva's delight and amazement kept her 
 silent, till Lilian, bent upon solving the mys- 
 tery, discovered a card attached to the figure, 
 on which was written, " For little Eva, from 
 one who has walked far in the stony path, 
 and knows that Faith can make bright the 
 darkest days." 
 
 " Why, birdie," she exclaimed, " this must 
 be from your new friend." 
 
 " Is it really for me, sister, and did the 
 kind gentleman send it to me ? " 
 
 "It is certainly for you, for here is your 
 name, and I know of no one who could have 
 sent it but the kind gentleman, as you call 
 him." 
 
 The child sat for some moments gazing 
 upon her treasure, too full of happiness for 
 words, then throwing her arms around it, she 
 exclaimed, " Oh ! Lilian, arn't you glad that 
 dear, beautiful Faith has come to live with 
 us?" 
 
 Lilian answered her with a kiss, but it 
 
38 
 
 was long ere the artless question left her 
 thoughts. It would ever return linked with 
 the words which the friendly stranger's hand 
 had written on the card. Was it true that 
 faith could brighten earthly sorrows ? If she 
 received the heavenly guest into her heart as 
 gladly and lovingly as her little sister received 
 the image, would her trials seem lighter ? 
 
 The little room had a very cheerful look 
 when the curtains were drawn, the gas lighted, 
 and the table set with the pretty new dishes. 
 Then Lilian cut the baker's loaf (which Eva 
 declared was no larger than one of Aunty 
 Smith's biscuits), and made some nice brown 
 toast, while Eva, anxious to be useful, placed 
 on the table the chipped beef and little cakes 
 which had formed part of the contents of the 
 basket which she had been so proud to carry ; 
 then the tea sent forth its fragrant aroma, as 
 Lilian poured it into the graceful little tea- 
 pot, and the orphans sat down to the first 
 meal of their own preparing. 
 
 Eva was in high spirits she could hardly 
 drink her tea for looking at the roses on the 
 mug, and she had so much to say about the 
 kind stranger and his beautiful gift, that she 
 almost forgot to eat her cake. Lilian could 
 not but catch some of the spirit of gladness 
 that glanced from her little sister's bright 
 eyes. They had quite a merry time of it, 
 
39 
 
 washing the dishes and arranging them in the 
 closet, and on the whole, the evening passed 
 away much more pleasantly than she would 
 have believed it possible that her first evening 
 in the city could have done. At last, little 
 Eva began to show unmistakable symptoms 
 of having sat up beyond her usual bedtime. 
 Her merry prattle was hushed, and the 
 fringed curtains would fall over her blue 
 eyes, in spite of all her efforts. When she 
 was undressed, and stood in her long white 
 night dress beside her sister, who was wait- 
 ing to hear her repeat her evening prayer, 
 she said, in a low sweet voice : 
 
 " Lillie, may I ask God to bless the good 
 gentleman who sent sweet little Faith ? " and 
 the orphaned child, kneeling for the first time 
 in her new home, prayed for a blessing upon 
 the stranger whose kindness had made her 
 little heart so glad. 
 
 Eva had just fallen asleep, when Ellen 
 Havens came to the room with a message from 
 Mrs. Pettigne, that she should expect Lilian 
 punctually at her place in the morning. She 
 seemed quite delighted at the thought of hav- 
 ing her for a companion in her early walk, 
 and chatted and laughed so merrily, that she 
 gave her no time to indulge the foreboding 
 thoughts which the mention of Mrs. Petti- 
 gue's name aroused. 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 VEKY early the next morning the orphans 
 were astir. Their frugal breakfast was soon 
 despatched, the rooms put in order, and they 
 were ready to go on their separate ways to 
 encounter the great untried world. For little 
 Eva, as well as her sister, was to meet strange 
 faces and learn new duties. 
 
 The younger children of Mrs. Havens 
 attended a public school not far distant, and 
 it was agreed that she should accompany 
 them. Lilian's anxiety about her was greatly 
 relieved by the arrangement, as she had felt 
 much disturbed at the thought of leaving her 
 alone at home, during the long hours of her 
 daily absence ; and though the ehild herself 
 felt some heart quakings at the prospect be- 
 fore her, she carefully hid her fears from her 
 sister, and talked merrily and hopefully of 
 how much she would learn, and how very 
 good she would be at school. 
 
 The breakfast things were just washed 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 41 
 
 and returned to the closet shelves, when 
 Ellen's voice was heard at the door bidding 
 Lilian " make haste, or they would be late, 
 and catch a lecture from Mrs. Pettigue." 
 Hurriedly throwing on her bonnet and shawl, 
 she gave the child one kiss, and a last injunc- 
 tion to be a good girl, and then was gone. 
 
 Finding herself alone, Eva's fears returned 
 with greater force, and bowing her head on 
 the table, she burst into tears. Presently, 
 chancing to look up, her eyes fell upon the 
 little image of Faith: instantly, -she remem- 
 bered all the resolutions of yesterday, and 
 feeling rebuked, she dried her eyes and 
 turned to the window, hoping to find some 
 object of interest to divert her attention from 
 her own troubles, and help her to keep down 
 the rebellious sobs. 
 
 As the little child watched the gray clouds 
 slowly dispersing before the rising sun, her 
 mind was busy with thoughts of Him who 
 made them, and though she was ignorant of 
 the origin of the clouds, and thought that the 
 sun was really moving, yet she left the win- 
 dow wiser than many a world-renowned 
 philosopher, for Nature had repeated the les- 
 son that the beautiful work of Art had whis- 
 pered, and faith had taken deeper root in her 
 young heart. 
 
42 "KEEP A GOOD HEAET." 
 
 When John and Jennie Havens came to 
 call her at school time, they found her busy 
 dressing her doll the terror was all gone; 
 and no one who saw her as she trudged by 
 Jennie's side, with her little dinner basket in 
 her hand, would have dreamed that those 
 bright eyes had been so lately dimmed with 
 tears. 
 
 Of her two companions she liked Jennie 
 best. She was three or four years her senior, 
 and quite inclined to act the part of patron 
 and champion toward the little stranger. To 
 be sure, she was somewhat selfish and dictato- 
 rial, and expected her protegee to be governed 
 entirely by her will ; but then she would not 
 allow any one else to tyrannize over her, and 
 Eva was for the present willing to pay the 
 tribnte of obedience to her whims, in order to 
 secure the protection of so powerful an ally ; 
 for John, a stout boy of twelve or thirteen, 
 began already to show a decided inclination 
 to tease and annoy the helpless little girl, 
 which his sister's threats and expostulations 
 alone kept in check. 
 
 When they reached the school, she was 
 very glad to find that his place of destination 
 was in quite a different part of the building 
 from hers, and that the class to which she was 
 conducted was in the same room with Jen- 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 43 
 
 nie. And though she could not help con- 
 trasting the frowning brow, and harsh, sharp 
 voice of the teacher to whose care she was 
 consigned, with the mild looks and sweet 
 voice of her sister, who had until now been 
 her only instructor, still she felt that, after all, 
 going to a new school, though perhaps not 
 the pleasantest thing in the world, was not 
 quite so bad as she had imagined. 
 
 Now we will leave little Eva perched on 
 a high bench, industriously striving to fix her 
 wandering thoughts on the book before her, 
 and will follow Lilian to her new field of 
 duty. She and Ellen reached Mrs. Pettigue's 
 in time to escape the -dreaded lecture. In- 
 deed, that lady was in less of a lecturing 
 mood this morning, than usual, and received 
 them quite graciously. 
 
 Ellen went to her place in the workroom, 
 while Mrs. Pettigue herself conducted Lilian 
 to .the salesrooms, and explained what would 
 be required of her. 
 
 The poor girl was sadly confused by the 
 curious glances which the shopgirls cas'~, 
 toward her, and her embarrassment was not 
 lessened as she overheard their whispered criti- 
 cisms of her dress and appearance. But as the 
 morning wore away^ and the rooms became 
 filled with ladies, all eager to be first served, 
 
4:4: "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 she found so much to do that she had no time to 
 think of herself, and consequently her timidity 
 soon disappeared, and she even became inter- 
 ested in the busy scene. Mrs. Pettigue, though 
 seemingly forgetful of her, watched her narrow- 
 ly. It was well Lilian did not know that those 
 piercing black eyes were following her, or she 
 would hardly have won the golden opinions 
 which were silently showered upon her, both 
 by the milliner and her customers. 
 
 The busy day at last drew to a close, and 
 Lilian was surprised to find how quickly it 
 had passed, and how few trials it had brought 
 her. A brisk walk through the brilliantly 
 lighted streets, and she was once more at her 
 new home. Eva, who had been alone ever 
 since her return from school, was delighted to 
 see her. She had the table set, and the ket- 
 tle boiling, and considered herself quite a 
 smart housekeeper. Lilian praised her indus- 
 try, and while she prepared tea, they re- 
 counted to each other their separate histories 
 of the day's experience. 
 
 Several weeks passed by with their mingled 
 joys and sorrows. Lilian's homesickness be- 
 gan to wear away. She had become quite a 
 favorite with a number of Mrs. Pettigue's 
 customers, who thought none could serve 
 them so well as the young girl, whose pa- 
 
tience was never wearied by their fastidious- 
 ness, and whose exquisite taste and skilful 
 fingers were always ready to suggest improve- 
 ments and make alterations wherever re- 
 quired, without regard to her own ease. 
 
 Mrs. Pettigue, pleased with her popu- 
 larity, treated her with much more considera- 
 tion than she did the other girls. But Lilian 
 found to her sorrow, as many a favorite had 
 found before, that the favor of those in au- 
 thority brings with it annoyance and danger 
 as well as benefit. The indulgence which 
 spared her many a harsh word and unjust 
 reproof from the head of the establishment, 
 won for her the jealousy and dislike of those 
 who were to be her daily associates. Even 
 Ellen was less friendly than at first. Lilian 
 noticed the change, but for a time could not 
 guess the cause. One morning, however, she 
 accidentally overheard a conversation between 
 Ellen and one of the other girls, from which 
 she discovered that they looked upon her with 
 suspicion, on account of Mrs. Pettigue's par- 
 tiality, even fancying that she was set as a 
 spy over them. 
 
 In vain she strove by every means in her 
 power to do away their unjust suspicions. 
 She could not but see that she was daily be- 
 coming more and more an object of aversion 
 
to her companions. The loss of Ellen's friend- 
 ship was a sore trial. The wild, merry girl 
 had been the first one in the great city to 
 speak a cheering word to her, and had treated 
 her with kindness and attention. And Lilian, 
 wilfully blind to her many faults, had lavished 
 upon her much of that romantic affection 
 which young girls are so apt to bestow upon 
 those whom their own imagination has en- 
 dowed with most exalted virtues, but who are 
 really, perhaps, quite unworthy of their ad- 
 miration. 
 
 Now that the delusion was over, she saw 
 her mistake, yet could not but mourn the 
 downfall of her bright ideal. 
 
 But much as she missed Ellen's society, 
 she had yet to learn that the loss of her fickle 
 friend was not the worst result of her unfor- 
 tunate popularity. 
 
 Envy and jealousy are dangerous seeds to 
 sow in the human heart ; in all, the fruit 
 must be evil ; in some, perhaps only a rank 
 weed, which exhausts the good qualities of the 
 soil from which it springs ; in others, a prickly 
 nettle, which stings and torments all who come 
 in contact with it ; and in another, the poison- 
 ous nightshade, concealing under a fair exte- 
 rior tfre most deadly venom. 
 
 So, with the evil passions which Mrs. Pet- 
 
4:7 
 
 tigue had aroused in the breasts of her em- 
 ployees by her unjust severity to them, cou- 
 pled with the marked partiality which she 
 showed for Lilian, some envied what they 
 considered her good fortune, and coveted her 
 beauty and grace ; others strove by petty 
 annoyances to harass and provoke her ; but 
 there was one who, without any outward 
 show of dislike, cherished a secret and bitter 
 hatred for the young orphan. 
 
 Maria Roberts had been with Mrs. Petti- 
 gue three or four years, and for a long time 
 stood high in that lady's good graces ; but of 
 late they had had many disagreements, and 
 about the time of Lilian's arrival Mrs. Petti- 
 gue began very decidedly to withdraw her 
 favor. Consequently, Maria had looked upon 
 her from the first as a rival, and resolved to 
 watch her opportunity for revenge. Oppor- 
 tunity to do wrong is seldom wanting long 
 for those who seek it ; and Maria's evil genius 
 did not forsake her on this occasion, as we 
 shall see. 
 
 One morning, when Lilian had been in 
 
 the city little more .than a month, Miss C , 
 
 one of Mrs. Pettigue's most valued customers, 
 called to order a headdress, and to Maria fell 
 
 the task of waiting on her. Now, Miss C 
 
 was determined that for this particular even- 
 
ing her coiffure should be decidedly unique, 
 and withal very becoming. 
 
 Maria exerted her skill to the utmost to 
 give satisfaction, but in vain ; the fastidious 
 beauty would not be pleased. This was too 
 commonplace, and that made her " look like 
 a fright." At last, turning impatiently to 
 Mrs. Pettigue, she exclaimed : 
 
 " Do send that young girl here who made 
 me that charming wreath last week. I am 
 sure she can contrive something. Lilian Eoss 
 I think her name is." 
 
 Maria was instantly despatched to sum- 
 mon Lilian, her heart swelling with indigna- 
 tion, and more than ever thirsting for rev.enge 
 upon the innocent cause of her annoyance. 
 
 Lilian obeyed, with a sigh, the ungra- 
 ciously delivered command. She knew from 
 experience the exacting and capricious tem- 
 per of the lady who was pleased to favor her 
 with her preference, and she also saw that she 
 herself was in some way the object of the 
 anger which was flashing in the dark eyes of 
 her companion ; but there was no time for ques- 
 tions or explanations, even if she could ven- 
 ture to attempt them. She w^as soon busied 
 with ribbons and lace, striving, in her turn, to 
 please the capricious belle. In this she was 
 more fortunate than Maria had been, and in a 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 49 
 
 short time had completed a headdress, which 
 
 even Miss C pronounced perfect ; so 
 
 light, so airy and graceful really there was 
 no fault to be found with it. 
 
 Lilian was in the act of adjusting the ex- 
 quisite little affair on the glossy tresses which 
 it was to adorn without concealing, when 
 Maria, chancing to pass near them, observed 
 the pleased smile on the face of the young 
 lady, and the glance of satisfaction which 
 Lilian bestowed upon her handiwork ; she 
 noticed, also, what no other eye had detected, 
 that a beautiful and costly bracelet, which 
 
 Miss C wore, had fallen from her arm, 
 
 and lay half hidden among the mass of flow- 
 ers, ribbons, and lace, which were scattered 
 on the floor. Instantly her resolution was 
 taken ; stooping down as if to replace the 
 disarranged goods in their boxes, she hastily 
 seized and secreted the ornament, then went 
 on deliberately with her self-imposed task, 
 until every flower was returned to its proper 
 place. Rising with the boxes on her arm, 
 she stepped up to Lilian, and, while asking 
 some trivial question, contrived, unseen by 
 mortal eye, to drop the bracelet into her 
 pocket. 
 
 Miss C , quite unconscious of her loss, 
 
 and in very good humor wiih herself and all 
 8 
 
50 
 
 the world beside, was soon driving rapidly 
 toward home. Lilian, unsuspecting of the 
 storm that was gathering around her, went 
 calmly about her duties. Maria watched her 
 anxiously, fearing she might discover the 
 bracelet before her own wicked plot was 
 fully matured, and, by her unaffected sur- 
 prise at the discovery, defeat her purpose. 
 Many a hasty glance she cast toward the win- 
 dow, hoping to see Miss C 's carriage re- 
 turning. Nor was it long before her wish 
 
 was gratified. Miss C , having missed 
 
 the bracelet before leaving the carriage, re- 
 turned immediately to the milliner's, feeling 
 sure that it must be there. 
 
 She told Mrs. Pettigue of her loss, and 
 strict search was made for the missing orna- 
 ment, but it was nowhere to be found. 
 
 " Are you sure you wore the bracelet this 
 morning, Miss C ? " inquired Mrs. Petti- 
 gue at last, sincerely hoping, for the credit of 
 her establishment, that the cause of all this 
 commotion would be found safe at home. 
 
 The doubt once raised, Miss C began 
 
 to feel less certain that she had worn it. In- 
 deed, it now seemed quite probable that she 
 had not. Expressing regret for the trouble 
 which she had given, she was about to leave 
 the room, when Maria, who had taken no 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 51 
 
 part in the search, came to Mrs. Pettigue, 
 and with seeming reluctance said : 
 
 " I know Miss C had the bracelet on 
 
 her arm when she was here this morning, for 
 I noticed it particularly. I was on the other 
 side of the room when Lilian Ross was ar- 
 ranging the headdress. As Miss C 
 
 raised her arm, I thought I saw the bracelet 
 fall. Just as I rose to go and pick it up, 
 Lilian stooped down and seemed to take 
 something from the floor. I concluded it 
 was the bracelet, and, supposing all was as it 
 should be, did not stop to see if she returned 
 
 it to Miss C , but went on with my work 
 
 and thought no more about it." 
 
 This deliberate falsehood, though appar- 
 ently intended for only Mrs. Pettigue's ear, 
 was not spoken in so low a tone but that both 
 
 Miss C and Lilian could distinctly hear 
 
 every word. 
 
 The flush of surprise and indignation 
 which suffused the fair face of the orphan 
 was readily mistaken for the blush of con- 
 scious guilt by those whose eyes were so 
 searchingly bent upon her. 
 
 Mrs. Pettigue sternly commanded her to 
 produce the bracelet, for that it was in her 
 possession there seemed but little doubt. 
 
 Lilian indignantly denied all knowledge 
 
52 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 of it; but her changing color and faltering 
 voice were taken as evidence against her, and 
 every attempt that she made to defend her- 
 self from the cruel charge which was so unex- 
 pectedly made against her only increased her 
 trepidation and confirmed the suspicion of her 
 guilt. Finally, Mrs. Pettigue ordered that 
 she should be searched, when, to her terror 
 and amazement, and the triumph of her ene- 
 my, the bracelet was found in her pocket. 
 In vain she declared her innocence of the 
 theft, and her utter ignorance by what means 
 the ornament had become concealed about 
 her person. The words fell on ears that were 
 
 deaf to her pleading. Miss C clasped 
 
 the glittering band on her arm, and, not 
 deigning one glance at the pale, despairing 
 face of the young girl, she left the store, fol- 
 lowed to the door by Mrs. Pettigue, who was 
 profuse in her expressions of regret that she 
 should have met with so much annoyance, 
 mingled with assurances that the culprit 
 should be instantly dismissed. 
 
 Returning, she summoned Lilian to her 
 private room, and, when her disgraced favor- 
 ite stood alone before her, she gave free vent 
 to her wrath. Bitter, scornful words fell on 
 the ear of the orphan ; fresh accusations were 
 heaped upon her, but she heeded them not ; 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 53 
 
 she stood still and rigid as if turned to stone, 
 the labored breath that parted her white lips 
 the only evidence of life in the motionless 
 figure. 
 
 When, Mrs. Pettigue's anger having ex- 
 hausted itself, or rather exhausted her vocab- 
 ulary of abuse, she placed in. her hand the 
 pittance which was her due, and bade her 
 leave the house, never to enter it again, she 
 obeyed mechanically ; she knew but too well 
 that any attempt to prove her innocence 
 would be unavailing, and silently, with fal- 
 tering steps, she passed into the street. 
 
 Alone, a stranger in the great city, the 
 work which brought her and her little sister 
 their daily bread snatched rudely from her 
 hands, bearing the brand of a crime of which 
 she was innocent, what wonder that despair 
 took possession of her heart? The bright 
 sunlight glared painfully on her glazed eyes ; 
 the many mingled sounds of busy life grated 
 harshly on her ear ; every face in the hurry- 
 ing, eager throng seemed to her excited 
 imagination to turn upon her looks of scorn 
 and suspicion. She thought herself forsaken 
 of heaven and condemned by earth. With a 
 shuddering sense of utter desolation she hur- 
 ried wildly on, until, guided more by instinct 
 than reason, she gained her home. Then her 
 
54: 
 
 overtasked strength gave way, and she fell 
 insensible upon the floor. 
 
 The noonday sun, streaming in at the 
 window, fell upon her colorless features, 
 which even in unconsciousness wore a look 
 of suffering and dismay ; and the same bright 
 rays rested upon the calm, upturned face of 
 "little Faith," with her tempest-tossed gar- 
 ments. 
 
55 
 
 OHAPTEE Y. 
 
 WHEN Lilian awoke from her long swoon, 
 she was at first conscious only of a terrible 
 throbbing pain in her temples, and a burning 
 thirst ; but suddenly the remembrance of all 
 she had undergone since morning rushed upon 
 her, and, starting to her feet, she clasped her 
 hands to her aching brow, while with un- 
 steady tread she paced the room. Once, as she 
 neared the table, her eye caught the little statu- 
 ette ; she paused, and with a short, bitter laugh 
 exclaimed, " Why was not I too formed of 
 marble ? then I might smile so serenely under 
 the lashings of the storm." But even while 
 she spote, a " still, small voice " whispered 
 that her heart must be softened, not hardened, 
 ere it could be moulded into a resemblance 
 of the beautiful form before her. Oh ! when 
 could she learn the lesson of faith? The 
 Heavenly Father had never yet forsaken her ; 
 still, whenever for a while the dark clouds 
 enveloped her, she thought He had withdrawn 
 
56 
 
 His smile. Because an erring mortal had 
 treated her unjustly and cruelly, she had con- 
 cluded the world was filled with nought but 
 injustice and cruelty, even doubting the good- 
 ness of Him who marks the sparrow when it 
 falls. And yet, was not the pretty image on 
 which she gazed the memento of a kindly, 
 generous, human heart, as well as a reminder 
 that He who rules the tempest will not for- 
 sake those who trust in Him ? 
 
 Slowly the bitter smile faded from the 
 young girl's lips, and tears, which the strength 
 of her agony had pressed back upon her full 
 heart, fell in refreshing showers over her 
 flushed cheek. She knelt by the little couch, 
 and, with her head pillowed wearily on her 
 folded arms, like a grieved child at its moth- 
 er's knee, she murmured that beautiful prayer 
 which He who was " a man of sorrows and 
 acquainted with grief " left, a priceless legacy, 
 to all the sorrowing children of earth. Still 
 kneeling, then, with the sacred words yet 
 upon her lips, Lilian fell asleep. Thus little 
 Eva found her, when, nearly two hours later, 
 she returned from school. The child was sur- 
 prised that her sister was home so early, and 
 frightened at her flushed, tear-stained face ; 
 and, after making one or two attempts to 
 awake her, she ran and called Mrs. Havens, 
 
LILIAN'S DAEK HOUR. 
 
57 
 
 who, in some alarm, hastened to the room, 
 where she found her young tenant apparently 
 suffering from a high fever. When aroused 
 from her heavy slumber, Lilian was obliged 
 to admit that she was really ill, and, with 
 many tears, told Mrs. Havens the story of the 
 lost bracelet. 
 
 The good lady was very indignant at the 
 treatment she had received, and earnestly as- 
 sured her of her entire belief in her innocence. 
 This was a great comfort to poor Lilian, for 
 she had, in her nervous excitement, imagined 
 that Mrs. Havens would be unwilling to har- 
 bor in her house one who had been accused 
 of theft, and unable to prove the accusation 
 false. But she had misjudged her ; for, 
 though of a fretful, complaining disposition, 
 and too much engrossed with her numerous 
 cares to bestow much attention on those with 
 whom the world seemed to be moving smooth- 
 ly, she had still a kind heart and ready sym- 
 pathy for sorrow and distress. She had al- 
 ways liked Lilian and would not turn from 
 her at the first whisper of suspicion. In this, 
 how different was the mother, whose unpre- 
 possessing exterior had at first made so unfa- 
 vorable an impression upon her, from the 
 daughter, whose more pleasing manners had 
 won her regard ! 
 
58 "KEEP 
 
 Mrs. Havens proved herself an excellent 
 nurse. She persuaded Lilian to go ^to bed, 
 bathed he/ head with cold water, and made 
 her take a cup of nice tea and a dainty slice 
 of toast, prepared by her own hands ; and 
 only when her patient seemed more com- 
 posed, and gratefully assured her that she 
 was really much easier, did she consent to 
 leave her to attend to her own pressing du- 
 ties. Evea then she went with reluctance, 
 first charging Eva to be very watchful and 
 attentive to her sister, and to be sure to call 
 her if anything was wanted. 
 
 Little Eva had heard with indignation of 
 her sister's wrongs, and now, when she sat 
 quietly ensconced in the large rocking chair 
 with her doll and picture book, her thoughts 
 were busy with plans for proving Lilian's in- 
 nocence and Maria's guilt (for that she had a 
 hand in the mystery the orphans as well as 
 Mrs. Havens had no doubt) ; and more angry, 
 revengeful thoughts crowded her little heart 
 than had found shelter there in all her short 
 life before. Alas ! how widespread the dis- 
 astrous effects of sin ! no human soul ever yet 
 yielded to temptation without injury to others. 
 Can a branch fall from the tree, and ; harm 
 only itself? See the torn leaves and scattered 
 blossoms of those that remain ; and look how 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 59 
 
 the dust which arose as it struck the ground 
 has soiled the delicate petals of yonder little 
 violet. 
 
 Maria Eoberts had never even seen little 
 Eva, and yet the shadow of her sin darkened 
 the pure spirit of the child. To be sure, Eva's 
 better nature soon shook off the baleful influ- 
 ence ; but can such fierce passions as anger 
 and revenge enter the heart for the first time 
 and leave no trace behind ? 
 
 The early winter twilight drew its sable 
 curtain around the sickroom, and the little 
 one, tired of her unusual stillness, grew sleepy, 
 and so, through force of habit, bethought her 
 of her evening prayer ; but she was startled 
 by a new difficulty. How could she pray, 
 " Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive 
 those who trespass against us " ? Did she for- 
 give her unknown enemy as she would be 
 forgiven? Should she leave the prayer un- 
 said this one night ? She grew afraid of the 
 darkness at the thought. What then must 
 she forgive Maria Eoberts? She had been 
 planning how she would go the next day and 
 accuse her before the whole shop of putting 
 the bracelet in Lilian's pocket, and how it 
 would all be then found out, and Maria 
 turned away in disgrace as Lilian had been 
 and she had rejoiced as her imagination 
 
60 "KEEP A 
 
 painted the scene. Could she resign the re- 
 venge that lay within her grasp and looked 
 so tempting ; or should she for the first time 
 lay her head upon a prayerless pillow ? Not 
 long did the child hesitate between the good 
 and the evil that lay before her, but meekly 
 saying the prayer, and ceasing to wish for or 
 even think of revenge, she slept sweetly and 
 calmly. 
 
61 
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 THE following morning Lilian arose free 
 from the pain and feverish excitement which 
 had seemed to threaten a serious illness, but 
 suffering from a feeling of prostration and de- 
 bility almost as distressing. She moved list- 
 lessly about her morning duties, and,when Eva 
 had gone to school, threw herself wearily on 
 the lounge and lay there for hours, too lan- 
 guid even to think: 
 
 In the mean time, little Eva trudged 
 bravely on her way in the clear, frosty morn- 
 ing. The few weeks of city life had added 
 much to her stock of worldly wisdom, and 
 she readily understood that Lilian's loss of 
 employment deprived them of their only 
 means of support ; but she felt sure that their 
 Heavenly Father would in some way provide 
 for them. And as she walked briskly toward 
 school, she formed many plans by which she 
 might help her sister to earn their bread, all 
 which plans seemed to her very promising, 
 
62 
 
 though in fact they were somewhat wild and 
 impracticable. Occasionally a shade passed 
 over her face as she remembered the origin 
 of their trouble ; but she would drive the 
 thought away, quickening her pace as if to 
 escape a danger. 
 
 When she reached school she was almost 
 afraid to enter ; it seemed as if they must all 
 know that her sister was accused of stealing, 
 and she felt as if all eyes would be upon her. 
 But the event which had brought distress 
 upon their humble home was all unknown in 
 the great world. 
 
 The day passed by unmarked, except that 
 she was reproved for inattention to her lessons 
 oftener than usual. 
 
 She walked home alone after school, for 
 John and Jennie had found companions bet- 
 ter suited to their taste ; and she was not 
 sorry to escape John's teasing and his sister's 
 oppressive guardianship. Eva had never be- 
 fore been in the street alone. How she ex- 
 ulted in the sense of independence ! Not one 
 face in the thronging multitude had she ever 
 seen before she was like a tiny dewdrop 5 
 swallowed up and lost sight of in that restless 
 sea of humanity ; yet the child felt no fear. 
 Her little foot touched the pavement with a 
 firm, elastic tread, her bright eyes looking in 
 
63 
 
 at the shop windows as she passed, with ad- 
 miring but not covetous gaze, upon the beau- 
 tiful things which the merchants had spread 
 out so temptingly. Finally she paused before 
 a window in which were displayed ready- 
 made garments for ladies' and children's 
 wear. She was looking admiringly at an 
 elegantly wrought baby dress, when her eye 
 fell upon a card, on which was written, in 
 large clear hand, " Wanted, a girl t<5 do fine 
 sewing. Inquire within. None but a first- 
 rate seamstress need apply." 
 
 With some difficulty Eva deciphered the 
 writing, and then stood for some moments in 
 deep thought. At last her resolution was 
 formed ; slowly but unhesitatingly she en- 
 tered the store. Once within the door, how- 
 ever, her courage deserted her, and she was 
 quite at a loss for words to express her wishes. 
 
 Behind the counter were two or three 
 girls, one of whom, seeing her embarrassment, 
 accosted her with the inquiry : 
 
 " What will you have, sissy ? " 
 
 Thus forced to speak, Eva replied with a 
 trembling voice : 
 
 " It says on the card in the window that 
 you want some one to do fine sewing here, 
 and " But before she could finish the sen- 
 tence, her questioner laughingly exclaimed : 
 
64 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 " And you have come to offer your ser- 
 vices." Then turning to her companions, she 
 continued : " Only think, girls ; this young 
 lady proposes to fill the place Mary Davis 
 left last week ! " A shout of laughter fol- 
 lowed this announcement. 
 
 Poor little Eva, feeling very much morti- 
 fied and somewhat indignant, stood with 
 flushed cheeks and tearful eyes, wishing her- 
 self anywhere else, when an inner door sud- 
 denly opened, and a clear, mellow voice de- 
 . manded in tones of surprise to know the 
 occasion of so much noise. 
 
 All were instantly silent, and when Eva 
 ventured to look up, a tall, rather fleshy lady, 
 in a rustling black-silk dress and snowy cap, 
 stood before her, listening to the stammered 
 apology of the young girl whose thoughtless 
 rudeness had produced the uproar. When 
 the latter had done speaking, the lady seated 
 herself, and, drawing Eva to her side, said 
 kindly : 
 
 " Now, my little girl, tell me what it was 
 you wished to say about my advertisement ? 
 I do not suppose, as these foolish girls did, 
 that you meant to do the sewing with your 
 own little fingers, did you ? " 
 
 " No, ma'am, indeed I did not," replied 
 the child, looking up into the benevolent face 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 65 
 
 which bent over her ; " but my sister sews, 
 oh! so beautifully, and and I know she 
 would like to come, and I thought perhaps 
 you would take her." 
 
 " What makes you think your sister would 
 wish to come ; did she send you here ? " 
 
 " Oh, no, ma'am ; I only happened to see 
 the card in the window ; but she lost her 
 place yesterday, and she feels very, very bad, 
 because we don't have any money, only what 
 she earns," said little Eva, with her tearful 
 eyes fixed pleadingly on the lady's face. 
 
 " But, my dear child, I do not know that 
 your sister could do my sewing. I am very 
 particular about it, and must see a sample of 
 her work before I can decide. If she really 
 wishes the employment, perhaps she will come 
 early to-morrow morning and bring some ar- 
 ticle that she has made." 
 
 " She made the apron I have on ; I can 
 show you that now," exclaimed the child ; 
 and, suiting the action tq the words, she laid 
 down her books and began hastily to unfasten 
 her coat. The lady smiled, and there was a 
 suppressed titter from behind the counter. 
 Eva heeded it not ; her outer garment was 
 thrown aside, and the little apron triumph- 
 antly displayed. It was a simple gingham 
 apron, but neatly and tastefully made. 
 
66 
 
 Her new friend examined it critically, and 
 then, turning to the eager, expectant child 
 with an approving smile, she said, " I should 
 like to see your sister. Tell her to come here 
 in the morning, and, if she wishes the place, 
 I think we can make an agreement." 
 
 Then, inquiring her own and her sister's 
 name, she dismissed the happy child with a 
 kiss. 
 
 There was no more stopping to look in at 
 windows ; even the great toyshop on the 
 corner had no charm for Eva now. She al- 
 most flew on her way, and yet it seemed to 
 her that she never moved so slowly, so impa- 
 tient was she to reach home and tell Lilian 
 the good news. 
 
 Lilian in the mean time was anxiously 
 watching for the little adventurer. Jennie 
 had returned at the usual time. She rather 
 reluctantly admitted that she had left Eva to 
 come alone, and Lilian, imagining some harm 
 must have happened to her, as she was so 
 long on the way, was on the point of going 
 out to seek her, when the little girl bounded 
 into the room, her cheeks flushed with exer- 
 cise, and her eyes sparkling with excitement. 
 
 " Oh, sister Lillie ! " she exclaimed, " I 
 have found the nicest lady in the world ; and 
 she wants you to come and make the most 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 67 
 
 beautiful little dresses and things that ever 
 you saw ; and she thinks my apron " 
 
 " Eva, Eva ! what are you talking about ? " 
 interrupted Lilian in bewilderment. " Where 
 was the lady? what is it about 'beautiful 
 little dresses,' and what has your apron to do 
 with it all? Sit down here in your little 
 chair, and talk more quietly, if you wish me 
 to understand you." Thus checked, the child 
 paused a moment to mentally untwist the 
 tangled thread of her story, and then more 
 coherently told of her exploit. 
 
 Lilian listened with surprise until she had 
 finished the story ; then, catching her in her 
 arms, declared she was the oddest little crea- 
 ture in the wide world, and questioned and 
 cross-questioned her about the whole affair, 
 and laughed at her having shown her apron. 
 Whereupon Eva laughed too, and clapped 
 her hands gleefully not that she could per- 
 ceive anything very amusing in her way of 
 doing business, but she was delighted to see 
 her sister cheerful once more. Then she 
 made her promise that she would go with her 
 the next morning and see the lady. 
 
 By the time all was arranged to her satis- 
 faction, it began to grow dark, and Eva dis- 
 covered it was almost tea time, and that she 
 was very hungry. Away she sprang to set 
 
68 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 the table, while Lilian prepared their simple 
 meal. The child went about her task singing 
 softly to herself, and as she passed and re- 
 passed before the stand on which was the 
 image of Faith, the light cast a flickering 
 shade on the face of the fignre, and it seemed 
 to her that " little Faith " was smiling npon 
 her. 
 
 An hour or two later, Mrs. Havens and 
 Lilian stood beside the bed, looking down 
 upon the sleeping child. Lilian had been tell- 
 ing of her little sister's adventure, and asking 
 advice. 
 
 Mrs. Havens assured her she would do 
 well to obtain the place if possible, for that 
 the establishment had an excellent reputation. 
 She was filled with admiration for little Eva, 
 who had so soon found a way of escape from 
 their difficulties, and now, as she looked upon 
 the little sleeper, she raised her handkerchief 
 to her eyes, with the whispered exclamation, 
 " Dear child, dear child ! only to think, it 
 was the very first time she was ever in the 
 street alone ! Poor little thing, the cares of 
 life have come upon her early." Ah ! if good 
 Mrs. Havens could have known what rosy 
 dreams were floating about under those 
 golden curls, she might have spared her tears 
 and- sympathy. 
 
69 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 THE next morning being Saturday, there 
 was no school, and Eva was to go and intro- 
 duce Lilian to her new acquaintance. She 
 was so excited as to be hardly able to eat her 
 breakfast, and watched anxiously the sus- 
 picious-looking clouds which were drifting 
 about in the wintry sky, for she had heard 
 Mrs. Havens say to her sister, as she passed 
 her in the hall, that she must not venture out 
 if it stormed, as she was still far from well. 
 But at last the sun shone out brightly. The 
 rooms were put in the most perfect order, the 
 last particle of dust wiped from the last chair, 
 and Lilian having no longer any good excuse 
 for delay, prepared herself and her little sister 
 for their walk. 
 
 With very different feelings the orphans 
 set out. Lilian dreaded to come again in 
 contact with strangers ; besides, she had some 
 doubts as to the wisdom of following the guid- 
 ance of such a child as Eva. Perhaps she had 
 
70 
 
 misunderstood the lady, or it might all have 
 been intended as a joke upon the little girl, 
 and she feared she might make herself appear 
 ridiculous if she took it seriously. Not so 
 Eva ; with the quick perception of childhood, 
 she had read in the clear gray eyes and be- 
 nevolent smile of her new friend sincerity of 
 purpose and kindness of heart. And she 
 bounded gladly onward, scarce able to make 
 her impatient feet keep pace with her sister's 
 slow step. 
 
 When they reached the store, what little 
 courage Lilian had entirely forsook her. She 
 would willingly have turned back, but before 
 she could prevent it, Eva had entered the 
 door, and she had no alternative but to fol- 
 low. 
 
 One of the girls who had been so much 
 amused at poor little Eva the day before, im- 
 mediately ushered them into a small back 
 room, where Mrs. Benton (for such was the 
 name of Eva's friend) was ready to receive 
 them. Her welcome was so kind, that Lilian 
 lost in some measure the painful timidity with 
 which she had entered, and was able to an- 
 swer clearly and unhesitatingly the questions 
 which were asked her. 
 
 Mrs. Benton examined and praised the 
 work she had brought as a sample of her finest 
 
71 
 
 sewing, and assured her she should be very 
 glad to give her employment, offering (much 
 to Lilian's surprise,) higher wages than Mrs. 
 Pettigue had given. She gladly accepted the 
 offer, and it was agreed that she should enter 
 Mrs. Benton's service on Monday morning. 
 
 With a lighter heart than she had known 
 for days, the young girl turned her steps 
 homeward. Eva skipped lightly at her side, 
 and was continually calling attention to the 
 wonderful sights which surrounded them. 
 The newly fallen snow gleamed pure and 
 white in the bright sunlight. Sleighs of 
 every graceful and fantastic form, with gay 
 trappings and merry bells, chased each other 
 through the streets, and the glad voices of the 
 riders rang blithely out above the city's busy 
 hum. The world looked bright and beautiful. 
 She forgot her own wrongs and sorrows in 
 sympathy with the seemingly universal joy- 
 ousness. The clear frosty air gave new life 
 to her languid frame, and brought a health- 
 ful glow to her pale cheek. The dark clouds 
 of despondency and dread had for the time 
 rolled away, and her whole being revived in 
 the sunshine of hope. 
 
 Monday morning found Lilian early at 
 her post. Mrs. Benton, welcoming her with 
 a kind word and encouraging smile, led hei 
 
72 "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 to a large cheerful room above the store, 
 where several girls were already gathered 
 around the fire, talking in subdued tones. 
 At a table in the centre of the room stood a 
 middle-aged woman busy cutting out and 
 assorting work. There was something so 
 peculiar in the appearance and manner of 
 this latter person, that Lilian's attention was 
 instantly attracted to her. She was rather 
 below the medium height, and somewhat 
 spare in person. Her hair, originally of a 
 pale brown, was rendered still lighter by the 
 many silver threads that time had added, till 
 it was scarcely darker than the sallow brow 
 above which it was so smoothly parted ; the 
 nose, much too large for the rest of the face, 
 had an appearance of having been broken ; 
 her small, light blue eyes were fixed intently 
 on the work before her ; her fingers flew with 
 the rapidity and almost the precision of ma- 
 chinery, while she sang, absent-mindedly, 
 snatches of old songs, in a low, but singularly 
 sweet voice. 
 
 Mrs. Benton, still followed by Lilian, 
 stepped to her side, and laying her hand on 
 her arm, said, " Miss Burr, here is Lilian 
 Ross, the young girl I spoke to you about 
 last evening." 
 
 She instantly dropped both inuslin and 
 
73 
 
 scissors, with which she was busied, and turn- 
 ing to Lilian, extended her hand and, with a 
 smile which threw a gleam of beauty over 
 the homely features, bade her welcome, in 
 tones which, in speaking, lost little of the 
 melody that had graced the lowly warbled 
 song. 
 
 Mrs. Ben ton then left them, and Miss 
 Burr, after asking a few friendly questions, 
 explained to her the rules of the establish- 
 ment, and the duties that would be required 
 of her. Then stepping to a closet, she 
 brought out a neat workbasket, containing 
 needles, thread, scissors, &c. ; to this she tied 
 a card, on which she wrote Lilian's name, and 
 placed in it one of the parcels of prepared 
 work that lay on the table before her. Hand- 
 ing it to her, she told her that it was for her 
 use, and that she would be expected to keep 
 it in order ; then directing her to a seat near 
 her own, she touched a little bell. Immedi- 
 ately all the girls took their seats, excepting 
 two, who went to the closet, from which they 
 brought several baskets similar to the one 
 Lilian had received ; these they placed on the 
 table, and, Miss Burr laying in each a piece 
 of sewing, it was handed to the girl whose 
 name it bore. Soon all were supplied, and 
 with busy fingers they plied their needles, 
 4 
 
74: " KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 Occasionally, Miss Burr passed through, the 
 industrious group, inspecting the work, and 
 speaking to each a few kind words of praise 
 or caution, as the case demanded. She 
 watched the young stranger with evident in- 
 terest, and seemed much pleased with her 
 industry and the neatness of her needlework. 
 Mrs. Benton, whose time was mostly occu- 
 pied down stairs, came to the room several 
 times during the day. Her gentle, yet digni 
 fied manner had won the confidence, as well 
 as the respect of the little band, and Lilian 
 could but contrast the smiles of pleasure 
 which greeted her entrance, with the looks 
 of dismay and confusion which always hailed 
 Mrs. Pettigue's appearance in her work 
 rooms. On the whole, she saw that she had 
 made a pleasant exchange, and though her 
 heart still throbbed with indignation, when 
 she thought of the injustice from which she 
 had suffered, she strove to forget the painful 
 past, and think only of the many causes for 
 thankfulness in the present. 
 
1 KEEP 
 
 A GOOD HEABT." 75 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 A LITTLE more than a week had passed 
 sincer Lilian commenced her new employ- 
 ment, and all had gone prosperously with the 
 orphans. To be sure, Eva found her trials 
 rather on the increase. "With Jennie, the 
 novelty of having a younger child under her 
 care, was beginning to pass away, conse- 
 quently, she exercised a less strict guardian- 
 ship over her, which fact, though it gave her 
 more freedom, left her quite at the mercy of 
 John, who never missed an opportunity to 
 tease and annoy her. The poor child really 
 feared him. He seemed to her so large and 
 strong, she never doubted that he could per- 
 form all his threats ; then he made such hor- 
 rible faces when he chanced to meet her on 
 the stairs, and would spring out at her from 
 some hidden corner in the dark hall, with 
 such a terrific whoop, that she grew almost 
 afraid to leave the room when at home alone. 
 
76 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 Once he came to make her a visit, as he 
 said. She received him as politely as pos- 
 sible, hoping to keep him in good humor ; 
 but he had promised himself rare sport, and 
 was bound not to be disappointed. - He soon 
 caught sight of a nice, tempting looking tart, 
 which Lilian had left on the table for her lit- 
 tle sister. This he commanded the child to 
 bring him. She reluctantly obeyed, and he 
 greedily devoured it all, stopping occasionally 
 to exclaim tantalizingly, " Oh, how good ! " 
 and to leer exultingly at his unwilling hostess. 
 When the tart was gone, he placed his muddy 
 feet in Eva's little chair, and catching up her 
 doll, sat twirling it rapidly round and round 
 by its arms until first one and then the other 
 was torn off, then throwing poor mutilated 
 Dolly across the room, he remained quiet, 
 watching with glee the looks of distress with 
 which the little girl examined its injuries ; 
 but Eva knew from experience that any show 
 of grief on her part, far from causing him to 
 regret his cruelty, would but add to what he 
 called his fun, and increase his desire to tease ; 
 so, suppressing her tears with a strong effort, 
 she put the doll out of sight, quietly remark- 
 ing, as if it had all been an accident, that she 
 thought her sister could mend it. 
 
 This did not suit John ; he had expected a 
 
77 
 
 passion of anger and grief, and was prepared 
 to enjoy her helpless rage, but now that her 
 composure seemed likely to spoil his sport, he 
 determined upon a more daring step, and 
 seeing her favorite -picture book near at hand, 
 he deliberately placed it in the fire. Eva 
 sprang to rescue it, but too late a bright 
 blaze for a moment cast its red light over her 
 pale face and the malignant features of her 
 tormentor, then died away, and a few white 
 fleecy ashes was all that remained of the 
 - pretty pictures that had cheered so many 
 lonely hours. She could endure no more, 
 even her fear of the cruel boy was lost in 
 indignation. Turning her flashing eyes full 
 upon him, she exclaimed : 
 
 " John Havens, you are a wicked, coward- 
 ly boy." JThe last adjective aroused all 
 John's ire ; raising his hand threateningly, he 
 replied, angrily : 
 
 " How dare you say I am a coward, miss ? 
 You had better take it back, you little imp, 
 or I'll shake you to pieces as I did your doll." 
 " I will not take it back," answered the 
 undaunted child ; " you are a coward. You 
 would not dare -to raise your finger to a boy 
 of your own size, but because I am a helpless 
 little girl, you are not afraid to do all you can 
 to trouble me. Now," she continued, stretch- 
 
78 
 
 ing her little hand toward the door with the 
 air of an empress, " leave the room, or I will 
 go directly down to your mother's dining- 
 room, and tell her before all at the table what 
 you have done." 
 
 The boy saw that she was in earnest, and 
 sullenly obeyed her command ; but from that 
 day he was more her enemy than ever, and, 
 as her dread of him returned with double 
 force when the excitement, which had for a 
 moment overmastered it, had subsided, he 
 found many an opportunity to annoy her. 
 
 Eva, though not without her faults, was a 
 noble little thing. She knew that to com- 
 plain to Lilian would serve no good purpose, 
 and only make her unhappy .; so she kept the 
 trouble to herself, taking care to avoid John 
 as much as possible. Thus it happened that, 
 on the day with which this chapter opens, she 
 had contrived to linger at school until he and 
 his sister were on their way home, when she 
 followed alone. It was the day before Christ- 
 mas, and Eva's happy little heart was full and 
 running over with joy and gladness. Not 
 that she expected a visit from St. Nicholas. 
 There are but few children, in this matter-of- 
 fact age, who have real faith in the jolly little 
 man with mouse-skins and reindeer, and our 
 little Eva was not of the number. She well 
 
" KEEP A GOOD HEAHT." 79 
 
 knew that it would require some outlay of her 
 sister's hard earnings to fill her stocking, and 
 had gravely announced several days previous 
 that she should not hang it up, for that Santa 
 Glaus had already sent her a present beauti- 
 ful little Faith which was quite enough for 
 a dozen Christmases, and that she was very 
 sure he could have nothing more for her this 
 year. And now, as she strolled slowly home- 
 ward, lingering with admiring gaze at the 
 windows of toy shops and confectioners, she 
 indulged no day-dream of possessing any of 
 the pretty things herself, yet, as I have al- 
 ready said, her heart was fall of joy and glad- 
 ness. The very sight of so much beauty was 
 enough to make her happy ; then to-morrow 
 would be a holiday for Lilian, as well as her- 
 self, and they could walk out together and see 
 all these wonders. At this thought she went 
 bounding merrily onward, determined to look 
 no more until her sister could share the 
 pleasure. 
 
 Presently she paused again, however. 
 She was before a church, from the broad 
 steps of which a man was busily sweeping an 
 uncommon litter ; he moved his broom most 
 energetically, keeping time to the merry tune 
 he whistled, never stopping to note how beau- 
 tiful were the little twigs of pine and holly 
 
80 
 
 that he so carelessly cast aside ; but Eva's 
 quick eye was charmed by the effect of green 
 leaves and red berries against the white snow. 
 For a moment she stood looking on with a 
 pleased smile ; then came a feeling of regret 
 as she thought how soon it would all be tram- 
 pled under foot and destroyed. Stepping for- 
 ward as the man's broom flirted off a larger 
 and handsomer sprig than the others, she 
 picked it up, and, raising her eyes to his face, 
 asked timidly, " May I have this, please ? " 
 
 With a good-natured laugh he replied, 
 " Of course you may, sissy, and as much more 
 as you want ; it is only the litter that's left 
 from trimming the church." 
 
 The child, thanking him for the permis- 
 sion, immediately busied herself in gathering 
 the pretty green twigs which he seemed so 
 much to despise. The amused sexton watched 
 her for a while, and then exclaimed : 
 
 " I say, sis, what are you going to do with 
 all that rubbish, any way ? " 
 
 " It isn't rubbish ! " replied Eva, indig- 
 nantly, " but beautiful evergreens, and I'm 
 going to dress our room for Christmas, so that 
 it will look bright and cheerful when my sis- 
 ter is home." 
 
 " Well, that is a good idea ; but it ain't 
 worthwhile for you to be freezing your fin- 
 
81 
 
 gers picking up any more of those. Come 
 here, and I'll give you something that'll do 
 better." 
 
 Eva followed him into the vestibule of the 
 church ; there in a corner stood a large 
 basket. 
 
 "See here, little one," he said ; u I was 
 awfully provoked when I found there was all 
 this left, and that I had got to see to carrying 
 it away ; but ' it is an ill wind that blows no 
 good,' and now you shall have the very pretti- 
 est bunches there are here to dress up your 
 parlor with. And look here, sis," he contin- 
 ued, with a merry twinkle in his small, bright 
 eyas, " you had better just step in the church, 
 and see how it's done ; perhaps you'd like to 
 follow the pattern." 
 
 The little girl pushed the door as he di- 
 rected ; it opened easily to her touch, and as 
 quickly closed after her. She was alone in 
 the church, and a feeling of awe, but not of 
 fear, crept over her as she looked around. 
 The last rays of the setting sun stole through 
 the painted windows, casting a subdued yet 
 varied light over the massive pillars and lofty 
 arches of the edifice ; and, clinging round the 
 cold, hard stone, in graceful garlands, the 
 pine, the cedar, and holly had met together 
 to beautify the sanctuary in honor of His 
 4* 
 
82 
 
 birth, who came to bring life and immortality 
 to light. 
 
 Little Eva stood still, wrapt in holy 
 thoughts and filled with unutterable admira- 
 tion, when suddenly the door was thrown 
 open, and the jolly sexton exclaimed : 
 
 " Well, sissy, do you think you can make 
 yours look anything like that ? " 
 
 " Like that ? oh, no, surely the angels 
 must have done it ! " cried the enthusiastic 
 little lover of beauty. 
 
 " Humph ! " ejaculated her companion, 
 with a shrug of his shoulders, "well, I was 
 around most of the time it was being done, 
 and I can't say that I saw any angels, but 
 maybe it was because I didn't have my specs 
 on." 
 
 The child heeded not his reply, but, 
 thanking him in low but grateful tones for 
 the beautiful greens he had selected for her, 
 she cast one more look back upon the church, 
 and then hastened toward home with her prize. 
 
 She was so fortunate as to reach their own 
 room without encountering John ; and, bar- 
 ring the door against all intruders, set busily 
 to work with her festive preparations. And 
 no light task she found it to carry out her 
 plan ; such a tearing of her little hands with 
 the holly, such a climbing on chairs and 
 
83 
 
 tables, such a stretching of her chubby arms, 
 in vain efforts to hang wreaths in impossible 
 places ; now searching for a lost pin, now 
 reconstructing a garland, which the breaking 
 of an unlucky thread had spoiled ; but she 
 toiled patiently on, and at last had the satis- 
 faction of seeing her simple decorations com- 
 pleted, though not until the short winter twi- 
 light had given place to gaslight. The little 
 room looked very pretty in its Christmas 
 dress, and Eva grew impatient for her sister's 
 return, that she might show her handiwork ; 
 but Lilian was later than usual, and at last 
 she concluded to go down and watch for her 
 through the side lights of the front door. 
 Throwing her little cloak around her, she 
 stole cautiously out into the hall, and, after 
 peering anxiously into the gathering darkness, 
 and listening a moment to make sure that 
 John was not lurking near, she locked the 
 door behind her, and, creeping as silently as 
 possible down the stairs, was soon standing 
 with her face pressed close to the narrow strip 
 of glass, watching eagerly every form that 
 came within her small field of vision. 
 
 Rapidly the pedestrians hurried by, each 
 with bundles or overflowing baskets, that told 
 of a good time coming to-morrow. Even the 
 poor washerwoman, who lived round the cor- 
 
84: 
 
 ner, as she stopped under the street light to 
 arrange more securely the contents of her 
 market basket, revealed the head of a tin 
 horse and the wheel of a toy wagon, and Eva 
 was glad to know that her little red-haired 
 boys were to have a merry Christmas. Still 
 Lilian did not come, and the weary little 
 watcher had begun to feel very disconsolate 
 at the delay, when a long, light wagon drove 
 tip to the door. She could see by the gas- 
 light the word " Express " printed in gilt let- 
 ters on its side. A man sprang from it, and, 
 running up the steps, gave the bell a quick, 
 hurried pull. Eva opened the door, thinking 
 he would inquire for Mrs. Havens, or perhaps 
 some of her boarders ; but, to her surprise, 
 he asked if Miss Lilian Ross lived there. 
 
 The wondering child answered in the 
 affirmative, adding the gratuitous information 
 that she was her sister. 
 
 " Then, little one," he replied, with a 
 smile, " perhaps you can tell me what to do 
 with the box I've got here for her." So say- 
 ing, he returned to the wagon and lifted out a 
 square box, which Eva thought, from the way 
 he carried it, must be heavy. He followed 
 her up the stairs, and, placing his burden on 
 the floor in their room, hastened away. Eva 
 was still examining the outside of the myste- 
 
85 
 
 rious box when Lilian returned. She looked 
 around with surprise at the transformation 
 which had taken place in her humble home. 
 The glossy leaves and shining berries, gleam- 
 ing brightly in the gaslight, gave the room 
 such a festive air that she hardly recognized 
 it, and would surely have thought she was in 
 the wrong house, but that Eva sprang to her 
 side rattling off a torrent of explanations, 
 which, though at first adding confusion to 
 doubt, finally convinced her that the excited 
 child was herself the author of the wreaths 
 and garlands, and that the only mystery in 
 the case was still shut up in the box. 
 
 Eva ' was soon dispatched to borrow a 
 hammer of Mrs. Havens, when Lilian, step- 
 ping to the bureau, carefully secreted in one 
 of the drawers a small parcel which she had 
 kept hidden under her shawl. 
 
 Little Eva almost flew on her errand, not 
 even stopping to make sure of John's absence 
 as she ran through the dark passages. She 
 found Mrs. Havens in a state of more than 
 usual worry and excitement, striving hope- 
 lessly to impress upon a new recruit from the 
 Emerald Isle the importance of setting the 
 tea-table before she made the toast. The 
 little girl was somewhat abashed at the 
 sharply uttered " Eun away, child, and keep 
 
86 "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 out of the muss ! " which greeted her en- 
 trance into the stormy kitchen ; still she ven- 
 tured, while standing as near the door as 
 possible, to ask for the hammer, and explain 
 for what they wished to use it. 
 
 Mrs. Havens, somewhat mollified by her 
 timid manner, and perhaps feeling some 
 regret that her hasty words had cast a 
 'damper upon the child's happiness, gave her 
 what she desired, with a grim attempt at a 
 smile; and she bounded away to her own 
 more cheerful quarters, where Lilian was 
 patiently awaiting her return. "With some 
 expenditure of strength and exercise of me- 
 chanical skill, the box was at last forced 
 open, and its contents subjected to their eager 
 inspection. There was a fine large turkey, 
 all ready roasted, there were mince pies, 
 apple pies, and pumpkin pies, a large loaf of 
 cake, and a small pot of jelly. Then there 
 was a little pasteboard box, containing stock- 
 ings and mittens, a very pretty needle book 
 for Lilian, and a pin cushion for Eva, with 
 the words " Remember me " formed in pins 
 on one side, and last, though not least, a 
 letter from good Aunty Smith, begging her 
 " dear children " to accept the " humble 
 Christmas offering." The mittens and stock- 
 ings were of her own knitting ; the needle 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 87 
 
 book and cushion were from Miss Becky, 
 who assured them they were made after an 
 entirely new and much approved pattern. 
 Each had had a share in preparing the eata- 
 bles, and they both asked that their young 
 friends would think of them and the old 
 home while enjoying their Christmas dinner. 
 Then followed a summary of all the village 
 news, a particular account of Ponto, Puss, 
 and the chickens, and many other items of 
 household gossip, which were of absorbing 
 interest to the orphans. 
 
 It was later than usual ere little Eva was 
 ready for bed that night. "When she had 
 said her prayers, she raised her rose-bud lips 
 for a good-night kiss, and Lilian, as she gave 
 it, asked : 
 
 " Why, Birdie, ar'n't you going to hang 
 up your stocking? don't you know this is 
 Christmas Eve ? " 
 
 The child understood the meaning smile 
 with which her sister spoke, and, catching up 
 her stocking with delighted surprise, pinned 
 it to the mantelpiece ; then springing into 
 bed, she soon fell asleep, wondering what it 
 could be that Lilian had for her, hoping she 
 had not deprived herself of anything to 
 gratify her. 
 
 When satisfied that her little sister was 
 sleeping, Lilian took out the parcel that she 
 
88 
 
 had placed in the bureau, and, unrolling it, 
 brought to light a small doll and a piece of 
 blue silk the latter a contribution from Miss 
 Burr ; then, taking from her workbasket a 
 roll of white cambric and a few bits of lace, 
 she seated herself in the rocking chair by the 
 table, and soon her willing fingers were en- 
 gaged in fashioning the most fairylike gar- 
 ments imaginable ; and so swiftly flew the 
 bright little needle that ere long Dolly's 
 tasteful outfit was completed. " All but the 
 shoes," said Lilian, as she held it up to take a 
 critical survey of her work ; " Birdie would 
 not be quite satisfied if I left it barefooted, 
 though she would not say ^a word, I know, 
 dear little thing ! " Thus soliloquizing, she 
 again opened the bureau drawer, and after a 
 moment's search found an old kid glove, out 
 of which she skilfully formed a very neat pair 
 of little shoes, which proved a most excellent 
 fit. And now the last bow was tied and the 
 work of love finished. Taking from her 
 pocket a little package of candy, she put it 
 first into the stocking, then carefully smooth- 
 ing Dolly's fine dress, placed her with her 
 head peeping out at the top, and, turning 
 away with a smile of satisfaction, she sought 
 her pillow. 
 
 The morning sun, streaming through frost- 
 covered windows, shone upon a happy scene 
 
89 
 
 in that little room. The Christmas garlands 
 looked fresh and green in the cheerful light ; 
 the breakfast table was neatly spread. Lilian 
 was busily engaged preparing some little extra 
 dish for the meal, occasionally looking up 
 from her task to speak a loving word to Eva, 
 who was dancing about the room for very 
 joyousness, with her new doll in her arms. 
 On the whole, it was a merry Christmas day 
 for the orphans, though sometimes a shade of 
 sadness would cross Lilian's brow, as she con- 
 trasted it with the days that were past. 
 
 They took a long walk through the gay 
 streets, as Eva had anticipated, and came 
 home with sharpened appetite to the beauti- 
 ful dinner which awaited them. 
 
 Mrs. Havens had kindly allowed them the 
 use of her oven to warm the turkey, as their 
 own was much too small to accommodate it. 
 When all was ready, they sat down to a ban- 
 quet which Eva declared was fit for a king. 
 
 Ah ! what a delightful home flavor had 
 all the dainties, and how lovingly the sisters 
 spoke of the dear friends whose affection had 
 prepared this treat for them. 
 
 We will leave our young friends seated at 
 the window, with its holly-decked curtains, 
 watching the sunset of this bright day, and 
 pass over many months before w^e again re- 
 sume the thread of simple history. 
 
90 "KEEP A GOOD HEAET." 
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 WINTEK gave place to spring, and spring 
 brightened into summer, and all went well. 
 Lilian gained daily more and more the esteem 
 and confidence of her employer. Eva made 
 rapid progress in her studies, and, as John, 
 finding there was but little " fun " in teasing 
 one who bore his tyranny so uncomplaining- 
 ly, now but seldom molested her, she was as 
 happy as the day was long. Sometimes, in- 
 deed, she longed for the green fields and 
 shady groves among which all the previous 
 summers of her short life had been spent, and 
 she wondered how it fared with her little 
 garden at B , and whether the honey- 
 suckle and rose vines were doing well this 
 year, and wished she might hear the robins 
 sing in the apple tree once more ; but she 
 said nothing of all these vain yearnings to 
 Lilian, but sought to make herself what 
 amends were in her power by frequent visits 
 
91 
 
 to th park. She was delighted to find that 
 birds made their nests in the trees there, arid 
 decided that the fountain, when it played, 
 was a very good substitute for the brook. 
 And as she had now become quite familiar 
 with the city streets, she would often stroll 
 into the up-town avenues to see the beautiful 
 flowers that decked the parterres before the 
 mansions of wealth. No feeling of envy de- 
 tracted from the delight with which she 
 watched the gradual unfolding of these floral 
 gems, and perhaps they were the source of 
 greater delight to her than to those who 
 owned them. 
 
 ! Thus, with cheerfully performed duties 
 and simple pleasures, time passed rapidly on, 
 till now the leaves in the park are growing 
 brown and sear ; the summer flowers have 
 given place to the more hardy asters and 
 dahlias ; the shortened days and an occa- 
 sional chilly blast tell the approach of au- 
 tumn, that gaudy herald of dreary winter. 
 But there are heavier tidings afloat than 
 those which murmuring nature whispers to 
 the birds ; and, as the rumor passes from lip 
 to lip, manly cheeks blanch and stout hearts 
 quail. A harvest of unusual abundance has 
 .been gathered into overflowing barns, and yet 
 the words " want and distress " are stani- 
 
92 
 
 mered by every tongue. A great financial 
 crisis lias suddenly broken upon the country, 
 and the shock, as of electricity, passes through 
 every department of the moneyed world. Yes ! 
 so intimately are the interests of mankind 
 interwoven, that the laborer in his garret, 
 and the millionnaire by his fireside, alike feel 
 and shudder at the fearful vibration. 
 
 As weeks pass on the gloom increases ; 
 crash follows crash, as princely fortunes crum- 
 ble to the dust, burying many a humble 
 hearthstone in the ruins. The streets are 
 thronged with men, women, and children, 
 thrown out of employment, vainly seeking 
 the means to earn a scanty meal. The 
 hearts of men grow tender and compassionate 
 amid such general distress, and the gentle 
 voice of charity, too often stifled by the 
 shouts of prosperity, is heard calling upon all 
 such as will, to " come and buy bread with- 
 out money and without price." Many em- 
 ployers, careful rather of the interests of their 
 employees than their own, struggle bravely 
 on, refusing to stop their work while there is 
 a possibility of paying the workman's hire. 
 Of this class was Mrs. Benton. Though her 
 business was seriously affected from the very 
 beginning of the panic, she would not dismiss 
 any of the hands ; but when she found her- 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEABT." 93 
 
 self obliged to retrench in some way, she 
 called them together, and, briefly explaining 
 her situation, told them that, as she was re- 
 solved not to cast any of them off so long as 
 it was in her power to avoid it, she was com- 
 pelled to reduce the wages of all. To this 
 the girls consented uncomplainingly, but with 
 heavy hearts, for well they knew that Mrs. 
 Benton would not take such a step unless the 
 necessity was great. 
 
 After this all went on much as usual for a 
 few weeks ; but Lilian, who, though she 
 dared not question, watched Mrs. Benton's 
 countenance anxiously, saw the shadow of 
 care and perplexity deepen day by day upon 
 her brow. Those were gloomy days to the 
 young girl, in which she watched the gather- 
 ing of the storm which she knew must burst 
 upon her. If at home she chanced to encoun- 
 ter Mrs. Havens, the look of absolute despair, 
 which had taken the place of her usual ex- 
 pression of discontent, fairly frightened her. 
 In the workroom, the girls talked in low 
 tones of acquaintances who had lost their 
 situations, and how impossible it was for 
 them to procure other employment, until she 
 grew sick at heart, for all of these had some 
 staff, however weak, upon which to lean till 
 the dark hour had passed ; but to what could 
 
94: "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 she look when the power to help herself 
 should be taken away ? 
 
 This weight of care, so unsuited to her 
 years, soon showed its effects upon her health. 
 She grew pale and thin ; her step lost its 
 elasticity, her eye burned with an unnatural 
 lustre, she started nervously at every sudden 
 sound or movement. The nights, instead of 
 bringing refreshing repose, were spent in 
 feverish tossings and wild speculations as to 
 the future. At last the dread which had 
 been sapping her life became a reality. It 
 was Saturday night, and Mrs. Benton came 
 into the room as usual to pay the girls their 
 week's wages. There was something in her 
 manner which riveted the attention of all, 
 and filled poor Lilian with consternation. 
 Silently she handed to each, the amount that 
 was due them, and then, turning sadly to the 
 expectant group, she said that the event 
 which for weeks she had foreseen and strug- 
 gled against had at last overtaken her ; she 
 had failed, and the next week her stock would 
 be sold at auction for the benefit of creditors. 
 As it was no longer in her power to supply 
 them with the work which they so much 
 needed, she could but bid them go forth, 
 trusting in Providence, and pray that He 
 would prosper them in some other under 
 taking. 
 
95 
 
 Manj tears were shed at the cheerless 
 "parting, but to Lilian came no such relief. 
 With dry, burning eyes, she received and 
 responded to the affectionate farewell of Mrs. 
 Benton and Miss Burr, then turned with lan- 
 guid step toward home. 
 
 Little Eva was watching for her return, 
 eager to tell how she had gone up to the head 
 of her class for spelling a hard word that all 
 the large girls missed ; but . at sight of her 
 sister's pale, despairing face, the child forgot 
 her own triumph, and entreated to know 
 what had grieved her. 
 
 Lilian took her on her lap, and in meas- 
 ured tones, whose unnatural calmness fright- 
 ened her more than the words themselves, 
 told her of the calamity that had befallen 
 them. Eva's tears flowed fast. Too well she 
 knew that this new misfortune could not be 
 so easily remedied as others which had 
 clouded their path ; for she had heard on all 
 sides of the hard times, and how people were 
 suffering from want who were ready and 
 willing to work if work could but be found, 
 yet it was only for a moment that her faith 
 faltered. Throwing her arms around Lilian's 
 neck, she exclaimed, " Don't cry, Lillie ! 
 God has always taken care of us, and I know 
 He will now." 
 
96 
 
 But the hopeful words met with no re- 
 sponse in her sister's breast. With a hasty 
 kiss, she turned from the little would-be com- 
 forter, and gave herself up to her own fore- 
 boding thoughts. 
 
 In all the dark horizon there was but one 
 streak of light the remembrance of her old 
 home. She could take her little sister and go 
 back to dear, good Aunty Smith. She knew 
 how gladly she would give them shelter ; and 
 surely they had friends enough in their native 
 village who would supply them with bread, 
 if need be, until better days. Her pride 
 shrank from the thought of returning to 
 
 B to live on charity ; but her aching 
 
 heart longed for the sympathy and protection 
 which she was sure there awaited her. It 
 would be so soothing to pour out her sorrows 
 on the gentle breast of her old friend, and to 
 hear Miss Becky's cheerful voice once more, 
 as she busied herself with her household du- 
 ties. She knew that the money she had re- 
 ceived that evening was more than enough to 
 pay Mrs. Havens her due and defray the 
 expenses of the journey, and determined to 
 leave as soon as she could write and inform 
 their friends of their coming. The moment 
 this resolve was taken, the heary cloud was 
 lifted which had seemed crushing her to the 
 
" KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 97 
 
 earth, and hope seemed smiling upon her 
 from its lessening gloom.* Calling Eva to her 
 side, she was about to tell her of her decision, 
 well knowing how delighted she would be at 
 the prospect of going " home," when a rap at 
 the door interrupted her. 
 
 " Two cents ! the man's waiting," ex- 
 claimed the querulous voice of Mrs. Havens' 
 overtasked maid-of-all-work/as she thrust a 
 letter into Eva's hand. 
 
 Ah, that letter ! how eagerly Lilian 
 caught it from her little sister, confident that 
 in some way it would help them out of the 
 difficulties which surrounded them. How 
 excited Eva was at so unexpected an event as 
 a letter for them ! so very much flurried, in- 
 deed, that she twice dropped the all-impor- 
 tant pennies while taking them across the 
 room to Bridget, thereby quite, exhausting 
 that damsel's slender stock of patience. 
 
 With a light step and a joyous heart the 
 child sprang back to her sister's side ; but 
 alas ! the momentary sunshine had fled. 
 With colorless face, and a wild, startled look 
 in her beautiful eyes, she was gazing upon 
 the yet unopened letter, and now, for the first 
 time, Eva saw that it was sealed with black. 
 Tremblingly Lilian broke the ominous seal, 
 and read the confirmation of her worst fears. 
 5 
 
98 
 
 The letter was from Miss Becky, and con- 
 tained the sad announcement of her mother's 
 death. The good old lady, after a short ill- 
 ness, had closed her eyes forever upon the 
 world, as calmly as an infant falls asleep on 
 its mother's bosom ; and the sorrowing daugh 
 ter, writing to the young orphans, who she 
 knew would share her affliction, endeavored 
 to convey to them a share also of her consola- 
 tion, by dwelling on the peaceful departure 
 of their loved one, and the joys by which she 
 was now surrounded, in which they too might 
 hope to participate when life's short trial 
 should be passed. In a postscript Miss 
 Becky informed them that her brother, who 
 had come from the far West to see his moth- 
 er's form laid in its last resting place, had 
 proposed that she should return with him and 
 henceforth make his home her own. She had 
 accepted the kind proifer, had already found 
 new occupants for the cottage, and, ere this 
 letter reached her young friends, would be 
 far on her way toward her new home. 
 
 Lilian read it all with a faltering voice 
 and streaming eyes, while Eva gave vent to 
 her grief in sobs and ^ears. The little tea 
 table was not spread that night ; the orphan 
 sisters were too absorbed in their new sorrow 
 to feel aught of hunger. Eva, lying on the 
 
99 
 
 lounge, had cried herself to sleep ; and Lilian, 
 seated beside her, with her hands folded lan- 
 guidly in her lap, heeded not the gathering 
 darkness, for once more the deeper darkness 
 of despair had closed around her. 
 
100 
 
 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 ONE day, shortly after Lilian had left Mrs. 
 Benton, she was seated by the fire making a 
 bonnet for Eva's doll. Her heart was not in 
 the work; she would gladly have thrown 
 aside the gay-colored silk, that, with its 
 brightness, mocked her distress, but her little 
 sister stood by her side watching with glee 
 the construction of Miss Dolly's new hat. 
 There was sorrow enough in store for the 
 light-hearted child, she feared, and she would 
 not deprive her of one pleasure which it was 
 in her power to bestow ; so with forced cheer- 
 fulness she pursued her task, replying pa- 
 tiently to the little one's numberless ques- 
 tions. But Eva was neither so careless nor 
 so thoughtless as she seemed. She was 
 pleased with her new toy, and watched with 
 delight its points of beauty as they gradually 
 formed beneath her sister's skilful fingers ; 
 
101 
 
 yet, as we shall see, her pleasure had a deeper 
 source than the mere selfish gratification of 
 the moment. She well understood the diffi- 
 culties of their situation. She had seen^how 
 little there was left in the purse when Lilian 
 paid Mrs. Havens the rent that morning. 
 She knew that the coal was almost gone, and 
 she also knew that, live as economically as 
 they might, it must cost them something for 
 food each day. How long, then, would the 
 little store last, and what could they do when 
 it was spent ? These momentous questions 
 had busied her thoughts for some time. One 
 thing was certain, she thought : it would be 
 worse than useless for Lilian to seek employ- 
 ment at present, and consequently at seemed 
 to her equally certain that she must do some- 
 thing herself to raise the needed funds. Sat- 
 isfied with this decision, and wearied with so 
 much silent cogitation, she dismissed the 
 whole subject from her mind for the time 
 being, leaving the ways and means of accom- 
 plishing her object for futuise meditation, and, 
 remembering that Dolly's head gear was in a 
 sadly dilapidated condition, she had hunted 
 up a box containing the numerous scraps of 
 silk and bits of ribbons which kind-hearted 
 Miss Burr had from time to time given her, 
 and had coaxed Lilian to redeem her forgot- 
 
102 
 
 ten promise to make it a new bonnet. Now, 
 as she watched the progress of her work, a 
 thought struck her which made her heart 
 beat fast, and sent bright, hopeful sparkles 
 into her blue eyes. 
 
 "Sister Lillie," w she asked eagerly, 
 "couldn't you make ever so many little 
 hats like that ? " 
 
 " I suppose I could, pet," replied Lilian, 
 with a faint smile ; "but is not one enough 
 at a time ? " 
 
 " Yes, enough for me, Lillie ; but don't 
 you know I could sell them and get some 
 money ? then you need not look so sorry all 
 the while, and the good times would come 
 back again, and oh, it would be so nice ! " 
 exclaimed the child, fairly dancing about the 
 room with delight, as she fancied she had at 
 last found the path that should lead them out 
 of their labyrinth of troubles. 'Then, spring- 
 ing back to her sister's side, she wound her 
 plump arms around her neck, saying coaxing- 
 ly, " You will make them, won't you, Lillie ? " 
 
 " I would do anything to give you pleas- 
 ure, Birdie, but fear if I should do as you 
 wish it would only bring you disappointment. 
 Who do you think would buy the things 
 when they were made ? " 
 
 " I don't know who would buy them, but I 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 103 
 
 am sure somebody would. I could take them 
 in a little basket, and ask the people as they 
 passed along the street." 
 
 " Never, Eva ! " exclaimed the elder sis- 
 ter, catching the child to her heart, as if to 
 shield her from some threatened danger ; 
 " never shall you go wandering through the 
 streets like the miserable little children we 
 have so often seen in this great, dreary city, 
 striving all day long to gather together a few 
 pennies, and receiving angry words and scorn- 
 ful looks instead. No, darling, it shall not 
 come to that ; I will work my fingers to the 
 bone first ! " and, covering her little sister 
 with kisses, the agitated girl burst into a pas- 
 sion of tears. Alas ! it needed but a mo- 
 ment's thought to remind her how impossible 
 it would be to make good her last words ; for 
 where could she procure the work which she 
 would so gladly undertake? Eva, though 
 surprised and distressed at the effect of her 
 artless proposal, was still unwilling to aban- 
 don the plan, and, as soon as Lilian was calm 
 enough to listen, she renewed her persuasions, 
 and was finally so far successful as to gain 
 her reluctant consent to make a number of 
 little hats and other fancy articles, and allow 
 her to take them to the nearest toyshop and 
 try to sell them. 
 
104 
 
 Now work commenced in earnest. Eva, 
 full of expectation, confident of success, and 
 anxious to help, rummaged every nook and 
 corner in search of pasteboard and whatever 
 other necessary and unnecessary material she 
 happened to think of, emptying drawers and 
 boxes in her eagerness, without even thinking 
 of replacing their contents, until the usually 
 neat room presented a scene of confusion that 
 would have driven any thrifty housewife dis- 
 tracted. Then, suddenly perceiving the mis- 
 chief she had done, she set about repairing it, 
 though with somewhat abated ardor, it must 
 be confessed. 
 
 Lilian, in the mean time, scarcely heeding 
 the little girl's movements, had been busily 
 plying her needle, so that by the time Eva 
 had restored things to order, she was putting 
 the finishing touches to another doll's bonnet, 
 and even began to feel some interest in her 
 employment. Eva, perceiving how little 
 good had resulted from her own unaided 
 efforts, now begged her sister to tell her what 
 she could do to help, and very readily- 
 learned, with the aid of patterns which she 
 prepared for her, to cut out pasteboard 
 frames for baskets and boxes ; each piece of 
 pasteboard Lilian covered with silk, and 
 when the corresponding pieces were neatly 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 105 
 
 sewed together, they formed very tasteful 
 little affairs. Eva was delighted, and consid- 
 ered their fortune already made ; and even 
 Lilian's smile was less sad than it had been 
 of late. 
 
 All that day and the next the orphans 
 busied themselves with their pleasing em- 
 ployment. On the third morning it was 
 agreed that Eva should try to dispose of the 
 articles that were finished, at the toy mer- 
 chant's. Lilian arranged their small stock in 
 trade in the basket so as to show to the best 
 advantage, and Eva, as she raised the cover 
 to take a last peep, was sure no one could 
 resist the temptation to buy. Besides an 
 assortment of tiny bonnets that might have 
 turned the head of any belle in Fairy-land, 
 there were two beautiful little chairs, and 
 quite a variety of workboxes and baskets. 
 
 The child, carefully wrapped up in her 
 little cloak, with the basket on her arm, 
 trudged bravely along, caring not for the 
 cold, nor heeding the dull, gray clouds that 
 covered all the sky, and occasionally sent a 
 few snow flakes whirling slowly through the 
 air. Her heart was so full of hope and faith 
 that the cheerless morning seemed beautiful 
 to her. Not so with Lilian, who watched her 
 from the window. She had no confidence in 
 
106 " KEEP 
 
 the success of their experiment, and had en- 
 gaged in it only to please the child, and to 
 while away some of the unemployed hours 
 which dragged so heavily by ; and now, as 
 she stood gazing after the little black-robed 
 figure that hurried along the street with such 
 a springing tread, she sighed, for she doubted 
 not that the child, with all her bright expect- 
 ations, was hastening to meet a sad disappoint- 
 ment. She saw the leaden clouds, which like 
 a pall shut out the sunlight, and shuddered 
 as she marked the feathery harbingers of win- 
 ter storms which fell so silently to the earth ; 
 then, turning to the bureau drawer, she 
 opened her purse and counted over, for the 
 twentieth time, the few pieces of silver that 
 remained of her little hoar_d, saying to herself, 
 in a terrified whisper, " "What will become 
 of us when this is gone ? " 
 
 In the mean time Eva had reached the 
 toyshop. Her heart beat very fast as she 
 with some difficulty raised her basket to the 
 counter, and in a faltering voice asked the 
 stern-looking man who stood behind it to buy 
 her toys. 
 
 " No, child, no ! " he answered angrily ; 
 " I can't sell what I've got here already, to 
 say nothing of such trumpery as that," and 
 he pushed the basket impatiently toward her. 
 
107 
 
 The little girl hastened from the store ; she 
 was frightened by the harsh words and rough 
 manner of the man, and for a moment felt 
 very much like crying, but, brushing away 
 the tears, she said to herself, " Suppose one 
 man is cross that's no reason why all should 
 be. I'll try again." Kecollecting that there 
 was another toyshop a few blocks off, she 
 turned her steps in -that direction and hurried 
 onward* Arriving at the store with the un- 
 kind words still ringing in her ears, she felt 
 very loth to go in, and lingered at the door, 
 half inclined to turn about and go home ; but, 
 remembering her sister's sad face, which she 
 had hoped to brighten, she summoned her 
 failing courage and entered. 
 
 Behind the counter was seated a pleasant- 
 looking woman, busily engaged sewing. She 
 rose with a smile when the door opened, evi- 
 dently expecting a customer ; but, though the 
 smile faded as Eva made known her errand, 
 it gave place to a pitying look that was as 
 kind. She examined the contents of the bas- 
 ket, while the child told her simple story, and 
 then said, in tones of real regret, " I am sorry 
 I cannot buy any of these beautiful things to- 
 day, my little girl ; but these are hard times, 
 dear I hardly sell anything nowadays." 
 Then, seeing the look of disappointment with 
 
108 "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 which the child took up the basket, she 
 added encouragingly, " You had better offer 
 them to the ladies you pass in the street. I 
 am sure they would buy them, for the sake 
 of this sweet face ; " and she stroked Eva's 
 clustering curls with her broad, plump hand. 
 The little girl turned toward home with 
 lingering steps. She longed to go farther, 
 feeling quite sure that she should meet with 
 better fortune the next time ; but she knew 
 Lilian would be anxious if she was long ab- 
 sent, and she had already been farther than 
 she intended. She was sorely tempted to 
 follow the advice of the good woman at the 
 toyshop, and ask some of the gaily-dressed 
 ladies she met to buy her goods ; but this 
 Lilian had forbidden, and she must not diso- 
 bey her " mother-sister." 
 
109 
 
 CHAFTEE XI. 
 
 SEVERAL days had passed since Eva's un- 
 successful attempt at trade. The winter had 
 really come now ; snow lay glittering on the 
 ground, and Lilian had been obliged to buy 
 more coal, which very much lightened her 
 already light purse. It was a bitter cold 
 morning. The orphans had eaten nothing 
 since noon of the previous day. Lilian sat 
 with her head bowed on one hand, gazing 
 wistfully upon the solitary dime which she 
 held in the other. It was the last of her little 
 hoard, and Eva, wrapped in cloak and hood, 
 stood before her, ready to go out and ex- 
 change it for the bread they -so much needed. 
 The child guessed what gloomy forebodings 
 cast their shadow over her sister's brow as 
 she looked at the little coin, and thought it a 
 favorable moment to again urge her plan of 
 relief. Going quickly to the closet, she re- 
 
110 
 
 turned with the basket, from which they had 
 not yet removed the pretty toys on which her 
 hopes still rested. " Sister Lillie," she said 
 pleadingly, " mayn't I try to sell these now ? " 
 
 " Yon have tried, child." 
 
 " Yes ; but I mean, can I take them and 
 go and sit on some steps in Broadway where 
 the people can see them ? and then, when they 
 stop to look, I can tell how much we need 
 the money, and I am sure somebody would 
 buy. Please let me go, Lillie." 
 
 " Get the bread first, dear," Lilian replied, 
 in a low, trembling voice. Eva needed no 
 second bidding. Glad of the implied consent 
 which her sister had given to her request, and 
 urged on by her own keen appetite, she al- 
 most flew to the nearest bakery, and soon 
 returned with the loaf which was to supply 
 them with breakfast, dinner, and supper. 
 
 Lilian cut the small portion which must 
 satisfy their present want, and the young sis- 
 ters ate their scanty meal in silence. Lilian 
 grew sick at heart as she thought of her pet- 
 ted darling encountering all the hardships 
 and abuse which she imagined must be the 
 inevitable lot of the little street merchants, 
 whom she had so often looked upon with pity, 
 without dreaming that her own little Eva 
 would ever share their experience ; but there 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." Ill 
 
 seemed no other hope, and she dared not 
 longer refuse the child's entreaty. 
 
 Brave little Eva felt no fear, and, when 
 Lilian had given her a parting kiss, and many 
 injunctions to be careful in crossing the 
 streets, and, above all, to be sure to come 
 home if anything troubled her, she took her 
 basket on her arm,, and trudged off to seek 
 her fortune, as she said. 
 
 She had decided to take her stand some- 
 where in Broadway, but, as she walked down 
 that gay thoroughfare, she was somewhat at 
 a loss what spot to choose, until, coming to 
 St. Paul's churchyard, her attention was at- 
 tracted by an old blind organ grinder who 
 had stationed himself there, and, with his be- 
 numbed fingers, was perseveringly turning 
 the crank of his instrument, though the 
 music that he thus set free was drowned by 
 the countless harsher sounds which filled the 
 air. His face wore a sad yet patient expres- 
 sion, and his long, white beard gave him a 
 very venerable look. Not far from him, 
 seated on the stone work which supported the 
 iron fence before the church, was a black 
 woman, who, notwithstanding the biting 
 coldness of the morning, was knitting as in- 
 dustriously as if she was sitting at her own 
 fireside. By her side was a little stand, cov- 
 
112 
 
 ered with apples and oranges. Seeing Eva 
 stop and look toward her, the woman pointed 
 to her fruit : "Buy some apples or a nice 
 orange, little miss ? " she asked, with a good- 
 natured smile. 
 
 The child hesitated a moment, then step- 
 ping close to her side, she said, half timidly, 
 half confidingly : 
 
 " I have no money to buy anything, but I 
 have some little things in my basket that I 
 want to sell. May I sit by you and try if 
 any one will buy them ? " 
 
 ' The woman seemed surprised, and glanced 
 inquiringly at Eva, as if she wondered that a 
 little girl so nicely dressed and evidently so 
 well cared for should be out so cold a morn- 
 ing on such an errand. Then, apparently 
 concluding that it was only a plan of the 
 child's to gain more pocket money for herself 
 than she was allowed to have, and that she 
 was probably out without leave, she said, 
 rather coldly : 
 
 " I tink, miss, dat you had better go 
 home, and leave sech work for poor chil'en." 
 
 Eva saw the change in her manner, and 
 guessed the cause. 
 
 " Indeed," she exclaimed, " we are very 
 poor ; we have only part of a loaf of bread at 
 home, and not a cent of money. My sister 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 113 
 
 cannot get any work, and I don't know wliat 
 we shall do if I can't sell these." 
 
 The woman was used to the study of hu- 
 man nature, and readily saw that the child 
 spoke the truth. By means of a few kindly 
 put questions, she induced her to tell enough 
 of her own and her sister's past history to 
 enlist all the sympathies of her warm, honest 
 heart in their behalf. Many a time in this 
 world is it found to be true that those who 
 are most willing to help the struggling poor 
 are they who themselves know the bitterness 
 of poverty ; so in this case the little orphan 
 found a much needed friend in the poor negro 
 woman, who earned her own scanty living in 
 the same way as that to which she looked 
 with so much hopefulness ; and she proved 
 herself not only a friend in need, but a friend 
 indeed. She selected the sunniest place for 
 her little protegee, and helped her to arrange 
 her wares in the most attractive manner on 
 the stone coping which was to serve her as 
 both counter and seat. Then, bidding her 
 " keep a good heart," she left her, and went 
 back to her own neglected stall just in time 
 to see two chubby school boys, who were her 
 daily customers, pass on with a disappointed 
 air, evidently wondering that she was not in 
 her accustomed place, ready to serve them 
 
114: "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 with her luscious fruit. The poor woman 
 sighed, for her daily income was small, and 
 these boys were very desirable patrons, with 
 their endless supply of half-dimes and pen- 
 nies, and their insatiable appetite for apples 
 and oranges. But that she felt no ill will for 
 the little girl who had been the innocent 
 cause of her loss, was evident not only from 
 the kindly glances which she cast toward her, 
 but also from the fact that she presently rose, 
 selected the largest and ruddiest apple on her 
 table, and, hastening to where Eva sat anx- 
 iously watching the passers-by, placed it in 
 her hand, and, with a smile and a nod, hurried 
 back to her own seat without waiting for thanks. 
 Oh, how eagerly little Eva devoured the rosy 
 apple ! She had tried to fancy that the 
 morning's meagre breakfast was a very 
 hearty meal, and that she should not be 
 hungry again all day ; but her walk in the 
 sharp, frosty air had added keenness to her 
 half-satisfied appetite, and she was beginning 
 to feel sick with hunger, when this new but 
 true friend placed the fruit in her hand. 
 
 Eva had just finished the apple, and was 
 looking earnestly toward the black woman's 
 stand, striving to catch her eye, that she 
 might smile back her thanks, when two 
 ladies stopped suddenly before her, one of 
 
" KEEP A GOOD HEART." 115 
 
 them exclaiming to the other, " Look, sister, 
 one of these little hats would be the very 
 thing for Bessie's new doll." The lady thus 
 appealed to took from a paper parcel in her 
 hand a china doll's head, and began trying 
 on to it first one and then another of the 
 dainty little bonnets which formed so impor- 
 tant a part of the young adventurer's stock in 
 trade. One was too small, another too large, 
 and the cplor of a third did not suit. How 
 anxiously Eva watched them ! how disheart- 
 eningly each objection fell upon her quick 
 ears, and what a great bound her heart gave, 
 when at last her fastidious customers hit upon 
 one which they pronounced "just right"! 
 For a moment she could scarce gain self-pos- 
 session enough to tell the price, and for many 
 moments after the ladies had passed on she 
 sat looking at the two shining little bits of 
 silver that lay in her hand, while tears of joy 
 sparkled in Jier bright blue eyes. She longed 
 to run home and show Lilian this first fruit 
 'of their united labor but that was impossi- 
 ble ; so at last she put the money into her little 
 empty purse, and, with renewed hope and faith, 
 sat patiently waiting for more customers. 
 
 Presently an old lady stopped and looked 
 over her little stock of goods, but evidently 
 without much satisfaction. 
 
116 
 
 " Haven't you got any needle-books ? " 
 she said 3 turning sharply toward Eva. 
 
 " No, ma'am I'm very sorry ; but I will 
 ask my sister to make some to-morrow," in- 
 nocently replied our little heroine. 
 
 " Huniph ! do you suppose I'm going to 
 stand here till to-morrow waiting for them ? " 
 said the crusty old lady, as she turned away 
 and was lost in the crowd. Next came a 
 jolly-looking old gentleman, with a broad, 
 ruddy face, and a pair of twinkling eyes, that 
 would not stay still long enough for you to 
 tell what color they were. He paused di- 
 rectly before Eva, and, leaning with both 
 hands on his gold-headed cane, he surveyed 
 her and her wares for a moment in silence. 
 Then, in a rich, cheery voice, that rang out 
 through his white mustache like the sound 
 of sleigh bells through a fall of snow, he ex- 
 claimed, " "Well, little girl, you have some 
 mighty pretty things here ; I wonder if there 
 is not something that will do for my little 
 boy." At the last word Eva's countenance 
 fell, and she looked dubiously at her collec- 
 tion of toys ; then turning her eyes pleadingly 
 to the great, good-natured face that was look- 
 ing down upon her, she said earnestly, " I 
 don't believe that I have a single thing that a 
 boy would like ; but have you not a little 
 
117 
 
 girl, who would want a bonnet or a chair for 
 her doll?" 
 
 The fleshy gentleman indulged in a short, 
 merry laugh ; then suddenly looking very 
 grave, he said, " Why, no ! I can't say that 1 
 have any little girl of my own, but then, you 
 know, if one should come to see me, it would 
 be very nice to have the playthings all ready ; 
 so I will take a bonnet, and a chair too, but 
 you must select them, for I can't tell which is 
 the prettiest. And what is this ? " he con- 
 tinued, while Eva was conscientiously endeav- 
 oring to decide as to the respective merits of 
 a red chair and a green one. 
 
 " That, sir," she answered, hastily con- 
 cluding in favor of the red, and looking up to 
 see what it was he held in his hand, " that is 
 a workbasket." 
 
 " A workbasket, is it ? " said the odd old 
 gentleman, with a chuckle that made his 
 broad sides shake again ; " well, I should 
 think that would hold just such a homoeo- 
 pathic dose of work as my wife will be likely 
 to accomplish, so I will take that too. Now, 
 what is my bill ? " he added, taking out his 
 purse with a flourish. Eva slowly counted 
 upon her fingers the value of his purchases^ 
 and then, in a voice that trembled with fear 
 lest he should be angry at the magnitude of 
 
118 
 
 the sum, announced it to be seventy-five 
 cents. 
 
 " Well, there never mind the change, 
 child;" and away went the great fat man, 
 with the gay little basket dangling at his 
 finger ends, while in Eva's lap lay a bright 
 gold dollar, looking all the brighter from con- 
 trast with her black dress. 
 
 The child began to think she was in a fair 
 way to make her fortune, and could not help 
 indulging in one or two joyful little hops, 
 when she thought how glad Lilian would be 
 to hear of her good luck. But just then two 
 great boys came loitering along, with what 
 seemed a number of strings hanging over 
 their shoulders. 
 
 " Come, let's stop here, Bill," said one to 
 his companion, as he stepped directly in front 
 of Eva, and blew a shrill blast on a brass 
 whistle which he held in his hand. The little 
 girl was not much pleased with her new 
 neighbors, particularly when she discovered 
 that at the end of each of the strings that 
 they carried was suspended a large artificial 
 spider, which, with long, quivering legs and 
 bloated bodies, bore so close a resemblance to 
 the ugly reptile which they were intended to 
 imitate, that she felt almost afraid of them, 
 although she well knew they were only 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEABT." 119 
 
 bits of wood and wire. She kept very quiet, 
 earnestly hoping that the boys would move 
 on ; but they showed no disposition to do so. 
 The shrill noise of the whistle was kept up 
 incessantly, and they jerked their ugly toys 
 about, making them squirm and wriggle in a 
 most hideous manner, much to Eva's disgust, 
 though greatly to the delight of a crowd of 
 boys who had collected around them, and 
 were vociferously striving to make them 
 lower the price of the spiders to correspond 
 with the state of their own finances. As yet 
 they had taken no notice of Eva, and she 
 began to think how she could escape from 
 their vicinity without attracting their atten- 
 tion, when one of them, stepping backward, 
 threw himself against the fence, never heed- 
 ing that, as he did so, the long, ragged skirt 
 of his coat swept her basket to the ground, 
 and quite spoiled the tasteful arrangement of 
 her entire stock. 
 
 " Hello, Tom ! " exclaimed his comrade, 
 " you're knocking that young un's things all 
 into pi ; why can't you move on ? " 
 
 " What do I care for the young un, or her 
 things either ? " gruffly returned Tom, at the 
 same time swinging one of his horrid spiders 
 in the face of Eva, who had stooped to rescue 
 her property, which lay so dangerously near 
 
120 
 
 his feet. The poor child could not suppress a 
 cry of terror, at which, the boys raised a ma- 
 licious laugh, even Bill joining in their mirth, 
 as if ashamed that he had shown himself less 
 brutal than the others. Eva hastily repacked 
 her basket, and, escaping from the noisy 
 throng, made her way back to the good black 
 woman's side. 
 
 " Please let me sit near you," she pleaded, 
 laying her little trembling hand on the 
 brawny arm of her friend ; " I am afraid of 
 those boys." 
 
 " "What's dem been a doin' to yer ? Only 
 
 let me git a hold of 'em, an' I'll " * What 
 
 she would have done, in case they had fallen 
 into her hands, could only be inferred from 
 the energetic manner in which she shook her 
 fist toward them ; for, as she started up to 
 carry her vague threat into effect, Eva caught 
 her hand, exclaiming, " Don't do anything to 
 them ; indeed they did not hurt me they 
 only frightened me, and that, you know," she 
 continued, as her champion resumed her seat, 
 " that, you know, they cannot do again if you 
 let me stay by you." 
 
 " Let yer stay by me, chile ? ob course I 
 will, and be mighty glad ob yer company, 
 too. And even if I wa'n't, why, honey, dis 
 is a free country, and eberybody has a right 
 to go or stay whar dey's a mind to ? " 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAET." 121 
 
 Eva opened her eyes very wide at this 
 new declaration of independence, but her 
 honest friend, without heeding her astonish- 
 ment, talked on, while she once more helped 
 her to arrange her temporary counter. 
 
 " Now, chile, it'll be rale nice to have yer 
 so nigh ; it'll be somebody to speak to onc't 
 in a while. I'd a had yer here at fust, only I 
 tought maybe if yer was off by yerself the 
 folks would feel more kinder sorry like for 
 yer, and more likely buy yer things ; but lor', 
 honey, it's jest the same as if yer was alone 
 now, for a blind man could see dat sech a 
 little picter as you be, wid yer white face and 
 yeller hair, couldn't belong to Nancy Jen- 
 kins." 
 
 a What is it you say about the blind man, 
 Mrs. Jenkins ? You mistake ; the blind man 
 no can tell the fair face from the dark, but he 
 know the beauty of good deeds and kind 
 words ; so if the little child have a good 
 heart, and speak the good words, then the 
 blind man say she have beauty like Mrs. Jen- 
 kins perhaps she her little child." 
 
 Eva looked up at the speaker with a half 
 amused, half pitying expression on her bright 
 little face. It was the old organ grinder, 
 who, wearied with his fruitless labor, had 
 drawn closer to Mrs. Jenkins' fruit stand, 
 
122 
 
 and, while he stood resting his instrument 
 against the fence, overheard the conversation 
 between the good woman and her little pro- 
 tegee. Mrs. Jenkins (for so we must hereafter 
 call Eva's humble friend) turned toward him 
 with a laugh, exclaiming, " Lor', Mr. Antho- 
 ny ! you " but just then a customer pre- 
 sented himself, and she left her sentence un- 
 finished: as the old man presently resumed 
 his grinding, there was no occasion to renew 
 the subject ; so Eva, as well as you and I, 
 was left in the dark as to what reply Mrs. 
 Jenkins would have made to the foreigner's 
 compliment. 
 
 Eva watched the old man with much in- 
 terest. How quickly the pleasant smile, that 
 had lighted up his face while he spoke, faded 
 away, and the mournful expression that 
 seemed habitual returned. She quite forgot 
 her own troubles in sympathy for the un- 
 known sorrow of the aged stranger ; and 
 when, from time to time, a compassionate 
 passer-by dropped a penny into his out- 
 stretched hand, she felt as glad as if some 
 good fortune had befallen herself. But you. 
 must not think our little heroine had nothing 
 to do but watch her neighbors. She must 
 keep an eye on her goods, to see that no evil 
 happened to them, and answer the number- 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 123 
 
 less questions as to the price of this or that,, 
 which were asked and answered so often to 
 no purpose ; and when she did occasionally 
 effect a sale, what a tax it was on her arith- 
 metic to make the change ! She was very 
 busy, I assure you, all that cold winter's day, 
 and, when the early twilight began to gather 
 its shadows over the city, she was very glad 
 to pack up the remaining toys and hurry 
 home. But first she paused to bid Mrs. Jen- 
 kins good-bye, and tell her that she would be 
 there again in the morning. Then stepping 
 quickly up to the blind man, and slipping a 
 half dime into his hand, she bounded away ; 
 nor was it long before she was seated on her 
 sister's lap, telling the adventures of the day. 
 Lilian was both surprised and rejoiced at the 
 success of her little sister's experiment. She 
 had passed a sad, lonely day, striving in vain 
 to think of some way by which she might 
 procure bread for herself and the child whom 
 her dying mother had committed to her care. 
 Her cough had been more than usually 
 troublesome, and she would start with terror, 
 and strive to shake off the feeling of lassitude, 
 as she thought, " "What will become of Eva if 
 I die?" She longed for the child's return, 
 though she doubted not it would be empty- 
 handed, as she went ; and, as hour after hour 
 
124: 
 
 passed by without her coming, she grew fear- 
 ful lest some accident had befallen her. But 
 now this greatest trouble was at an end ; she 
 held the little wanderer safe in her arms, and 
 could hardly believe her senses as she counted 
 out, from the purse that she had placed empty 
 in her hands that morning, two whole dollars. 
 Oh ! how Eva enjoyed her surprise, and what 
 a nice supper they had that night, and what 
 a famous appetite the little merchant brought 
 to bear upon it, and how sweetly she slept, 
 when she had said her prayers and thanked 
 the good God for taking care of her through 
 all that eventful day. 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 125 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 FOB many succeeding days Eva might 
 
 have been seen regularly at her post. In 
 
 spite of the hard times, people were looking 
 
 forward to the holidays, and this made trade 
 
 brisk for our young merchant. Indeed, 
 
 Lilian, with her aching head and racking 
 
 cough, found it difficult to make the supply 
 
 meet the demand. Ah ! there was the one 
 
 drawback to Eva's happiness. She did not 
 
 mind that the cold pinched her fingers and 
 
 benumbed her feet, while sitting or standing 
 
 all day long in the open air ; she cared not that 
 
 she had no time to play, and but an hour or 
 
 two in the early morning for study all this 
 
 was merely her own loss or inconvenience ; 
 
 and if ever she felt like repining, she had 
 
 only to look at " little Faith " treading her 
 
 stony, wave-washed path, and her cheerful 
 
 courage would return. But when she saw 
 
126 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 her sweet sister Lillie daily growing paler and 
 more languid, and listened to her hollow 
 cough as she plied her ever busy needle, her 
 little heart would swell, and the tears would 
 fill her bright eyes, in spite of her efforts to 
 keep them down. Still she was on the whole 
 a happy little thing. Mrs. Jenkins continued 
 to be her fast friend, the old organ man's 
 mournful face would light up with a smile of 
 welcome when he heard her voice, and if she 
 left home feeling ever so sadly in the morning, 
 hope kept whispering to her all the way, 
 " Lillie will be better to-morrow," until she 
 felt quite sure it must be so, and ten chances 
 to one she would join her humble friends with 
 a song on her lips, and all the tears in her 
 eyes turned to bright sparkles. 
 
 One morning, however, she came later 
 than usual, and Mrs. Jenkins, who was watch- 
 ing for her with some anxiety, was alarmed 
 as she saw with what slow, languid steps she 
 approached, and that her sweet face wore a 
 look of distress, such as she had never seen 
 there before. 
 
 " Why, what's der matter wid yer, honey ! " 
 she exclaimed, opening her arms to receive 
 her little favorite. Eva, unable to speak, hid 
 her face on the good woman's bosom and 
 sobbed aloud. 
 
127 
 
 " Lor' sates ! don't cry so, chile, but jes' 
 tell old Aunty what troubles her pet." 
 
 Thus urged, Eva checked her sobs, and in 
 a few broken words told the cause of her grief. 
 Lilian was sick, so sick as to be unable to rise 
 from her bed, and the undefined fear with 
 which the child had looked at her flushed face 
 and marked her labored breathing, was in- 
 creased to absolute terror when she overheard 
 Mrs. Havens say to one of her boarders, " I 
 don't believe that poor girl will ever live 
 through this attack. Hard work and trouble 
 have about used up what little strength she 
 had to begin with." 
 
 Poor little Eva ! the cloud which had thus 
 suddenly gathered about her was so very 
 dark that even the eye of faith with which she 
 had learned to look beyond her many trials 
 was at first unable to pierce its obscurity. She 
 would gladly have remained with her sister, 
 but it was more than ever necessary that she 
 should earn something to supply their in- 
 creasing wants ; so when Jennie Havens came 
 to the room and said that her mother had 
 sent her to sit with Lilian, she took up her 
 basket, and for the first time went reluctantly 
 to her self-appointed task. But, as we have 
 seen, there were those awaiting her who were 
 ready to share her grief, and to impart all the 
 
128 
 
 consolation it was in their power to give. 
 Indeed, good, honest-hearted Mrs. Jenkins 
 told of so many people who had been " tuck 
 in jest sech a way," who were " well and 
 hearty now," that the child felt somewhat 
 comforted, and the blind man's words of sym- 
 pathy, mingled as they were with the musical 
 terms of endearment that enrich his own lan- 
 guage, were very soothing to her little aching 
 heart. Still the day passed wearily, and she 
 longed for its close, that she might hasten 
 back to Lilian's bedside. 
 
 It was almost with joy that she hailed 
 the first glimmering of the street lights, the 
 signal which released her from her post. She 
 was hurrying her remaining toys into the bas- 
 ket, when Mrs. Jenkins laid her hand on her 
 shoulder, saying, u Look-. '-here, honey, yer 
 jes' tell me der number ob yer house, an' den 
 jes' as soon as I've seed Mr. Anthony home 
 (yer know I allus do that since his little gran'- 
 son's been sick), an' stopped in ter see how 
 my ole man's gettin' along, I'll come round 
 ter fin' out how yer sister is, an' maybe I can 
 be of some kind er sarvice." 
 
 This was the very thing that Eva had 
 been wishing for all day ; but she knew how 
 little leisure time her friend had, and did not 
 quite like to ask her to take so long a walk 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 129 
 
 after the day's toil. Now, however, that she 
 had herself made the proposition, the child 
 was not slow to express her pleasure at the 
 proposed visit, and repeating for the third or 
 fourth time, " Number eighty-two ; please 
 don't forget to come, Mrs. Jenkins," she 
 caught up her basket and hastened away. 
 She still bore a heavy heart, but already there 
 were gleams of brightness breaking through 
 the clouds that shut out her sunlight, and she 
 began once more to hope " Lillie would be 
 better to-morrow," and to look with her old 
 faith to the guiding hand of her Heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 She had need of all the comfort that hope 
 and faith could bring to her when she reached 
 home, and, creeping noiselessly to her sister's 
 bedside, saw the change that a few hours had 
 wrought. Lilian's eyes were wandering 
 wildly from object to object, while she 
 talked constantly of the scenes familiar to 
 her childhood, as if she thought she was still 
 a child in her dear old home. Poor little 
 Eva, frightened at her strange manner, 
 caught her hand, crying out, " Don't look 
 so, Lillie ! oh, speak to me ! " but the restless 
 eyes, after turning upon her for a moment 
 with a vacant gaze, wandered away again 
 without a sign of recognition. 
 
130 "KEEP A GOOD HEAHT." 
 
 Mrs. Havens, who was sitting by the bed, 
 rose, and, taking the terrified child by the 
 hand, led her to the opposite side of the room. 
 
 " Eva," she said in a low voice, " your 
 sister is very sick indeed. She has been out 
 of her head for more* than two hours. You 
 must not try to talk to her, for she does not 
 know you, and it will only worry her." 
 
 " "Won't she ever know me again ? " 
 sobbed Eva, the tears rolling down her little 
 pale face. 
 
 " Hush ! Yes, I hope so ; but you must 
 be quiet now, and listen to me ; " then, after 
 waiting a moment for the little girl to con- 
 quer her emotion, she continued : " I have 
 sent Jennie for a doctor he has not come 
 yet ; but I am afraid this is a very dangerous 
 illness, and that your sister will be sick a long 
 time, even if she recovers at last. Have you 
 no friends who could take her to their home, 
 or at least come here and take care of her ? " 
 Eva shook her head, and her tears burst forth 
 afresh. " Then, child," she resumed in a 
 troubled voice, " I am afraid she must go 
 where she can receive better attendance than 
 I am able to give. * At the hospital she would 
 be well cared for, without any expense, and I 
 think, Eva, that, if the doctor says she can be 
 moved without danger, it will be best to send 
 her there." 
 
131 
 
 Mrs. Havens had endeavored to break the 
 subject cautiously and kindly to the little 
 orphan, and was not prepared for the passion- 
 ate burst of grief and dismay with which it 
 was received. 
 
 " You sha'n't send my sister away to that 
 horrid place ! " she exclaimed, crying as if her 
 very heart would break. All efforts that 
 Mrs. Havens made to soothe her were for a 
 time useless, for Eva shrank from her as if she 
 considered her a heartless enemy. Finally, 
 raising the little quivering form to her lap, 
 she said sadly, " My child, I am very sorry 
 for you and for Lilian ; you must not think 
 what I have been saying was spoken in un- 
 kindness. I should be very glad to keep her 
 here, but it is impossible. How could we 
 even pay the physician's fee ? I am poor 
 myself, Eva." 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed the child, brightening, 
 " I can make money enough for that ; see, I 
 made all this to-day," and she emptied the 
 contents of her purse upon the table. 
 
 " I see you have done very well ; but you 
 must remember that Lilian will not be able to 
 make any more articles for you to sell. Then 
 there is still another objection to your sister's 
 remaining here. She will require constant 
 watching and attention; you are too young 
 
132 
 
 to be trusted, and I don't see what time I can 
 have for it. You know that, since Ellen went 
 ont West and I dismissed Bridget, I have all 
 the house work to do, and no oue to help me 
 in anything." 
 
 Eva saw the truth of all this, and sat for 
 a moment lost in thought ; then, looking up, 
 she said : "I am sorry 1 spoke so naughty to 
 you, Mrs. Havens. You know better than I 
 what ought to be done ; but mayn't I go with 
 Lillie ? " 
 
 " We will talk about that some other 
 time. Here comes the doctor ; " and Mrs. 
 Havens, hastily kissing the child, put her 
 from her lap, and, stepping to the door, ad- 
 mitted the physician, whose footstep she had 
 heard on the stairs. 
 
 Dr. H pronounced Lilian's illness to 
 
 be of a very serious character, and agreed 
 with Mrs. Havens that, under the circum- 
 stances, it would be best to take her to the 
 hospital. He promised to make all necessary 
 arrangements, and to come himself in the 
 morning to superintend the removal. 
 
 " Please let me go with my sister," 
 pleaded little Eva, laying her dimpled hand 
 on his, as he turned the door-knob to leave 
 the room ; " please let me go with my sister." 
 
 " Why, that is impossible, my poor child," 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 133 
 
 he said pityingly ; " but don't cry, you shall 
 be taken care of." Then turning to Mrs. 
 Havens : " You say, ma'am, that they are 
 orphans and without friends ; would it not be 
 well to get the little one admitted into one of 
 the orphan asylums ? " 
 
 " Oh, dear, no ! " replied the good lady, 
 in evident distress. "It is bad enough to 
 send Lilian away when it is for her own good. 
 The child can just as well stay here as not ; 
 she will be no kind of trouble to me ; she is 
 such a smart little thing, she can take care of 
 herself." 
 
 "There, my dear," said the doctor, strok- 
 ing Eva's curls, " you must be a good girl, 
 and not cry any more. Mrs. Havens is very 
 kind to keep you here. I hope your sister 
 will soon be better, and I will see that you 
 are allowed to visit her every day T\hile she 
 is at the hospital." 
 
 This promise was some consolation to the 
 poor child, and, feeling that she must prove 
 herself worthy of the privilege, she dried her 
 eyes and determinately kept down the sobs 
 that were struggling for utterance. "When 
 
 Dr. H had gone, Mrs. Havens stationed 
 
 her at Lilian's bedside, telling her to remain 
 there and keep very still, while she " ran 
 down to see about the tea." Eva had been 
 
134 
 
 sitting some time in the darkened room, lis- 
 tening in silent dread to her sister's uncon- 
 scious mutterings, and striving not to think 
 of to-morrow, when, hearing a gentle tap at 
 the door, she softly opened it, and there, to 
 her unspeakable joy, stood her friend the 
 apple woman, whose kind, dark face seemed 
 really beautiful to the weary, sorrowful child. 
 
 As soon as she understood the exact state 
 of the t case, Mrs. Jenkins announced her de- 
 termination to stay all night and make her- 
 self generally useful, much to the relief of 
 Mrs. Havens and the satisfaction of Eva, who 
 felt the cheering influence of her pleasant 
 voice, and quiet though bustling industry, as 
 she busied herself about the rooms, " putting 
 things to rights," as she called it. 
 
 At last Lilian, quieted by the effect of 
 
 medicine that Dr. H had left for her, fell 
 
 asleep. This, Mrs. Jenkins whispered to Eva, 
 was a " berry favo'ble sign," and, leading her 
 into the other room the good woman made 
 her sit in her little chair by the fire, while she 
 toasted a slice of bread and warmed a cup of 
 milk for her. When the dainty repast was 
 ready, she took the little girl on her lap, and, 
 by means of coaxing, succeeded in making 
 her eat it. As soon as this was accomplished, 
 she pushed aside the dishes, settled herself 
 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 135 
 
 back in her chair, and, drawing Eva's head 
 to her bosom, she said, " Now, little missey, 
 ole Nancy'll tell yer a story. What shall it 
 be about, honey ? " 
 
 " Oh, about yourself. I like true stories," 
 said Eva, glad that good Mrs. Jenkins' endless 
 talking left her so little time to think of the 
 dreaded parting with her sister. 
 
 " Well, now, jes' ter hear de chile ! How 
 d'ye know that thar is any story ter tell about 
 me? I s'pose, though, a'most eberybody's 
 had some kind of sperance that, if it was writ 
 out all proper like, would make a pretty good 
 story ; so if yer raly wants ter know how I'se 
 got along so far through de worl', why, I'll 
 jes ? tell yer. Yer see, honey, I was raised 
 down in Virginny, on a big plantation, where 
 thar was lots of colored pussons, big an' little, 
 ole an' young. A mighty nice time I had ob 
 it when I was a chile, a-playin' about wid de 
 oder chil'en. Much we car'd weder we was 
 white or black, so long as we had plenty to 
 eat an' nuthiii' ter do but play from mornin' 
 ter night ! But at last I grew ter be a great, 
 tall gal, an' Missis had me up ter de house tu 
 learn tu sew an' fit work, kase she meant I 
 should be a seamstress, an' work in de house, 
 instead of habin' ter go out ter de fields like 
 some ob de gals had ter. Yer see she had 
 
136 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 tuk a sliine ter me, and wanted ter do me all 
 de good she could. Now, honey, I really be- 
 lieve my missis was a perfect angel, even 
 when she libed in dis miser'ble worl', an' I 
 knows for sartin she is now, for she went 
 home ter de better country a long time ago ; 
 but massa was quite a different sort ob a pus- 
 son. He thought all de worl' ob missis, an' 
 dat was de only good p'int dar was about 
 him. Lor' ! how he would storm an' swar 
 an' lash his whip about when t'ings didn't 
 suit him. Howsomever, he didn't hab 'casion 
 ter storm at me much, for my work was all 
 for missis, an' it didn't consarn him nuthin' 
 how it was done. Well, it was a dark day 
 for all ob us when de missis took sick an' de 
 doctor said she wouldn't neber goin' fur to be 
 any better. Trouble had a bery curious 'feet 
 on massa. He was more onreasonable an' 
 'zacting than eber, an' we was 'most afraid ob 
 our libes. Now yer see, honey, I had been 
 married ter Cato den about two years. Cato 
 was one ob de field han's, an' a right smart 
 fellow he was in dem days, though he's got 
 de rhumatis powerful bad now. One day, 
 when missis was at de worse, I was a-sitthi' 
 at our little cabin door a-gettin' my baby ter 
 sleep, an' a-thinldn' how sad it would be 
 when our good, kind missis should be took 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 137 
 
 away from us, when all ter onc't Cato rushed 
 in wid his eyes a-starin' an' his teeth a chat- 
 term', an' a-lookin' so drefful dat it steered 
 me a'most ter death. Jes' as soon as he could 
 speak, he cried out, ' Oh, Nancy, Nancy, 
 massa is gwine ter sell you an' de baby to- 
 morrow, to be carried clean off down South ! ' 
 An' den he trowed hisself on de floor, an' 
 clutched his har wid both hands, an* groaned 
 awful. I got right up. ' Cato,' says I, ' take 
 keer ob de chile ; ' so he sat up on de floor 
 an' looked at me questionin' like ; but I jes' 
 put little Tommy into his arms, an' walked 
 straight tu de house, an' right into missis' 
 room. Massa was thar, but I didn't keer for 
 him den ; 1 pushed past him when he tried 
 ter stop me, an', gwine right ter missis' bed- 
 side, I told her jes' how it w r as. Den, weak 
 as she was, she started up in bed, and looked 
 massa in de face. ' John,' says she, ' will you 
 do dis thing ? ' He kep' a-pokin' at his boot 
 wid a little switch he held in his hand, an' 
 mumbled somet'ing about ' raisin' money ; ' 
 bat missis wouldn't listen to him. She began 
 a-talkin' to him so beautiful an' solemn like, 
 and neber gave up till he promised to set 
 Cato an' me free, an' den she wouldn't be 
 satisfied till he sent off* for a lawyer an' had 
 free papers made out for us an' for little Tom- 
 
138 
 
 my too ; kase, yer see, I reckon she knowed 
 that massa wouldn't be likely ter keep a 
 promis', even ter her, if it took de money 
 outer his pocket, so she meant ter make sure 
 of it wid de lawyer 'fore she died. An' 
 mighty thankful Cato an' I were ter her for 
 thinkin' so much about us, an' she a-dyin' ! 
 I tell yer, honey, eider ob us would have been 
 glad ter gib our life ter save her's after dat. 
 But it couldn't be, an' it wan't many days 
 'fore de good Lord sent an' took her ter de 
 hebbenly home." 
 
 Here the old woman paused to wipe a 
 tear from her eye with the corner of her 
 checked apron. That tear, in memory of one 
 who was her friend in the dark days of her 
 bondage, was a richer tribute than the cost- 
 liest monument ever raised to one whom fame 
 or station had rendered great. It would shine 
 with purer lustre than a diamond, in the 
 crown of blessedness that would circle the 
 brow of the " good missis " in that day when 
 the Judge of all the world shall say, u Inas- 
 much as ye have done it unto one of the least 
 of these, ye have done it unto me." 
 
 After a moment's silence Mrs. Jenkins 
 went on with her story : " Ah ! chile, dat 
 were a heavy day to all ob us poor niggers. 
 Even Cato an' I didn't seem to feel much 
 
139 
 
 comfort in thinkin' we was free, kase it were 
 so drefful ter think ob gwine off an' leavin' 
 so many ob our friends ter de mercy ob such 
 a cruel massa ; for, after missis died, he 
 seemed ter go kinder crazy, an 'peared like 
 he were 'sessed ob an ebel spirit. I r'ally do 
 think dat de little good dare eber was in him 
 was buried in her grave. But dare wan't no 
 good in our stayin', eben if we could, so Cato 
 an' I, we bundled up what little things we 
 had, an' made our way to de free States de 
 bes' way we could. An' herewe's been in dis 
 yer big city more'n thirty years. Sometimes 
 we's got along fus'-rate, an' sometimes we's 
 been pretty bad off ; but somehow de Lord 
 He's allus took keer ob us, an' den we an' 
 our chil'en i&free, an' dat is a great comfort. 
 
 " Tommy, he's married, an' is doin' fus'- 
 rate in de white-washin' business. My darter 
 aint very strong ; she lives at home wid Cato 
 an' me, an' she takes keer ob her father while 
 I'm out ; den, too, she 'casionally helps us 
 'siderably a-doin' odd jobs for de neighbors. 
 So we manage ter get along ; an' yer know, 
 honey, we's only told ter ax, ' Give us dis day 
 our daily bread.' ' : 
 
 Long before Mrs. Jenkins finished her 
 story, Eva's eyelids had been drooping drow- 
 sily, but, the last words partly arousing her, 
 
140 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 she folded her little hands, and silently re- 
 peated the prayer of which they are part. 
 Then sleepily opening her eyes for a moment, 
 they fell upon the beautiful statuette of Faith, 
 which the black woman had taken in her 
 hand, and was looking at with wonder and 
 admiration. 
 
 As soon as Mrs. Jenkins was sure that her 
 little charge was asleep, she gently undressed 
 her and laid her on the lounge ; then seated 
 herself by Lilian's bedside to watch her fitful 
 slumbers. Sometimes she nodded in her 
 chair, it is true, but she never failed to ad- 
 minister the medicine at exactly the right 
 time. 
 
 Eva awoke the next morning with a sense 
 of some impending evil, though it was several 
 moments before she could collect her scat- 
 tered thoughts sufficiently to remember ex- 
 actly what misfortune she dreaded ; but when 
 full recollection came to her, she started up 
 in terror, lest they should have taken her 
 sister away already. Stealing softly to the 
 open door of Lilian's room, she was relieved 
 to find she was still there, and Mrs. Jenkins 
 at her bedside. The latter beckoned her to 
 come in, and to her eager question, " How is 
 sister Lillie now ? " replied in a whisper, 
 " She ha'n't took no notice of nuthin' dis 
 
141 
 
 mornin', but we ought to be thankful ter see 
 her lyin' so quiet an' peaceful, 'stead ob ravin' 
 like she was yesterday." 
 
 Eva turned away without speaking, and 
 commenced dressing as hastily as her little 
 trembling hands would permit. 
 
 After a while Mrs. Havens came up. 
 Mrs. Jenkins was then making a cup of coffee 
 for their breakfast, and Eva had taken her 
 place by the bedside. The little girl could 
 hear her two friends consulting together in 
 low tones, and felt an uneasy consciousness 
 that she was the subject of their conversation. 
 And so in fact she was. Mrs. Havens knew 
 that she did not intend to go out with her 
 basket as usual this morning. She dreaded 
 to have her present when Lilian was moved, 
 yet did not like to tell her that she should not 
 stay ; so she appealed to the old fruit woman 
 to persuade the child to accompany her when 
 she went to her stand. 
 
 Mrs. Jenkins agreed that it would be a 
 great trial to the little girl to see her sister 
 carried helpless and unconscious from the 
 place which had been so long their home, and 
 promised to coax her to go. Accordingly, as 
 soon as she had washed up the breakfast 
 dishes, she said in a cheerful tone : 
 
 " Now, honey, get yer basket an' come 
 'long wid ole Nancy." 
 
142 "KEEP 
 
 " Oh, no, no ! " please don't ask me to go 
 to-day, Mrs. Jenkins," said Eva in reply, 
 shrinking nearer to the door of Lilian's room. 
 
 " Jes' come yere a minit, my little pet," 
 said Mrs. Jenkins, drawing the reluctant child 
 to her knee. " Now don't yer go ter cry ; 
 dare aint nobody gwine ter make yer go no- 
 whar dat yer dont want'er, but yer jes' hear 
 what I've got ter say, an' I reckon yer'll 
 'elude ter go yerself. Thar's Miss Lillie, now, 
 she don't eben know yer dis morning an' it 
 won't make a mite ob difference wid her 
 wedder yer's here or whar yer be. Dar aint 
 nothin' yer kin do for her but what de doc- 
 tor an' de nuss at de hospital fein do a great 
 sight better. So wouldn't yer ruther go now, 
 when she don't need yer, an' 'arn some 
 money, so that when she gets better in a few 
 days yer kin buy some nice things for her ? 
 An' look a-yere, honey, if yer'll go wid me 
 now, jes' as soon as de doctor says she kin eat 
 it, I'll gib yer de biggest orange I kin find for 
 her." 
 
 Eva sat still, with the tears rolling slowly 
 over her cheeks, but, evidently impressed by 
 Mrs. Jenkins' argument ; presently she looked 
 up, and said in a low voice, " I will go ; but 
 let me kiss Lillie first." 
 
 " Dat yer may, honey ! " exclaimed the 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 143 
 
 good woman, hastily dashing her rough hand 
 across her eyes. 
 
 In a few moments more, Eva and her 
 dusky friend were walking rapidly toward 
 the place of their humble avocation. They 
 found the blind organ grinder already at his 
 post, Mrs. Jenkins' daughter having led him 
 there, as had been agreed she should do the 
 evening before. -> 
 
 Eva's stock of goods was small now, and, 
 though she sold but little during the day, she 
 had only two or three articles left when even- 
 ing came. 
 
 " Now, look-a-yere, chile," said Mrs. Jen- 
 kins, when it was time to shut up shop^ " yer 
 jes' come 'long wid me while I totes dese yere 
 t'ings home, an' gets Mr. Anthony safe ter 
 his house, den I'se gwine ter take yer ter see 
 yer sister." 
 
 The little girl's face brightened ; she had 
 supposed that she must wait until the next 
 day before being admitted to the hospital, 
 and had been slowly preparing to return 
 home, feeling how desolate that lonely 
 home would be. But the hope of seeing 
 Lilian gave her new life ; she started up 
 eagerly, and stood watching Mrs. Jenkins' 
 deliberate movements, until, unable to check 
 her impatience longer, she ventured to ask, 
 " Won't we be too late if we don't hurry ? " 
 
144 
 
 " I reckon not, chile, but den pVaps it's 
 jes' as well not ter be too slow ; " and she 
 packed away her fruit with rather less delay. 
 
 How rejoiced Eva was when she saw the 
 last rosy-cheeked apple disappear within the 
 capacious basket, the cover close over it, and 
 the basket itself, with all its luscious burden, 
 swung securely on one of the stout arms of 
 its owner, while the other offered a strong 
 support to the blind man ! Then the trio set 
 forth. They were all unheeded by the hurry- 
 ing crowds through which they moved, and 
 yet there was a pathos in their very com- 
 panionship more touching, a heroism in each 
 of their humble lives more noble than that 
 which, when depicted on the page of romance, 
 had many a time awakened the sensibility or 
 stirred the admiration of those who passed 
 them by so carelessly. 
 
 After passing through several streets, such 
 as Eva had never seen before, dark, dirty, 
 and ill smelling, thronging with wretched 
 men and women, and still more wretched 
 children, they turned down a narrow alley, 
 which, though more quiet, was hardly less 
 miserable, where, stopping before a dilapi- 
 dated old building, the blind man released 
 Mrs. Jenkins' arm, and, bidding God bless 
 her for her kindness to him, he slowly de- 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 145 
 
 scended the flight of rickety steps that led to 
 the basement, or rather cellar? of the forlorn 
 edifice. Mrs. Jenkins took Eva's hand, and 
 walked rapidly on a few paces in silence ; 
 then, as if struck with a sudden thought, she 
 turned back, and, still leading the wondering 
 child, followed the old organ grinder into his 
 subterranean home. Never had Eva's bright 
 eyes opened upon such a scene of misery as 
 they now beheld, as soon as they became 
 enough accustomed to the darkness to distin- 
 guish the objects by which she was surround- 
 ed. The old man had unstrapped the organ 
 from his weary shoulders and placed it care- 
 fully in one corner of the room, and was now 
 seated on an inverted tub, striving to warm 
 his half-frozen fingers over a handful of coals 
 that were smouldering in an earthen furnflce 
 on the hearth. A tallow candle, stuck into a 
 broken bottle, and standing on an old barrel 
 in place of a table, cast its feeble light over 
 the pale face of a sickly looking woman, who, 
 kneeling on the damp floor at his side, was 
 eagerly counting the few pennies that he had 
 gathered during th5 day. 
 
 The woman started up when she saw Mrs. 
 Jenkins, and, seizing her hand, drew her tow- 
 ard something at the side of the room which 
 had escaped Eva's notice in her first hasty 
 7 
 
146 "KEEP A GOOD HEABT.'' 
 
 glance over the dreary abode. This some- 
 thing, which in the general darkness seemed 
 at first only a darker shadow, proved upon 
 closer examination to be a bundle of straw 
 covered with rags, upon which lay the form 
 of a little boy about her own age. Around 
 him was wrapped a blanket shawl, which, 
 though faded and somewhat worn, was by far 
 the most comfortable article that the poor 
 family seemed to possess. The sleeping child 
 clutched it with his little bony fingers, as if 
 he feared it would be taken from him. The 
 woman, still holding Mrs. Jenkins' hand, 
 stooped and stroked the shawl in a caressing 
 manner, as if it were a living thing ; then 
 raising herself and pointing down to the boy, 
 she exclaimed, " See ! Luigi sleep now shawl , I 
 warm, warm ! 'Ou good, 'ou like angel me 
 t'ank ! " She could say no more, for the ex- 
 citement, together with the effort she had 
 made to master the few words of English, 
 brought on a violent paroxysm of coughing, 
 and Eva was horrified to see that, when it 
 had passed, the apron she held to her lips 
 was stained with blood. 
 
 Mrs. Jenkins stepped to the table, or 
 rather barrel, and, unobserved by^those for 
 whom the little charity was intended, placed 
 a dime among the pennies which the poor wo- 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 147 
 
 man had left lying there. As she did so, Eva 
 perceived for the first time that the shawl she 
 had on was much smaller than the one she 
 usually wore, and, glancing again at the hum- 
 ble bed by which she was still standiDg, the 
 little girl discovered that the covering, which 
 was so gratefully prized, was the very one 
 that had so long shielded the old fruit wo- 
 man's form from the keen winter blasts. She 
 had but just made this discovery, when Mrs. 
 Jenkins took her hand and led her up into 
 the street again. 
 
 It was not so dark outdoors as in the 
 organ grinder's burrow-like home ; still the 
 dusk was deepening, and they walked rapidly 
 onward. Nothing was said for several mo- 
 ments ; then, as a bitter cold blast swept past 
 them, Eva looked up and said : 
 
 " Did you give away your nice warm 
 shawl, Mrs. Jenkins ? " 
 
 " Lor', chile ! dat's nuthin' ; dis yere is 
 good enough for me. Anyhow, I kin stan' 
 der cole better'n yonder sick baby, I reckon." 
 
 While talking they had turned into a 
 more open street ; the buildings were all of a 
 very humble description, but there was an air 
 of cleanliness arid hopefulness, quite in con- 
 trast with the dirty alley they had just left. 
 
 " Here's whar I live, honey," said Mrs. 
 
 
148 
 
 Jenkins, as they entered the outer door of a 
 decent looking tenement house. She led Eva 
 up two or three flights of stairs ; then, open- 
 ing a door at the end of the hall, ushered her 
 into her own neat, cheerful home. 
 
 By the fire sat old Cato, propped up in 
 his rocking chair. Sally, his daughter, was 
 busy with preparations for supper, and a large 
 gray cat, that lay on a bit of carpet before 
 the fire, was purring a drowsy accompani- 
 ment to the tea-kettle's song. 
 
 " "Why ! mother, you are home early to- 
 night," said Sally, hastening to take the bas- 
 ket from her hand ; " and you have brought 
 the little girl that's nice ! " 
 
 " Hoity, toity ! " cried Cato, who had just 
 caught sight of little Eva, " whar yer come 
 from, little pinky posey ? Come an' see ole 
 Cato, an' tell um all 'bout it." 
 
 The child went to him, and, while she was 
 trying to answer his questions, and thinking 
 how odd he looked with his white hair and 
 black face, Mrs. Jenkins held a whispered 
 conversation with her daughter, in which she 
 told her all that had taken place with regard 
 to the orphans, and of her promise to go with 
 Eva to the hospital this evening. " So now, 
 Sally," she continued, in a louder tone, " I'll 
 jes' take a cup ob dis yere hot tea, an' be 
 
149 
 
 off ; don't keep yer supper a-waitin' for me, 
 but jes' sot a plate ob sumthin' down ter der 
 tire ter keep warm till I get back." While 
 sbe was speaking, Sally had taken a nice 
 raised biscuit from the oven, and buttered it 
 for Eva. It was very acceptable to the poor 
 child, for grief and anxiety had robbed her 
 of appetite during the day, and she began to 
 feel quite hungry after her long walk. 
 
 " Now, honey, I reckon we'd better go," 
 said Mrs. Jenkins, as soon as Eva had finished 
 her biscuit. She eagerly obeyed the sum- 
 mons, and in a moment more they were again 
 threading their way through the crowded 
 streets. 
 
 They soon reached the hospital, but what 
 was little Eva's disappointment when told 
 that they could not be admitted, no visitors 
 being allowed at that hour ! In vain were 
 her tears and Mrs. Jenkins' expostulations ; 
 such was the rule, and it could not be set 
 aside. Mrs. Jenkins was about giving it up, 
 when, glancing at the sorrowful face of the 
 child, she determined to make one more effort 
 in her behalf. She had just commenced her 
 remonstrance anew, and the porter had begun 
 to show signs of impatience, when a gentle- 
 man, passing through the hall, came forward 
 to learn the cause of the dispute. Eva, recog- 
 
150 
 
 nizing him as the physician who had attended 
 Lilian, sprang toward him, exclaiming : 
 
 " You said I might see my sister every 
 day, and now that man won't let me." 
 
 u Not so fast, my little girl, not so fast ! " 
 
 said Dr. H , smiling ; u I said you might 
 
 see her every day^ not every night. There is 
 a difference, which you and your good friend 
 here seem to have overlooked." 
 
 Eva stood still a moment with drooping, 
 tearful eyes ; then looking up, she said 
 softly : 
 
 " I am sorry I didn't understand you ; but 
 if I can't see Lillie to-night, may I come to- 
 morrow? and will you please tell me how 
 she is now ? " 
 
 " She is, I think, somewhat better than in 
 the morning ; she is sleeping quietly. Bat 
 come, little one, you shall not be disappointed. 
 It was very careless on my part not to tell 
 you at what time you could be admitted ; so 
 now I will take you myself to see your sister, 
 if you will promise to be very quiet and not 
 disturb her." 
 
 Dr. H led Eva, followed by Mrs. 
 
 Jenkins, up stairs and into a long, dimly 
 lighted room. On each side of the room 
 stood a number of cot beds at equal distances 
 from each other. Eva observed, as she passed. 
 
" KEEP A GOOD HEA"RT." 151 
 
 that some were occupied and others not, but 
 that all looked neat and comfortable. On 
 one of these cots, at the farther end of the 
 apartment, Lilian was lying in a gentle slum- 
 ber. By her side was seated a pleasant look- 
 ing woman, engaged in knitting. She whis- 
 pered a few kind words to the child, as she 
 made way for her to come near the bed. The 
 sweet voice in which they were spoken, 
 rather than the words themselves, won the 
 confidence of her little heart, and she felt 
 almost reconciled to leaving Lilian in this 
 strange place, if she was to have so gentle a 
 nurse. Indeed, while the little girl stood 
 beside her sleeping sister, much of the dread 
 she had felt when thinking of her as an in- 
 mate of the hospital disappeared. To be 
 sure, it was not the pleasantest place in the 
 world not even so pleasant as their own 
 humble home ; but, as she looked at the tidy 
 bed, and glanced around the warm yet airy 
 room, she thought of the organ grinder's cel- 
 lar, and of the sick boy wrapped in Mrs. Jen- 
 kins' shawl, and she resolved not only to 
 repine no longer at her own lot, but to try 
 and do something to aid those who were still 
 more unfortunate. 
 
 Presently Dr. H took her hand to 
 
 lead her away ; she longed to give her sister 
 
152 
 
 one kiss, but he shook his head, and drew her 
 gently from the bedside. When they were 
 going down the stairs, he told her that, if 
 Lilian could sleep undisturbed for a few 
 hours, she would probably awake with re- 
 stored consciousness. " And so, my little 
 girl," he said, cheerfully, " when you come 
 to-morrow morning, you may give her as 
 many kisses as you please, though it would 
 not do this evening." 
 
 When Eva reached home her heart was 
 much lighter than when she went out in the 
 morning. She no longer feared that her 
 sister would die, for had not the doctor 
 assured her that she would be better to-mor- 
 row ? And then, after all, the hospital was 
 not such a dreadful place as she had sup- 
 posed ; so she said u Good-by " to Mrs. Jen- 
 kins, and thanked her for the trouble she had 
 taken for her in quite a cheerful voice. 
 
 It was very lonely for the little orphan as 
 she sat by the fire, eating her bread and 
 milk ; but she tried to drive all sad thoughts 
 away, and for company's sake seated her doll 
 in a chair by her side, and played that she 
 shared her supper. Then she washed the 
 bowl and spoon, and put them away, and, 
 taking her little Testament, she read over her 
 Sunday school lesson ; then closing the book, 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 153 
 
 she sat watching the red and blue flames that 
 kept dancing up to peep at her through the 
 open door of the stove, until somehow they 
 were all at once changed into familiar forms 
 and faces. There were Mrs. Jenkins and the 
 
 blind man, old Cato and Dr. H , Lilian 
 
 and Sally and Mrs. Havens, all dancing a 
 most fantastic jig ; but just as old Cato cut a 
 double pigeon wing, and tossed his crutch in 
 the air, she was aroused by a sudden crash, 
 and started up to find that she had been 
 almost asleep and quite dreaming, and that 
 her doll had fallen out of her arms upon the 
 hearth. She picked it up and anxiously ex- 
 amined it ; to her no small comfort she found 
 there was no damage done, but concluded 
 that it was high time both she and Dolly 
 were in bed. 
 
 " You shall sleep with me to-night, Dol- 
 ly !" she said, as she took off its pink silk 
 dress, and put on the nice little nightgown that 
 Lilian had made for it. Though Eva tried so 
 hard to be cheerful, she could not help feeling 
 very disconsolate as for the first time she pre- 
 pared to go to bed alone. She strove not to 
 think of her loneliness, but of the pleasant 
 times she should have when Lilian was well 
 and at home again. Still the tears would 
 rush from her full heart to her eyes, till they 
 7* 
 
154: "KEEP 
 
 almost blinded her ; but she quickly brushed 
 them away, and, kneeling by the bedside, 
 uttered her simple prayer to the Father of 
 the fatherless, and, before many minutes 
 more had passed, was sleeping sweetly with 
 her doll clasped in her arms. 
 
'KEEP A GOOD HEABT " 155 
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 IT was a very bright ray of sunlight which, 
 crept through the drapery that Jack Frost 
 had hung over Eva's bedroom window, and, 
 touching her eyelids, called her back from 
 dreamland. She sprang up at once, and 
 hurried on her clothes, for she remembered 
 that she had a great deal to do that morning. 
 And very busy she was, I assure you. First, 
 there was the fire to make, and a pretty diffi- 
 cult task she found it. How many times it 
 would go quite out, just as she thought it 
 was really beginning to burn ! and then she 
 would have the work all to do over again 
 with her little aching fingers. Still she was 
 not discouraged, but labored patiently on, 
 learning a new lesson from every failure, 
 until at last she fairly clapped her hands with 
 delight as the loud roaring and crackling told 
 of her success. Then, while her bread and 
 
156 "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 milk was warming, she made the bed, dusted 
 the room, and dressed her doll. Finally she 
 opened her basket of merchandise, and was 
 somewhat startled as she for the first time 
 realized that her stock in trade was reduced 
 to one needlebook and a pincushion. 
 
 " Never mind ! " she said consolingly to 
 herself, " I have some money in my purse 
 yet, and, if I have not much to sell, I need 
 not go out so early, but can wait till it is 
 time to go to see Lillie first." 
 
 "When she had finished her breakfast, she 
 took her book, thinking to learn a long, lesson 
 before she went, but in vain ; she could not 
 fix her thoughts on what she read. They 
 would constantly wander off, to hover round 
 her sister's sickbed, until at length, giving up 
 the attempt, she threw aside the book and 
 went to the window, where she stood long, 
 watching impatiently the clock in a neigh- 
 boring church tower till the slowly moving 
 hands pointed to half past nine. 
 
 " There ! the doctor said I must be there 
 by ten, so now it is time to go," exclaimed 
 the eager child, as she hurriedly prepared for 
 her cold walk. 
 
 Arriving at the hospital, the same woman 
 whose sweet voice had won her confidence 
 the previous evening conducted her up the 
 
157 
 
 long room to Lilian's bedside. The sick girl 
 
 had, as Dr. H prophesied, awakened 
 
 with restored reason. She received Eva with 
 a smile of pleased recognition. 
 
 " Darling little birdie ! " she murmured 
 feebly, smoothing the child's curls. Then, 
 while a look of pain passed over her face, she 
 asked, " Who takes care of my little pet 
 now ? " 
 
 " Oh, everybody, Lillie ! " Eva replied, 
 with a bright smile ; and Lilian was content. 
 She was too weak as yet to trouble herself 
 much about her own situation or that of her 
 sister, so long as the latter seemed well and 
 happy. Eva saw this, and resolved to ap- 
 pear always as cheerful as possible. 
 
 She had been with her sister about an 
 
 hour, when Dr. H came to make his 
 
 daily visit to his patients. Pausing by the 
 side of Lilian's bed, he seemed pleased, 
 though not surprised, at the change which 
 had taken place since the previous evening. 
 Nodding pleasantly to Eva, and speaking a 
 few words in a low tone to the nurse, he 
 passed on to the other patients. Presently 
 returning, he said kindly to Eva, " You must 
 come away now, my little girl, and leave 
 your sister to take a nap. You shall see her 
 again to-morrow." 
 
158 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 When Eva stood on the steps of the hos- 
 pital with the kind physician, she suddenly 
 looked up into his face and said, somewhat 
 timidly : 
 
 " Dr. H , you have made sister Lillie 
 
 so much better, that I am sure you could cure 
 a poor little sick boy that I saw last night. 
 "Won't you try, please ? " 
 
 " Why, yes, child," said the doctor, 
 smiling, u I am willing to try my skill on 
 the sick boy, especially as you seem so con- 
 fident of my success. But who is he, and 
 where does he live ? " 
 
 " He is the grandson of an old blind 
 organ grinder, and he lives down in a dread- 
 ful dark cellar in a narrow, dirty street. 
 But," she continued, with a disturbed look, 
 u I don't know the name of the street, and 
 you could not find it without that, could 
 you?" 
 
 " I am afraid not," he replied, trying not 
 to laugh ; " I am afraid not, as there are un- 
 fortunately quite a number of narrow, dirty 
 streets and dark cellars, with sick boys in 
 them, in this great city." 
 
 " Oh, I know now what we can do ! " ex- 
 claimed Eva, brightening ; " Mrs. Jenkins 
 can tell the name of the street. Won't you 
 please come and ask her ?" 
 
159 
 
 " Who is Mrs. Jenkins ? your sable 
 friend, though, I suppose ; but where must 
 we go to find her ? " 
 
 " Not 'very far; she keeps a fruit stand 
 near St. Paul's Church. Won't you come, sir, 
 please ? " replied the child, eagerly. 
 
 Dr. H nodded, took the little girl's 
 
 hand, and walked with her down Broadway. 
 Mrs. Jenkins gladly gave all the information 
 that was required. The doctor, glancing at 
 his watch, said he had an engagement which 
 would detain him for an hour or two, but 
 promised to call and see little Luigi some 
 time during the day. Then, bidding them a 
 friendly " good-by," he hurried away. 
 
 " Now who'd believe de chile would ha' 
 thought ob dat bress her little heart ! " so- 
 liloquized Mrs. Jenkins, as she looked proudly 
 at Eva, whom she began to consider as be- 
 longing to herself. "It does seem too bad 
 dat she should have ter sit here such wedder 
 as dis," she continued, with a discontent such 
 as she had never felt at her own exposure to 
 the cold ; " an' I don't believe she'll sell any 
 more ob dem things either; all de bes' ob 
 'em is picked out." 
 
 But Eva continued patiently at her post, 
 and soon her patience was rewarded. Loiter- 
 ing down the street came a merry-faced boy. 
 
160 
 
 Sticking out of his pockets were divers and 
 sundry packages. He paused to gaze in at 
 all the shop windows as if looking for some- 
 thing, he scarce knew what ; as he was pass- 
 ing our little heroine, his eye fell upon her 
 basket. 
 
 " That is it ! " he exclaimed, looking as if 
 a weight was taken off his mind ; then spring- 
 ing to Eva's side, he caught up first the nee- 
 dlebook, then the pincushion, and, glancing 
 into the empty basket, said pleasantly, " Are 
 these all you have left? You must have 
 done a pretty good business this morning to 
 have sold out so soon." 
 
 " That is all I had to-day. My sister, 
 who makes the things for me to sell, is sick," 
 she replied gently. 
 
 " Oh ! that's too bad," exclaimed the boy, 
 casting a pitying look at her, and then a com- 
 placent one at the articles in his hand, as he 
 asked, " What is the price of these ? " 
 
 " The cushion is ten cents, the needlebook 
 fifteen." 
 
 " That suits me exactly ! " said he, fum- 
 bling for his purse, which was at the bottom 
 of his pocket, under all the bundles. " You 
 see," he continued, as the purse came to light, 
 " iny uncle gave me a gold dollar not long 
 ago, and I thought I would get all our folks 
 
161 
 
 Christmas presents with. it. I got something 
 for everybody but grandma and mother, and 
 I couldn't find anything that I thought would 
 suit them, whose price would suit rne, until I 
 came across you. Wasn't it lucky I happened 
 to spy you ? " and, handing her a quarter, he 
 ran off with his treasures. 
 
 Now that Eva had nothing to sell, there 
 seemed no reason why she should remain any 
 longer out in the cold. Taking up her empty 
 basket, she stepped to Mrs. Jenkins's side to 
 tell her that she was going home ; but just 
 then her eye chanced to rest on the poor 
 organ grinder, and a new thought struck her. 
 She could at present do no more to help her- 
 self, but might she not do something to aid 
 him ? Mrs. Jenkins had told her that, before 
 his little grandson was taken sick, he used to 
 lead him through more retired streets, where 
 he would go from house to house playing his 
 organ, and that then his daily ingathering of 
 small change was much greater than now 
 that he was obliged to stand in the crowded 
 thoroughfare, where the music could not be 
 heard, even if any of the busy throng were 
 disposed to pause and listen. 
 
 Why could not she take Luigi's place as 
 the blind man's guide? Eva asked herself. 
 She could lead him through those beautiful 
 
162 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 streets where she used to go in the summer to 
 peep at the flowers and listen to the singing 
 birds ; and she felt quite certain that the 
 people who lived in such fine houses must be 
 kind and good, and would give something to 
 the poor old blind man. All excitement at 
 the thought of doing good to the sorrowful 
 stranger, Eva confided to Mrs. Jenkins her 
 newly formed plan. The good woman was 
 sorely puzzled ^ as to what she ought to say. 
 She knew that the old man had not received 
 a singte penny during the whole morning, 
 and she had no doubt that his chance would 
 be better somewhere else ; but then the little 
 child, who seemed in a manner cast under 
 her protection would she dare let her go 
 wandering off with so helpless a companion ? 
 She ventured one or two objections, but Eva 
 was not to be dissuaded, and finally she gave 
 up all attempt to oppose her, saying, " Well, 
 honey, yer must do jes' what yer think yer 
 ought'er, an' de Lord He'll take kere ob both 
 ob yer, I reckon." 
 
 Through the broad, quiet streets, where 
 there was fresh, untainted air to breathe and 
 room to walk without jostling one's neighbors, 
 Eva led the blind man. How refreshing was 
 the change ! He seemed to draw in new life 
 with every breath of the pure air. How the 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 163 
 
 music gushed forth from the organ, as if it 
 meant to make the most of its chance of 
 being heard ! It leaped away in great waves 
 of gladness; it thrilled and warbled, as if a 
 whole flock of canaries and nightingales were 
 suddenly let loose ; it poured itself out in a 
 kind of extravagant wildness, as if it had gone 
 crazy with delight ; then changing, it pealed 
 out in so mournful, so plaintive a strain, that 
 the tears started to little Eva's eyes in very 
 sympathy, till, slowly rising and gathering a 
 sound of sublimity and triumph as it rose, it 
 seemed to float away beyond the clouds ; and 
 the child stood looking up to the sky, and 
 thought of the golden harps around the 
 Throne. 
 
 Many a childish face was pressed against 
 the window panes of the stately mansions be- 
 fore which the two strangely mated com- 
 panions paused, and many a penny or half 
 dime found its way from warm, chubby fin- 
 gers to the old man's tattered cap. 
 
 At one time he was playing some of his 
 liveliest airs before a house, at the basement 
 window of which could be seen a pretty little 
 boy, some two or three years old, seated on 
 the lap of some one, evidently his nurse. 
 Presently they lift the window, and in a mo- 
 ment more the little fellow appeared at the 
 
164: " KEEP 
 
 door, and, walking tip to Eva, said in his 
 baby fashion : 
 
 " Mamma has done away, and Betty has 
 not dot any money, but se says I may dive 
 'ou zese ; " and he held out his apron, which 
 contained several tempting looking cakes. 
 
 Eva had eaten nothing since morning, and 
 gladly accepted the offering. The boy 
 watched her remove the cakes from his 
 apron to her own, and, as he shook away the 
 crumbs, said artlessly, " 'Ou is pretty ; Betty 
 says 'ou don't look like ozer ordan ginders' 
 children." 
 
 " Willie ! "Willie ! come in now, quick ! " 
 called a voice from the house, and Master 
 Willie disappeared in a twinkling. 
 
 " I suppose I don't look very much like a 
 poor child," thought Eva, as she glanced 
 down at her neat, comfortable dress ; " but 
 that is because sister Lillie takes such good 
 care of my clothes. Dear sister Lillie ! how 
 glad I shall be when she is well again." 
 With a half smothered sigh, she took the 
 blind man's hand and led him to the steps of 
 a church near by, where they sat down to 
 enjoy their unexpected lunch. While thus 
 engaged the old man grew talkative, and 
 finally, in his broken English, told his sad 
 yet simple story to the sympathizing child. 
 
' KEEP A GOOD HEAET." 165 
 
 THE OEGAN GEINDES's STOEY. 
 
 His name was not Anthony, as good Mrs. 
 Jenkins called him, but Anton elli. In his 
 sunny Italian home he had led a peaceful, 
 happy life, all his cares and ambition being 
 centred in the little vineyard, the income 
 from which was all sufficient to supply his 
 family with, every needed comfort. His first 
 great sorrow came to him many years ago in 
 the death of his wife, who left him one child, 
 a daughter, named Angela, then nearly 
 grown up. 
 
 In the course of time Angela married, 
 and, as the old man's home would be desolate 
 without his child, the young couple resided 
 with him. Now everything seemed to point 
 him to an old age of quiet and rest, even from 
 his light labors and responsibilities, for Pedro 
 could take charge of the vineyard. But Pe- 
 dro was not one to be content with such a 
 life of obscurity and inaction, and, while he 
 patiently trimmed the vines, he dreamed of 
 the fresh, vigorous new world across the 
 waters, and longed to carry thither his now 
 buried talents, and earn for himself a place 
 among the illustrious of the world. All this 
 Antonelli soon discovered, and, as he con- 
 
166 "KEEP A GOOD HEAHT." 
 
 trasted his son-in-law with those around 
 them, he could not deny that he was fitted to 
 fill a grander sphere than that in which he 
 himself had so contentedly passed his life. 
 Tims it came to pass that, when his daugh- 
 ter's first-born (little Luigi) was a few months 
 old, he reluctantly consented to convert his 
 property into gold, and emigrate with his 
 entire family to America. 
 
 They had been at sea but a few days 
 when they discovered among their fellow 
 passengers a countryman of their own, a 
 mere youth. He, too, was seeking the El 
 Dorado of the West, but with more humble 
 aspirations than those which moved our little 
 party ; for all his hopes were centred in the 
 fine-toned hand organ which was his constant 
 companion. 
 
 While yet out of sight of land, the poor 
 boy was taken sick. Pedro, who had become 
 much interested in the young stranger, pity- 
 ing his friendless condition, devoted himself 
 untiringly to him, striving by every means in 
 his power to alleviate his sufferings. On the 
 third day the boy died, leaving to his bene- 
 factor his only earthly possession, his much- 
 loved organ. But alas ! it soon became ap- 
 parent that Pedro had sacrificed his life to 
 his disinterested benevolence. He had caught 
 
167 
 
 the fever of which the youth had died, and 
 the very day on which the first glimpse of the 
 New World, for which he had so ardently 
 longed, appeared above the horizon, his body 
 was committed to the waves. His spirit had 
 already reached that blest land where there 
 are no disappointed aspirations, no blighted 
 hopes, no tears, and no more death. 
 
 The bereaved family landed at New York 
 without any definite aim or purpose before 
 them. The old man, homesick and heart- 
 sick, fell in with one who spoke fair words to 
 him in his much-loved native tongue, and in- 
 duced him to intrust to his care the gold for 
 which he had sold his little vineyard, the sole 
 inheritance of his children. When too late 
 he found that he had confided in a villain. 
 His pretended friend suddenly disappeared, 
 leaving him penniless. Misfortunes gathered 
 thick and fast, till at last blindness was added 
 to the many afflictions of the aged Italian. It 
 was then that the humble legacy of the emi- 
 grant boy became the only means of support 
 to the little family, who were fast sinking to 
 the lowest depths of poverty. 
 
 When poor old Antonelli had finished his 
 story, and wiped away the tears which its 
 recital had drawn from his sightless eyes, he 
 raised the organ to his shoulders, gave Eva 
 
168 
 
 his hand, and they again commenced their 
 wanderings. 
 
 As Eva, when the sunlight faded, made 
 her way back to Mrs. Jenkins' fruit stand, 
 and delivered her aged charge once more to 
 her kind care, and then turned her steps 
 homeward, her ^little limbs felt very weary 
 from her long, tiresome walk, but her heart 
 was light and joyful. And well it might be : 
 Faith and Hope had long been her com- 
 panions, and that day another of the celestial 
 sisterhood had taken her by the hand, leading 
 her many steps onward in the straight and 
 narrow path which leadeth to life eternal : 
 Faith, Hope, and Charity, these three ; but 
 the greatest of these is Charity." 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 169 
 
 CHAPTEE XIY. 
 
 IT was the day before Christmas. Little 
 Eva had been to make her daily visit to her 
 sister, and now she went tripping down 
 Broadway with so much joyousness sparkling 
 in her eyes and dimpling her lips, that a 
 stranger would have supposed she expected 
 Santa Glaus to come tumbling down the 
 chimney, with a whole sleigh-load of toys 
 and candies for her especial benefit. But her 
 happiness had a very different source. In 
 the first place, Lilian was better a great 
 deal better. She had even been able to sit 
 up a few minutes while the little girl was at 
 the hospital. And then, were not her nimble 
 feet bearing her on an errand of love and 
 charity? The blind man, she knew, was 
 awaiting his little guide, and her heart was 
 filled with happiness that she could do some 
 good in the world, in humble imitation of 
 8 
 
170 
 
 Him, the Child of Bethlehem, who went 
 about doing good. 
 
 She found the poor old Italian beside Mrs. 
 Jenkins' fruit stand. He too looked more 
 hopeful and happy than Eva had ever before 
 seen him. The kind physician had kept his 
 promise, and been to see little Luigi. The 
 remedies he prescribed, and which he admin- 
 istered himself, were no homoeopathic doses, 
 I assure you. They consisted principally of 
 a load of coal, comfortable beds and bedding, 
 and a quantity of wholesome food. All these 
 comforts the old man and his daughter shared 
 with the sick child, and, to add to their 
 thankfulness, he had brought home more 
 money the day that Eva had led him through 
 those pleasant streets than in any three days 
 on which he had stood wearily turning the 
 crank of his organ in noisy Broadway. 
 
 The old man and the child started off on 
 their musical pilgrimage again, and Mrs. Jen- 
 kins forced each to take an apple from her 
 stand to eat on the way. 
 
 Eva thought it would not be well to go 
 over the same streets they passed through the 
 day before, so she went a little farther up 
 town, and turned into a splendid avenue, 
 where she remembered walking with Lilian 
 one afternoon in the summer when Mrs. Ben- 
 
171 
 
 ton had given her a half holiday. They 
 stopped before the first house they came to, 
 and the blind man played. Pretty soon a 
 window was opened, and a piece of money 
 thrown out. It happened to fall in the snow, 
 and while Eva looked for it her companion 
 gave another tune by way of thanks. This 
 chanced to be the " Portuguese Hymn," and 
 as they walked on Eva caught up the strain, 
 her sweet young voice floating out on the 
 frosty air, with the words of the hymn-, u The 
 Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know," 
 which she had learned at Sunday school to 
 sing to that beautiful tune. 
 
 The Italian, with the quick ear for music 
 peculiar to his nation, stopped short, and, 
 motioning her to continue singing, listened 
 with evident delight. "When the song was 
 concluded, he exclaimed rapturously, " Ah, 
 the sweet voice ! me not know little Eva 
 can sing so like the angels ; " then, a new and 
 somewhat mercenary thought striking him, 
 he continued eagerly, "If little Eva sing 
 when me play, the people give more money. 
 Will she ? " 
 
 " Why, Mr. Antonelli," replied the little 
 girl, laughing, "that would be just like ex- 
 pecting people to pay me for singing. Who 
 ever heard of such a thing ? " 
 
172 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 " Everybody have heard of such a thing ; 
 do not you know of the opera and the con- 
 certs ? " 
 
 u Oh, yes ! but that seems different. I 
 will sing, though, Mr. Antonelli, if you think 
 it would help you any." 
 o " No, no, not at all to help me ; if you 
 sing, then you must take half the moneys," 
 said the old man. 
 
 To this Eva would not consent ; but, after 
 
 much discussion, it was finally agreed that, 
 
 if the organ grinder received anything more 
 
 than he did the day before, the overplus 
 
 " should be equally divided between the two. 
 
 This one hymn was the only tune with 
 which Eva and the organ were mutually ac- 
 quainted, so it formed a part of the perform- 
 ance at every place they stopped. Some- 
 times the audience, gathered at the windows, 
 would call upon the child to sing again, and 
 then Antonelli would cease his grinding, 
 while she gave one of the simple songs with 
 winch she was familiar. At two or three 
 houses they were called into the hall, and, 
 while the admiring household gathered 
 around, song after song issued from Eva's 
 ruby lips, filling the whole house with melo- 
 dy. Then they were sure not to be dismissed 
 empty-handed. The old man's pocket con- 
 
* "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 173 
 
 tained more silver than it had held for many a 
 day ; and as for our little Eva, she grew quite 
 excited. Wild, impossible-to-be-performed 
 projects of making a fortune for herself and 
 all her friends filled her brain. She thought 
 of Jenny Lind and all the great singers she 
 had ever heard of, and began to wonder 4f 
 she was not to be one of them. 
 
 The day was almost done; jets /of gas 
 were already sending forth their brilliant 
 light through the windows of stately man- 
 sions which they passed, though in the west 
 there were still lingering traces of the beauti- 
 ful sunset. On the calm beauty of the fleecy 
 clouds Eva's eyes were fixed, as she silently 
 led her equally silent companion. The 
 worldly ambition which had so stirred her 
 young heart was fading away, and a calm 
 contentment took its place as she watched the 
 first star of the evening break from behind a 
 light cloud, and remembered that the same 
 gracious God, who by the leading of a star 
 brought the wise men to the knowledge of 
 His Son, whom He had sent into the world 
 with the gift of life immortal, still guided 
 and directed all things, and knew how to give 
 unto His children such good gifts as were 
 needful for them. 
 
 Presently the child slackened her pace, 
 
174 
 
 and, looking up to the old man, said, " We 
 will stop here and play and sing once more ; 
 then we must go home, for it is growing 
 late." 
 
 The spot she had selected for this " posi- 
 tively the last entertainment " of the evening 
 was where the light from an illuminated par- 
 lor fell directly upon them. "While the blind 
 man is playing a prelude, we will look in 
 upon the family group gathered within the 
 parlor. The room is dressed for Christmas ; 
 graceful festoons of evergreens drape the 
 walls and droop from the ceiling. By the 
 bright coal fire is seated a gentleman, en- 
 gaged in telling a story to two little boys. 
 They seem much interested in the story, but 
 yet their eyes will every now and then wan- 
 der longingly toward the folding doors that 
 shut the next room from their view, from 
 which they can hear the sound of merry 
 voices and quick footsteps. 
 
 Near one of the windows is standing a 
 young girl, amusing herself by watching the 
 passers-by. There is a look of pleased ex- 
 pectancy on her face, and she too, like her 
 brothers, from time to time casts a glance of 
 impatient curiosity toward those tantalizing 
 doors. 
 
 The music of our old man's organ, as it 
 
175 
 
 floated through the room, attracted but little 
 attention from the fireside group, until the 
 young girl exclaimed, " Oh, do come, papa, 
 and see what a beautiful child ! Don't her 
 golden curls, falling over her black dress, look 
 exactly like a flood of sunshine lighting up a 
 cloud ; and isn't that a romantic looking old 
 man with her ! " 
 
 " That is because he is seen through a pair 
 of romantic young eyes, Isabell," replied her 
 father, laughing ; " but the child certainly is 
 pretty, and hark ! what a sweet voice she 
 has." 
 
 They stood listening in silence, while Eva 
 sang, to the really fine music of the organ, 
 her beautiful hymn " The Lord is my Shep- 
 herd, no want shall I know." " That little 
 girl's face seems very familiar to me," said 
 Mr. Grey thoughtfully, as the last note of the 
 hymn died away ; then, as struck by some 
 sudden recollection, he hurried to the door 
 and beckoned Eva to him. She came quickly 
 up the steps, and he, placing his hand kindly 
 on her head, asked, " Have I not seen you be- 
 fore, little one ? " 
 
 Eva looked up at him a moment, then, as 
 an expression of glad recognition lighted up 
 her face, she exclaimed : 
 
 " Oh yes ! sir ; it was you who gave me 
 dear little Faith." 
 
176 "KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 
 
 " How do you know that it was I who 
 gave it to yon ? " he asked, smiling. 
 
 u Because, sir, it came with the dishes, and 
 no one else could have sent it," replied Eva ; 
 then, in a timid voice, she continued, " I have 
 wanted, a great many times, to see you and 
 thank you, but now I don't know how to 
 thank you half enough." 
 
 " Never mind the thanks," said Mr. Grey, 
 as he seated himself and drew her toward 
 him, " I think on the whole you have paid 
 off all obligation on that score. Let me see ; 
 I gave you an image of Faith, and you have 
 just given me a song of Faith ; so we are 
 about even ; don't you think so ? " 
 
 Eva shook her head slowly, but before she 
 could venture upon any more decided dissent 
 from the gentleman's sagely expressed opin- 
 ion, one of the boys who had followed his fa- 
 ther into the hall and had been an eager lis- 
 tener to ajl that was said, broke in upon the 
 conversation, by exclaiming, " Why, papa, is 
 this the little girl you was telling us about 
 seeing in the china store? Isn't it funny that 
 she should happen to come just when we were 
 talking about her ? " 
 
 Old Anton elli was called in, and while he 
 sat in the hall enjoying the cup of hot coffee 
 and plate of nice sandwiches which Isabelle 
 
177 
 
 thoughtfully provided for him, Eva, in answer 
 to Mr. Grey's questions, told of all that had 
 befallen herself and her sister since the day he 
 had talked with her about faith, while Lilian 
 was making her first purchases in the great 
 city. 
 
 " Have you no brother ? " asked Freddie, 
 the eldest of the boys, as Eva finished her 
 story. 
 
 " No," she replied ; " I did have one, when 
 I was a baby, but he went to sea with my un- 
 cle in his ship, and they were both drowned." 
 
 " Is not your name Ross ? " inquired Mr. 
 Grey, suddenly. 
 
 " Yes, sir, Eva Boss." 
 
 " And your uncle's name, who was lost at 
 the same time with your brother ? " 
 
 " John Marvin, sir," replied Eva, while 
 Freddie looked inquiringly at his father, won- 
 dering why he questioned the little girl with 
 so much apparent interest. 
 
 " Aha ! John Marvin," repeated Mr., Grey, 
 catching up a newspaper and turning it over, 
 as if looking for something ; then, with his 
 finger on the paragraph which he had sought, 
 he asked, " Do you know what your uncle's 
 ship was called ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir ; it was named Mary Eoss, after 
 mamma," returned Eva, beginning to wonder, 
 
178 
 
 as well as Freddie, why he seemed so much 
 interested in the matter. 
 
 "Then listen to this !" exclaimed Mr. 
 Grey ; and he read from the newspaper, " The 
 heirs of the late Captain John Marvin, of the 
 ship ' Mary Ross,' who, with his vessel and 
 all on board, was lost at sea in the year 1849, 
 will hear something to their advantage, by 
 applying to A. Jones, ISTo. st." 
 
 Eva could not exactly understand what it 
 all meant, but Mr. Grey explained to her, 
 that the Captain Marvin referred to in the 
 paragraph was evidently her own uncle ; 
 that she and her sister were his heirs, or those 
 to whom his property would rightfully be- 
 long, after his death ; and that it was prob- 
 able the advertiser, A. Jones, had in his pos- 
 session, or knew of, some property which had 
 belonged to Captain Marvin, and to which 
 they were consequently entitled. 
 
 " Oh, isn't that nice ! " exclaimed Freddie ; 
 " she won't have to go out in the cold, to earn 
 money, any more, will she, papa ? " 
 
 "It is just like what we read about in 
 books," added Isabelle, delighted at finding 
 even so simple a specimen of romance in real 
 life. 
 
 "I am so glad she happened to come 
 here ! " cried little Charlie, dancing about 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 179 
 
 with joy, that some good fortune, though he 
 could not comprehend what, had befallen the 
 young stranger. 
 
 Eva alone said nothing ; above all this 
 friendly clamor there was sounding in her 
 ears the words she had sung so many times 
 that day, " The Lord is my Shepherd, no 
 want shall I know." 
 
 " Wait, children, wait," said Mr. Grey, 
 smiling ; " you are too quick with your con- 
 clusions ; we do not know yet what it is this 
 Mr. Jones has to tell ; suppose I go and see 
 him now, so as to satisfy our curiosity as soon 
 as possible." 
 
 " Oh yes ! oh do, papa ! " they all exclaim- 
 ed, and Eva's blue eyes spoke as plainly as 
 they could in favor of the proposal. 
 
 " Run, Charlie, and ask you mamma if I 
 shall have time to go to - street and back 
 again, before Santa Glaus has finished the 
 tree." 
 
 Charlie bounded away with his father's 
 message, and soon returned, saying that his 
 mamma thought there would be more than 
 time enough. 
 
 " Then I will be off, and this little girl 
 had better wait here to hear the news." 
 
 " Oh no, sir ; I cannot stay any longer, I 
 must take Mr. Antonelli home ; and besides, 
 
X 
 
 180 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 Mrs. Havens will think I am lost, if I am out 
 so late ; but mayn't I come to-morrow and 
 hear about it ? " 
 
 " That is right, child ; always think of your 
 duty to others before your own gratification. 
 Certainly you shall come to-morrow and hear 
 all that I can learn about the matter." 
 
 " But, papa," said Charlie, not at all satis- 
 fied with this decision ; " 1 want her to see 
 our Christmas tree ! " 
 
 " Sure enough ! well thought of, my boy. 
 Let me see how we can arrange it ; " then, 
 taking the little girl's hand in his, as she 
 stood before him, Mr. Grey continued, " You, 
 Eva, can lead your blind friend back to his 
 stand in Broadway, then go home to satisfy 
 Mrs. Havens that you are safe, and when I 
 have seen Mr. Jones, I will come for you and 
 bring you here, ; to see what kind of fruit 
 grows on a Christmas tree." 
 
 " Oh, that will be nice ! It takes papa to 
 get folks out of a fix ! " cried Charlie, clap- 
 ping his hands, while little Eva's bright smile 
 and softly spoken a Thank you, sir," suffi- 
 ciently testified her joy. 
 
 " Had she not better tell her friends that 
 she will stay here all night ? " asked Isabelle ; 
 " you know, papa, it will be so late for her to 
 go home." 
 
181 
 
 " That will be a very good plan, daughter, 
 if she is willing to stay. How is that, my lit- 
 tle girl ? " he asked, turning to Eva. 
 
 " I should like to stay," answered the 
 child, simply, - lay ing her little hand in Isa- 
 bel! e's. How short the walk seemed to Mrs. 
 Jenkins' fruit stand, and how the good woman 
 rolled up her eyes and declared she " Neber 
 heard nothin' like it afore in all her life," 
 when Eva hastily told of her adventure. The 
 old blind man urged the little songstress to 
 take her share of their day's earnings, which 
 she refused to do, saying, " Who knows but 
 that the gentleman who put it in the paper 
 about Uncle John, has some money for Lillie 
 and me, and then I won't need it." 
 
 " Ah, but if he not have any moneys for 
 you ? what then, carissima ? " 
 
 " Then I will go and sing with you again 
 and make some more," replied Eva, as she 
 bounded away, laughing. 
 
 Arrived at home, she met Mrs. Havens in 
 the hall, who exclaimed, in her most queru- 
 lous tones, " What on earth has kept you out 
 so late, child ? I have been worried almost 
 to death about you ; I don't see any use in 
 your going out at all now any way, for I am 
 Bure you can't have anything to sell." 
 
 As soon as Eva could find a chance to 
 
182 
 
 speak, slie laid her hand coaxingly on Mrs. 
 Havens' arm, saying, " I am very sorry you 
 were troubled about me. I will try not to be 
 so late again ; " then briefly told her how she 
 had passed the day, and of the crowning ad- 
 venture of the evening. 
 
 " Well, I never ! " exclaimed the land- 
 lady, somewhat mollified ; " you are the 
 queerest child I ever did see. The idea of 
 your going about the streets singing, with an 
 old organ grinder ! I wonder what your sis- 
 ter would say ! But I hope the story about 
 your uncle's property will turn out well, 
 though I don't know," and she -shook her head 
 doubtingly. " Well, child," she resumed, " if 
 you are going to that Christmas tree, or what- 
 ever it is, you had better run up stairs now, 
 and change your dress. I will send Jennie to 
 help you fix your hair. I don't believe those 
 useless curls have been real smooth and tidy 
 once since Lilian has been sick, though I dare 
 say you have worked hard enough to make 
 them so, poor child ! so you need not look so 
 distressed about it." 
 
 It did not take our little heroine long to 
 decide upon her toilette, as she had but one 
 dress besides that she had on the one made 
 from Aunty Smith's old bombazine, which, 
 with careful treatment, still did duty very 
 
183 
 
 respectably as her best. Jennie, " clothed in 
 a little brief authority," pulled dreadfully in 
 getting the tangles out of her curls, but the 
 child had been so shocked at Mrs. Havens' in- 
 sinuation that she did not look tidy, that'she 
 bore the* torture like a stoic, and even prom- 
 ised Jennie that, if she should get any candy 
 from the tree, she would give her half, as a 
 reward for her services. 
 
 When at last the troublesome curls hung 
 in smooth, glistening clusters over her shoul- 
 ders, she laid Dolly on the bed, " to make her 
 look comfortable," kissed little Faith, and 
 wishing Jennie a merry Christmas, soon stood, 
 hooded and cloaked, watching for Mr. Grey 
 through the side light of the front door. She 
 had not waited long when a sleigh drove up, 
 and in another moment she was sitting, wrap- 
 ped in soft robes, beside her kind friend, who 
 was telling her the result of his visit to Mr. 
 Jones. It appeared that Captain Marvin, 
 just before he sailed on his last voyage, had 
 authorized Mr. Jones to collect some debts 
 that were owing him, during his absence. 
 The money was collected, but the owner did 
 not return, and when news came of his loss at 
 sea, Mr. Jones placed the money in bank and 
 advertised for the heirs. Receiving no re- 
 sponse to the advertisement, he still continued 
 
184: 
 
 to have it inserted in the papers several times 
 each year, hoping that at last it might meet 
 the eye of some one interested. It so happened 
 that neither the orphans, nor any of their 
 
 friends in the remote little village of B , 
 
 had chanced to see the notice, and but for 
 Eva's charitable effort to assist the old blind 
 man, they might never have known of the 
 good fortune that awaited them. 
 
 The property was not very large, but it 
 would be amply sufficient to support our 
 young friends in their simple, economical 
 habits, even allowing them something to give 
 away to those less fortunate. 
 
 When Mr. Grey had explained this to the 
 child as simply and briefly as possible, she 
 exclaimed, joyfully, " Then sister Lillie won't 
 have to sew, sew, sew all the time when she 
 gets well, and I can go to school again ; oh, I 
 am so glad ! " 
 
 " Here they come ! here they come ! " 
 shouted Freddie and Charlie, darting from the 
 window, and rushing tumultuously to the 
 door, as the sleigh containing their father 
 and their little guest drove up. They seized 
 Eva, and drew her, in triumph, to the parlor, 
 exclaiming, "There, mamma, we told you 
 papa would bring her backhand here she is ! " 
 The child was somewhat abashed at finding 
 
ME. GREY'S HOUSEHOLD. 
 
185 
 
 herself so unceremoniously ushered into the 
 midst of a numerous company (for all Fred- 
 die's and Charlie's uncles, aunts, and cousins 
 had arrived, and formed quite a large party), 
 but the lady whom the boys addressed as 
 mamma, gently reproving them for their 
 thoughtlessness, received her with a kiss and 
 a few kind words of welcome, and then gave 
 her in charge of Isabelle, with whom she at 
 once felt at ease. 
 
 Isabelle led her up stairs to her own room, 
 took off her cloak and hood, and showed her 
 the nice little bed that had been prepared for 
 her close to hers. When they returned to the 
 parlor they found the whole company, from 
 Mr. Grey down to little Charlie, preparing for 
 a romping game of " Blind man's buffi" Eva 
 entered with all her heart into the sport ; she 
 laughed as merrily and bounded over the vel- 
 vet carpet with as light and careless grace as 
 any of the little children there, though they 
 had never known a ruder playground, or en- 
 countered a greater difficulty than that of 
 eluding the grasp of " Cousin Will," who, 
 with bandaged eyes and outstretched arms, 
 came so very near catching somebody, but 
 never quite succeeded. Then came " Magic 
 Music," " Hunt the slipper," and " Forfeits," 
 and at last, j list as the children were won- 
 
186 
 
 dering what they should do next, the folding- 
 doors were thrown open, and there stood the 
 Christinas tree, with its tiny tapers, its glit- 
 tering balls, and all the countless beautiful 
 things which loving hands had hnng upon its 
 branches. 
 
 " Oh, isn't it beautiful! " exclaimed glad 
 young voices, amid the clapping of little 
 hands ; but Eva neither spoke nor moved ; she 
 had never before seen anything like it, and it 
 seemed to her so like a dream, that she scarce 
 dared breathe, lest it should vanish away. 
 
 " What do you think of it, Eva ? " asked 
 Mrs. Grey, drawing her to her side. 
 
 " Oh, you were so good to let me come 
 and see it ! " was the child's only reply, as 
 she pressed her lips, quivering with excite- 
 ment, on Mrs. Grey's hand, somewhat to that 
 lady's surprise. Just then Freddie came to 
 lead her to a place in the procession, which 
 was forming, to walk around the tree, that all 
 might view it at every point a very merry 
 procession it was, I assure you. When the 
 ceremony was over, Mr. "Grey, mounted on a 
 set of library steps, proceeded to strip the 
 heavily laden branches of the Aladdin-like 
 tree. To each article was attached the name 
 of the person for whom it was intended, which 
 M* Q-rey read aloud as he presented it. " Eva 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 187 
 
 Boss," he presently called out ; and, the child 
 stepping timidly forward, he placed in her 
 hands a beautifully carved musical box. He 
 touched the stops as he gave it to her, and 
 the clear, sweet notes of the " Portuguese 
 Hymn " mingled with the sounds of innocent 
 merriment that filled the room. Soon her 
 name was called again, and this time it was 
 an enormous cornucopia. She had just made 
 her way back to Isabelle with her treasure, 
 thinking how pleasant it would be to redeem 
 her promise to Jennie Havens, by sharing 
 with her the contents' of this beautiful horn 
 of plenty, when, to her surprise, she heard 
 her sister's name. At first she thought she 
 must be mistaken ; but no " Lilian Boss," 
 repeated Mr. Grey, and Isabelle told her that, 
 as her sister was not present, she must take 
 charge of whatever Santa Glaus had left for 
 her. It was a graceful little basket, filled 
 with large bunches of luscious grapes, white 
 and purple, tastefully interspersed with sprigs 
 of holly. This thoughtful care for her sick 
 sister touched the sensitive child more deeply 
 even than all the kindness to herself, and she 
 could scarce keep back the tears of gratitude, 
 as she whispered her thanks. 
 
 The happiest day, as well as the saddest, 
 must have ' an end, and so at length, *when 
 
188 
 
 every one had enjoyed their full of fun and 
 frolic, the uncles and aunts and cousins de- 
 parted amid a shower of kisses and good-bys, 
 while everybody wished everybody else a 
 merry Christmas. 
 
 ' How soundly Eva slept that night, in the 
 snug little bed prepared for her ; and how, 
 when she awoke bright and early in the 
 morning, she looked about in bewildered sur- 
 prise, wondering where she was and how she 
 came there, till an amused laugh from Isa- 
 belle made it all clear again. 
 
 " Oh," she exclaimed, joining in the 
 laugh ; " I thought that all about the tree 
 was a dream, and couldn't quite make out 
 whether I was awake yet or not." 
 
 When the family were gathered together 
 for morning prayers, Mr. Grey talked very 
 seriously to the children about the day whose 
 coming had made them all so glad. He told 
 them that Christmas daymen ould not be alto- 
 gether devoted to mirth and festivity. That 
 we should think of Him whose birth it com- 
 memorates, and try to grow like Him ; that 
 as He gave to us the inestimable gifts of His 
 atoning blood, His life and His example, so 
 we too should give gifts, not only pretty pres- 
 ents to friends and relatives though this is 
 right, as showing love and good-will one to 
 
189 
 
 another but comforts and necessities to the 
 poor and needy. That as He was meek and 
 lowly, so should we put away all pride, van- 
 ity, and self-righteousness ; that as He forgave 
 His enemies, and prayed for them who de- 
 spitefully used Him, we likewise should for- 
 give all those who have injured us, and on 
 this day, when angels sung of peace and good- 
 will, commence life anew in love and charity 
 with all ; then we should be very sure of a 
 happy, if not a merry Christmas. 
 
 At the breakfast table a new surprise 
 awaited our little heroine. Beneath each 
 plate was a small parcel enclosing some ap- 
 propriate gift. Freddie, Charlie, and Eva 
 each had, alike, a pretty pearl portemonnaie, 
 containing two gold dollars. 
 
 The boys prattled the whole meal time as 
 to how they should spend their money. Eva 
 said nothing, after a few embarrassed words 
 of thanks (embarrassed because she did not 
 exactly know to whom they should be 
 spoken) ; but she had mentally disposed of 
 her two dollars long before Masters Freddie 
 and Charlie, with all their talking, had de- 
 cided what to do with theirs. Dr. H 
 
 had told her that she might come earlier and 
 Btay longer with Lilian to-day, as it was 
 Christmas ; and very soon after breakfast- she 
 
190 
 
 was ready to go, with a covered basket on 
 her arm, in which Lilian's basket of grapes 
 and her own music box and cornucopia were, 
 with Isabelle's assistance, carefully packed 
 for safe carrying. When she went to seek 
 Mr. and Mrs. Grey to say good-by, she found 
 them standing before the dining-room fire, 
 evidently engaged in some important consult- 
 ation. Mrs. Grey, as soon as she saw the 
 child, held out "her hand to her, saying, 
 " What ! going so soon, little Eva ? " 
 
 " Yes, ma'am," she replied, approaching ; 
 " but I will come back to bring the basket 
 by-and-by." 
 
 Mrs. Grey smiled, and asked, " Won't you 
 come and stay with us, Eva you and your 
 sister until she gets quite well again ? " 
 
 " And will you bring sister Lillie here ? " 
 cried the little girl, scarce believing that she 
 had heard aright. 
 
 " Certainly, my dear ; we will bring her 
 here this very day if the physician says it 
 will do no harm to move her." 
 
 Eva's sparkling eyes told the thanks she 
 could not speak ; and her kind friends, prom- 
 ising to meet her at the hospital early in the 
 afternoon, let her go to tell her sister all the 
 happiness that filled her heart. 
 
 " You will come back again ; mamma 
 
" KEEP A GOOD HEART." 191 
 
 says so," said Freddie and Charlie, as they 
 parted, after escorting her down the steps. 
 
 " Yes, and Lillie is coming too. "Won't 
 we have nice times ? " replied the child, art- 
 .lessly, as she hurried away. She walked 
 rapidly until she came to a florist's green- 
 house ; here she stopped, and, with part of 
 one of her gold dollars, purchased a beautiful 
 bouquet, which she placed carefully in the 
 basket, and, again starting off with a quick 
 step, she was not long in reaching the hos- 
 pital. 
 
 Lilian was sitting up when she arrived, 
 and great was her surprise when the delighted 
 child placed in her lap the basket of grapes, 
 and, holding up the flowers, said softly, as 
 she kissed her, " See, sister, I have brought 
 you a merry Christmas ! " 
 
 Why, darling," she said, drawing her 
 close to her side, u where did you get these 
 beautiful things ? " 
 
 " Mr. Grey, the gentleman who gave me 
 little Faith, you know, sent the grapes, and I 
 bought the flowers myself. Ar'n't they 
 sweet ! '.' 
 
 Lilian looked more puzzled than ever at 
 this explanation. Then Eva related all her 
 adventures of the last few days (her wander- 
 ings with old Anton elli she had, until now. 
 
192 
 
 kept secret from her sister, lest she should be 
 alarmed for her safety). The sick girl lis- 
 tened in amazement, till Eva told how, the 
 day before, she went from house to house 
 singing, when, folding her arms more tightly 
 around her, she exclaimed, almost reproach- 
 fully, " And all the time I thought you were 
 safe at home, under Mrs. Havens' care ! " 
 
 " Sister," said the little girl, in a low tone, 
 laying her head on Lilian's shoulder, " God 
 took care of me. Listen how He led me to 
 good, kind friends ; " and then she told of 
 her stopping before Mr. Grey's house, and all 
 that had resulted from it. 
 
 Lilian kissed her in silence, while tears of 
 thankfulness rolled down her pale cheeks. 
 
 When Dr. H came, he readily gave his 
 
 consent that his young patient should be 
 removed to Mr. Grey's, saying there would 
 be no danger if she was properly wrapped up 
 and moved with care. So, when Mr. and 
 Mrs. Grey arrived in a close carriage, well 
 provided with pillows and blankets, she was 
 carried out, placed in it, and driven slowly 
 away. 
 
 Mr. Grey and Eva stood watching until 
 the carriage and its precious burden was lost 
 sight of in the throng. Then he asked if she 
 would like to go anywhere else before return- 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 193 
 
 ing home with him. Now Eva wished very 
 much to spend the remainder of her money in 
 Christinas presents for Mrs. Jenkins and the 
 poor Italian family, and so she told Mr. Grey. 
 He laughed at the thought of her doing so 
 much with so small a sum. But Eva had de- 
 cided what to buy and counted the cost, and 
 easily convinced him that she did not expect 
 to perform impossibilities. First she wanted a 
 picture book for Luigi, who was now getting 
 well enough to need some amusement ; then 
 a pound of tea for his mother, a pair of warm 
 stockings for the blind man, and for Mrs. 
 Jenkins a pretty china sugar bowl. She had 
 decided upon this last -from observing that 
 the good woman's tea set was minus such an 
 article, its place being supplied by a cracked 
 tumbler. 
 
 When the purchases were made, Mr. Grey 
 went with the little girl to distribute her gifts. 
 They first visited poor old Antonelli's cheer- 
 less abode. It was less desolate than on Eva's 
 former visit, owing to the good doctor's boun- 
 ty, but the child and her kind friend left it 
 brighter still ; for, in addition to her very 
 acceptable gifts, Mr. Grey placed in the old 
 man's hand a well-filled purse, and promised 
 to procure him some better means of earning 
 a living than by his organ grinding. They 
 9 
 
194 
 
 found Mrs. Jenkins, Cato, and Sally just fin- 
 ishing their Christmas dinner. The savory 
 fumes of the roast goose and plum pudding 
 testified to its having been a good one. The 
 simple souls were overjoyed to see Eva, 
 though somewhat abashed at the presence of 
 Mr. Grey. He, however, soon set them at 
 ease by his pleasant, friendly manner, and, 
 before he had been in the room many min- 
 utes, old Cato was telling him all about his 
 rheumatism as freely as if he had known him 
 for years. Eva's sugar bowl was received 
 with loud demonstrations of delight and ad- 
 miration. Cato declared that the sugar " dat 
 corned out ob it would be de very sweetest 
 sugar in de whole worl'," and his wife said 
 she should " keep it jes' as long as she lived, 
 ter 'member de darlin' little rosebud what 
 gave it to her." 
 
 When Eva had bid Jier humble friends 
 good-by, and made them very happy by 
 promising to come and take tea with them 
 soon, Mr. Grey said he thought that they had 
 best go and see Mrs. Havens, as she might 
 wonder what had become of her little lodger. 
 That was just what Eva had been thinking 
 of, and besides, she wanted to give Jennie 
 the candy ; so she gladly agreed to the pro- 
 posal. 
 
195 
 
 " Would you not like to see < little Faith ' 
 again ? " she asked, looking up in his face. 
 " Mayn't I take it to your house, and my doll 
 too ? " He gave a laughing assent as he rang 
 Mrs. Havens's doorbell. 
 
 Mrs. Havens received Mr. Grey in her 
 solemn front parlor, and listened with real 
 pleasure as he told of the good fortune that 
 had befallen the orphans, and of his wife's 
 intention to take charge of them until Lilian's 
 health should be restored. In the mean time 
 Jennie, who had accompanied Eva up stairs 
 to get her treasures, was listening with won- 
 der to her account of the last night's festivi- 
 ties, and devouring the contents of the cornu- 
 copia. 
 
 Dolly was soon dressed in her street cos- 
 tume, the little statuette carefully placed in a 
 pasteboard box, and Eva stood by Mr. Grey's 
 side, ready to accompany him to his pleasant 
 home, where her sister was already awaiting 
 her. Mrs. Havens gave her a kiss, telling 
 her she must come to-morrow and help pack 
 her own and Lilian's clothes, which were to 
 be sent to them at Mr. Grey's. She promised 
 to be there early in the morning, and in a 
 moment more was walking quickly through 
 the street, with her hand resting confidingly 
 in that of her kind protector. 
 
196 
 
 " Well, I declare ! " sighed Mrs. Havens, 
 as she stood looking after them ; " some peo- 
 ple seem born to good luck. Who would 
 have thought, when I was worrying about 
 those children, along with all my own trou- 
 bles, that they would be so well provided for 
 all at once ? And it all comes of that little 
 imp's outlandish doings, too ! " she added, 
 with something very like a smile, as she 
 closed the door, and sat down to count the 
 bills which Mr. Grey had insisted upon her 
 taking, in payment of a quarter's rent for the 
 room which the orphans had occupied, be- 
 cause, as he said, he was robbing her of her 
 lodgers without giving notice. 
 
 Isabelle and the boys gladly welcomed 
 Eva back again. They had been watching 
 for her ever since their mother returned with 
 Lilian, and wondering what kept her and 
 their father so long. 
 
 Freddie had his books and Charlie his 
 toys all ready for her entertainment, and 
 were for carrying her off to their playroom 
 as soon as she made her appearance ; but she 
 drew back, saying, " I will like to go with 
 you pretty soon, but can't till I see Lillie 
 first." 
 
 " Oh, sure enough ; I forgot," exclaimed 
 Freddie. 
 
197 
 
 " You see, brother mine, there is such a 
 thing as being too hospitable," said Isabelle, 
 pleasantly, as she took Eva's hand and led 
 her to her sister's room. A very pleasant 
 room it was. The soft carpet gave back no 
 sound from the footfall, heavy crimson cur- 
 tains shaded the windows, and a bright, 
 cheerful fire glowed in the grate. Lilian, 
 pale and exhausted, but otherwise none the 
 worse for her ride, reclined on the downy 
 couch. Mrs. Grey, seated in an easy chair 
 by her side, was bathing her brow, while a 
 servant was noiselessly engaged in arranging, 
 on the opposite side of the room, the same 
 little bed that Eva had occupied the night 
 before. 
 
 Eva was not allowed to stay long, as Mrs. 
 Grey said it was best that Lilian should try 
 to sleep after her fatigue ; so she went to join 
 the boys in the playroom, well satisfied that 
 her sister could want for nothing while under 
 such kind guardianship. 
 
 What a fine time the children had togeth- 
 er, and how astonished the boys were when 
 at last told that it was dinner time ! 
 
 "Why, this is the shortest day I ever 
 knew ! " said Freddie, as they went down 
 stairs. 
 
 " Yes," replied Charlie ; " only the time we 
 
198 
 
 were watching for papa and Eva didn't seem 
 very short." 
 
 "That must have been because you had 
 nothing to do but watch," said Eva ; " for 
 that very same time seemed short to me, be- 
 cause I was going around to so many places, 
 and seeing so many different people." 
 
 " And yet," said Freddie, thoughtfully, 
 " papa once told me that it is not the number 
 of days or years that a person lives that 
 makes their life long or short, but the num- 
 ber of deeds they perform. He said that the 
 busiest life was the longest ; so I should think 
 that idle time would be the shortest." 
 
 Eva looked puzzled. She was sure that 
 Freddie's reasoning was not correct, but did 
 not know how to explain the matter. " It 
 does seem odd," she said, shaking her head 
 doubtfully. 
 
 " I'll ask papa ; he can tell us how it is," 
 cried Freddie, leading the way to the dining 
 room, where they soon had their philosophi- 
 cal enigma unravelled over the Christmas 
 turkey. 
 
 " Has not this been a real merry Christ- 
 mas ? " said Charlie to his brother, as they 
 parted from their little guest for the night. 
 
 "Yes, indeed it has," replied Freddie, 
 heartily. Eva thought so too ; and, when 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 199 
 
 she knelt to offer up her simple prayers and 
 thanksgivings, she did not forget to thank the 
 Giver of all good gifts for the little pleasures 
 as well as the great benefits which had made 
 it for her a merry Christmas. 
 
200 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 CHAPTEE XV. 
 
 Do my young readers wish to look in upon 
 little Eva once more, just to say good-by be- 
 fore parting? If so, they must come with 
 
 me again to the pretty village of B . It 
 
 is near the close of a beautiful day in spring. 
 Eva is seated on the steps of the porch in 
 front of the little white cottage her well- 
 remembered, much-loved home. By her side 
 is old PontOj his great head resting on her 
 knee, to the no small peril of the flowers she 
 holds in her lap, and from which she is arran- 
 ging bouquets for the vases which stand on the 
 step above her. The setting sun lights up 
 the scene with a mellow glow. The birds 
 are twittering low and lovingly to one another, 
 as they take advantage of the few last streaks 
 of sunlight to see that all is right with the 
 little ones in their snug nest away up in the 
 branches of the old elm tree, whose graceful 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 201 
 
 boughs have so long sheltered the cottage 
 alike from summer suns and winter blasts. 
 The child looks up from her flowers every 
 few moments to gaze eagerly down the road, 
 as if expecting some one. 
 
 Within doors all looks bright and cheer- 
 ful. The furniture of the parlor is the same 
 as in the old time, with the exception of some 
 few articles of more modern make and grace- 
 ful form, which add at once to the tastefulness 
 and comfort of the little room. Lilian, who 
 has just spread a snowy cloth on the small, 
 round tea-table, takes from the closet a dainty 
 set of French china. a A present from Mrs. 
 Grey," she says, in answer to an exclamation 
 of admiration from Miss Jackson, who has for 
 the last few moments been peering out the 
 window in the same direction as that to which 
 Eva's eyes so constantly turn, and who draws 
 in her head just as the last plate is laid on 
 the table. By the way, the table is set for 
 four, though Miss Jackson, Lilian, and Eva 
 are at present the only persons about the 
 house. 
 
 " "Well, seems to me those city folks ar'n't 
 any ways mean in giving presents," ex- 
 claimed the cheery little woman, as she exam- 
 ined the delicate tracery of one of the cups. 
 "I don't know how many beautiful things 
 
202 "KEEP A GOOD HEART." 
 
 yon have got about here that eithei Mr. or 
 Mrs. or Miss Grey gave to you. Let me see ; 
 there is the picture over the mantelpiece, and 
 your workbox, and Eva's writing desk, and 
 all those beautiful books, and " But Miss 
 Jackson's inventory was cut short by a joy- 
 ful shout from Eva, who, springing up re- 
 gardless of Ponto's comfort or the safety of 
 her flowers, bounded to the gate, crying out, 
 " She is coming ! she is coming ! " 
 
 Lilian and Miss Jackson hurried to the 
 door. Yes 1 there it came at last the stage 
 that they had been watching for so long 
 sweeping up the road. It stopped before the 
 gate, and Miss Becky, dear Miss Becky her- 
 self sprang out, and, catching little Eva in 
 her arms, almost smothered her with kisses. 
 
 " Oh, I am so glad we are back in our 
 darling old home again," said Eva, when, the 
 first excitement of the meeting over, they 
 were all collected in Miss Becky's room ; 
 kk and you are going to stay with us always, 
 ar'n't you?" she added, as she wound her 
 plump arms around her friend's neck. 
 
 " Yes, just as long as you want me, pre- 
 cious one," replied Miss Becky, kissing her 
 for the twentieth time. 
 
 " Do you know, Miss Becky, I began to 
 fear you would disappoint us after all ? " said 
 
203 
 
 Lilian. " We expected to find yon when we 
 arrived from New York ; and Mr. and Mrs. 
 Grey, who came with ns, stayed two days 
 later than they intended, hoping to see yon ; 
 bnt yesterday they were obliged to go home ; 
 and, I assure yon, they were very sorry not to 
 see the dear, good friend, whom they had 
 heard Eva and'me talk s6 much about." 
 
 " "Well, it won't be long before they see 
 her," exclaimed Eva ; " for oh, Miss Becky ! 
 they are coming to make ns a visit this sum- 
 iner, and they will bring Isabelle and the 
 boys too ; won't it be delightful ? " 
 
 Miss Becky was in the midst of explaining 
 the cause of her delay, when Miss Jackson 
 made her appearance, and announced that 
 tea was ready. Lilian had quite forgotten 
 her housekeeping in the happiness of seeing 
 her old friend, and the bustling little dress- 
 maker had, unperceived by the others, slipped 
 out of the room, and hurried to the kitchen, 
 just in time to save the biscuits from being 
 burnt and the tea from boiling over. 
 
 Eva laughed merrily at the idea of the 
 company being obliged to get supper. But a 
 very good supper it was, and fortunately the 
 " company " was not ceremonious enough to 
 let it spoil. The biscuit were as white as 
 enow, the butter looked for all the world 
 
204: " KEEP 
 
 like a lump of gold ; then the sponge cake, 
 made by Lilian's own hands, was not to be 
 surpassed by any French cook in existence, 
 and the honey well, we must give the bees 
 credit for that ; and the bees who made that 
 particular honey must have been proficients 
 in their art. 
 
 While the little group around the table 
 were discussing these good things, they talked 
 of the various changes (they were not many) 
 which had taken place in the village since 
 they last met together. There was a new 
 store around the corner ; a terrible conflagra- 
 tion had destroyed the blacksmith's shop and 
 Captain Giles's barn ; there had been several 
 deaths and a few weddings, and that was 
 about all that had varied the quiet life of 
 B . 
 
 "Isn't there a new keeper at the toll- 
 gate ? " asked Miss Becky, when all these im- 
 portant events had been commented upon ; 
 " when the stage passed through to-day, I 
 looked out, expecting to say ' How d'ye do ' 
 to Sam Green, but there was an old blind 
 man taking the toll instead of Sam." 
 
 " Oh yes ! " cried Eva ; " that is my old 
 organ grinder." 
 
 " "What, the one you wrote me about, 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEAKT." 205 
 
 Lilian ? " inquired Miss Becky ; " how came 
 lie here?" 
 
 " Why, yon see, Miss Becky, the poor old 
 soul could not make much at organ grinding, 
 especially when he did jiot have Birdie to sing 
 for him," said Lilian, casting a fond yet laugh- 
 ing glance at Eva ; " and as he was unwilling 
 to live on charity, Mr. Grey promised to find 
 him some other employment. It was not 
 very easy to procure work for a blind man, 
 when so many able-bodied men were seeking 
 it in vain, but Mr. Grey did not forget his 
 promise, and when he came down here, sev- 
 eral weeks ago, to see about getting this dear 
 old house for us, he heard that the toll keeper 
 was going to California to mend his fortunes, 
 and so secured his place for old Antonelli." 
 
 u And it is just the best place in the world 
 for him," added Eva ; " Luigi is growing real 
 fat and strong, and his mother is a great deal 
 better. They can help him collect the toll. 
 And sometimes, on pleasant evenings, he 
 takes his organ out on the green, and all the 
 children gather about him, to hear the music, 
 and there isn't any ugly noise to spoil it all, 
 as there was in Broadway." 
 
 "What has become of your friend Mrs. 
 Jenkins, whom Lilian mentioned in the same 
 letter in which she told me about the Ital- 
 
206 
 
 ians ? " asked Miss Becky, when they had left 
 the table, and Eva was seated on her lap, by 
 the window. 
 
 u She is in her old home yet ; but her son 
 Tom is Mr. Grey's coachman, and he has such 
 good wages that he can help take care of his 
 father and mother, so Mrs. Jenkins don't have 
 to go out with her fruit, only in pleasant 
 weather. She says she would not like to give 
 it up entirely, for she should miss the bustle 
 and noise, and seeing the people pass. Oh, 
 she is a real nice woman, and when I go to 
 New York Mrs. Grey says we must come 
 and visit them sometimes I am going to take 
 her and Cato all kinds of nice good country 
 things ' to eat." 
 
 Long after Eva had said her prayers, and 
 Miss Becky's gentle hands had tucked the 
 bedclothes snugly around her that night, ex- 
 citement kept her awake. 
 
 Her brain was teeming with plans of im- 
 provement and amusement. She was to com- 
 mence going to school next week. How hard 
 she would study, and how careful she would be 
 not to transgress any of the rules ! But after 
 school hours, what fine times she would have 
 with her old playmates ! They would have 
 such pleasant picnics down by the brook ; 
 and when the little girls came to visit her, 
 
"KEEP A GOOD HEART." 207 
 
 how nice it would be to show them the beau- 
 tiful books and toys that she had brought 
 from the city. 
 
 But while her thoughts were busy with 
 these innocent visions, a silvery moonbeam 
 suddenly shot through the vine-covered case- 
 ment, and, falling upon the little statue of 
 Faith, which stood on a stand near the win- 
 dow, brought out distinctly from the sur- 
 rounding obscurity the beautiful figure, with 
 its upturned face ; and as the child gazed upon 
 it, she resolved never to forget the lesson it 
 had taught her, but, however rough her path 
 through life might again become, to take up 
 the cross, and patiently tread the flinty way, 
 knowing that though it might not lead, as had 
 the trials through which she had lately passed, 
 to a peaceful, happy, earthly home, it would 
 yet, if she faithfully watched for her Heavenly 
 Father's beckoning hand through the dark- 
 ness, and listened to his guiding voice amid 
 the roar of the tempest, surely terminate in 
 the green pastures beside the still waters of 
 that blest home from whence there is no wan- 
 dering. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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