household than usual, though he had never been less able to afford gifts, and after eating his solitary dinner he remembered that there was a festival at the chapel for the poor children of the congregation, and he determined to go and add something to its provision for them, though it should only be a penny to each child. For his heart was full of a living, restless gratitude that could not find adequate expression in mere words.
And yet it was a little effort to leave his warm, bright room and go out into the dark and slush, for a drizzling rain had come on at noon, and with the rain a quick thaw. He thought for a moment of his horse and gig, but it was only for a moment. "There would be varry little merit in doing a kindness, and making t' poor nag bear t' brunt of iverything unpleasant about it. I'll button up and carry mysen to t' chapel." And so with quick, resolute steps which kept time to some melody in his own heart, he went that Christmas night to the children's festival.
He had changed a couple of sovereigns into pennies on his way through the village, and he was soon filling the small hands stretched out to him. "Tell your mammies Burley said
