CHAPTER LVII. CLEAR SHINING AFTER RAIN.

'tyousometimesthinkitalittlehardyoushouldhavetoworksoinyouroldage?" "Why,bressyou,honey,no!ItakescomfortofmymoneyasIgoesalong.Dere'saheapinmeyet,"shesaid,laughing."I'shopingtogetdisyerbatchputoutandtakeinanoderaforeIdie.Yousee,"shesaid,"disyer'sdewayItooktogetmyheartwhole.Ifounditwasgettingsosoreformychil'enI'dhadtookfromme,'pearsliketheolderIgrow'dthemoreIthoughtabout'embutlong'sIkeepsdoingforchil'enitkindereasesit.Icalls'emallminesoI'sgotgoodmanychil'ennow." Wewillinformourreader,inpassing,thatMilly,inthecourseofherlife,onthehumblewagesofalaboringwoman,tookfromthestreets,broughtup,andplacedinreputablesituations,nolessthanfortydestitutechildren. WhenClaytonreturnedtoBoston,hereceivedanotewritteninagracefulfemalehand,fromFanny,expressinghergratitudeforhiskindnesstoherandherbrother,andbeggingthathewouldcomeandspendadaywiththemattheircottageinthevicinityofthecity.Accordingly,eighto'clockthenextmorningfoundhimwhirlinginthecarsthroughgreenfieldsandpleasantmeadows,garlandedwithflowersanddrapedwithbendingelms,tooneofthosepeacefulvillageswhichlielikepearlsonthebosomofourfairoldmother,Massachusetts. Stoppingat——station,heinquiredhiswayuptoalittleeminencewhichcommandedaviewofoneofthosecharminglakeswhichopentheirblueeyeseverywherethroughtheNewEnglandlandscape.Here,emboweredinblossomingtrees,stoodalittleGothiccottage,aper