CHAPTER IV.


GOD'S CARE.

Considering this mother's deep piety, do you think it strange that she
saw God's hand in everything that befell her, and ascribed praise to him
for it all?

After the return of the family to their home in Chicago the father
became very ill. His sickness was so severe and so long continued that
poverty began to threaten them. Mr. Worthington could not take the
resigned view of their circumstances that his wife took, but often gave
way to complaining. But Mrs. Worthington thanked God that things were no
worse and ever encouraged her husband with the promises that God would
provide.

At last Christmas morning came and found them in extreme poverty. Mr.
Worthington still weak from his illness, but able to go around a little,
came in from his morning walk very gloomy and feeling that his friends
were very few. "This is the saddest Christmas I have ever known," he
said to Mrs. Worthington. "It is almost more than I can bear to know
that I have nothing to give the children today, and barely enough in the
house to eat. I did not realize it so keenly until I saw an old man
trudging along Thirty-first Street with a large pack upon his back. That
man was surely going to surprise some of his friends. How much we need a