doing?"

"Washing dishes," was Mary's reply, after glancing about the room, and
making sure that on this occasion there were none to wash.

"Wall," answered Judith, "I guess you won't have that to do here; for
one night when some of the neighbors were in, I heard Miss Mason tell
'em that she got you to read to her and wait on her. And then she said
something about your not having an equal chance with your sister. You
hain't but one, now t'other's dead, have you?"

Mary replied in the negative, and Judith continued: "Wall, now, you've
got over the first on't, I reckon you'se glad the baby's dead, for she
must have been kind of a bother, wasn't she?"

Instantly Mary's thoughts flew back to an empty cradle, and again a
little golden head was pillowed upon her breast, as often in times
past it had been, and as it would never be again. Covering her face
with her hands, she sobbed, "Oh, Allie, Allie! I wish she hadn't
died."

Judith looked on in amazement, and for want of something better to do,
placed a fresh stick of wood in the stove, muttering to herself. "Now
I never! I might of knew I didn't know what to say. What a pity Harry
died. I'll give her that big ginger snap the minute it's baked. See if
I don't."

Accordingly, when the snap was done, Judith placed it in Mary's hands,
bidding her eat it quick, and then go up and see the nice chamber Mrs.
Mason had arranged for her.