round in six years. Don't tell yer ma it's a trial to me, but just ask
her if she'll send you over for an hour or two every morning."

"Thank you," said Winifred, reluctantly. "Do you think I _ought_ to
come?"

"Well, I'd want to be a bit more use to my ma if I was you."

"It's very kind of you," acknowledged Winifred; "but--but--Mrs. Martha,
if it was true about this--_this August,_ you know--what would be the
use of learning?"

"Child," said the woman, and if her voice was sad it was also vehement,
"them as are mad in religion are them as thinks doing the duty of each
day for _His_ sake ain't enough without seeing where's the _use_ of
doing what He puts to our hand."

"Mrs. Martha," besought Winifred, timidly, "I--don't like cooking; but
do you think if I did this I should perhaps get to be glad to think--be
glad to think our Saviour might be coming again so soon?"

"To love Him is of His grace, and you must get it direct from Him; but
it's wonderful how doing the best we can puts heart into our prayers."

The scarlet tanager rose and flew from tree to tree like a darting
flame, but Winifred had forgotten him.