business in Boston. She will know, perhaps, where to offer your
card!"

At the introduction of a new theme into the conversation Mrs. Larrabee
slipped into a chair by the door, her lantern swinging in her hand.

"David can't be as near as Boston or we should hear of him sometimes.
A pretty sort of brother to be meandering foot-loose over the earth,
and Letty working her fingers to the bone to support his
children--twins at that! It was just like David Gilman to have twins!
Doesn't it seem incredible that he can let Christmas go by without a
message? I dare say he doesn't even remember that his babies were born
on Christmas eve. To be sure he is only Letty's half-brother, but
after all they grew up together and are nearly the same age."

"You always judged David a little severely, Reba. Don't despair of
reforming any man till you see the grass growing over his bare bones.
I always have a soft spot in my heart for him when I remember his
friendship for my Dick; but that was before your time.--Oh! these
boys, these boys!" The minister's voice quavered. "We give them our
very life-blood. We love them, cherish them, pray over them, do our
best to guide them, yet they take the path that leads from home. In
some way, God knows how, we fail to call out the return love, or even
the filial duty and respect!--Well, we won't talk about it, Reba; my
business is to breathe the breath of life into my text: 'Here am I,
Lord, send me!' Letty certainly continues to say it heroically,
whatever her troubles."

"Yes, Letty is so ready for service that she will always be sent, till
the end of time; but if David ever has an interview with his Creator