wagon."

"Goodness! Listen to the child!" gasped Mrs. Sherwood. "I
should hope not! Why, honey, is your mind running continually on
such dreadful things? I am afraid your father and I allow you to
hear us talk too frequently about family matters. You must not
assume the family's burdens at your age."

There was that trend to Nan Sherwood's character, however. With
all her blithesomeness and high spirits she was inclined to be
serious in thought.

This conversation occurred several days after the evening when,
on their way home from school, Nan and her school chum, Bess
Harley, had read the yellow poster at the gate of the Atwater
Mills.

The district surrounding the mills, in which most of the hands
lived, had put on an aspect of mourning. Some of the workmen and
their families had already packed up and gone. Most of the
houses occupied by the hands were owned by the Atwater Company,
and if the poor people remained till January 15th, the wages due
them then would be eaten up by the rent of the tenements.

So they were wise to leave when they could. Many who remained
would be a burden upon the taxpayers of Tillbury before the
winter was over.

Nan and her folks were not in such a sad situation as the
laborers, of course. Mr. Sherwood had a small sum in bank. He