complimentary dishes of truck. They is--is hungry." Mrs. Pratt
brought out the statement of the fact in a positively awestruck
voice.

"That's what I'm afraid it is, Bettie," answered Mother, "and it
hurts me hard to think how he have served the Lord and helped us all
in our duty to Him and each other, she a-giving us of her bounty of
sister-love, and now, when they's old and feeble, a-feeling the
pinch of need. The young can reach out and help theyselves to they
share of life, but it oughter be handed old folks with thoughtful
respect. We've got to do something about it."

"Course we have," assented the widow heartily. "But how are we a-
going to just give 'em things offen a cold collar? They're both so
proud. With owning the house, the bit the church gives 'em would do
the rest, but the Deacon have tooken that debt no-'count Will
Bostick run off and left down in the City to pay, and it have left
'em at starvation's door. But that's neither here nor there; we've
got to do something. They don't need much but food, and Mis' Bostick
is most too weak now to cook it if they has the ingredients gave 'em
to hand. They must be did for some way."

"And we've got to do it without a-giving them a single hurt feeling,
either," said Mother. "Enough good-will jelly will hide any kind of
charity pill, I say. Not as what we do for her and the Deacon can
ever be anything but thanks rendered for the blessing of them. But
you get to thinking, Bettie. The knees to my wits are getting old
and stiff."

"Well, there's a donation party," suggested the widow thoughtfully.