housekeeper. "He makes up packages, bundles, baskets and bags of
things to eat, and gives them to all the poor families he can hear of.
He was poor once himself, you know, and he never can forget it."

"He is very kind," said Nan, in a low voice.

"Yes, he is that," agreed Miss Carford, "and I suppose I oughtn't to
find fault. But he does give away an awful lot."

She went out to look after matters in the kitchen, leaving the
children to eat their lunch of milk and cookies alone for a few
minutes. Presently Mr. Carford came back, stamping the snow from his
boots.

"Ha!" he cried, as he went close to the stove to warm his hands. "This
reminds me of the winters I used to spend at Snow Lodge on Lake
Metoka. Were you ever up there?" and he looked at Bert.

"No, sir."

"Ha! I thought not. It's a fine place. But I don't go there any more--
never any more," and he shook his head sadly.

"Did it burn down?" asked Freddie, who was always interested in fires
and firemen. "Couldn't they put it out?"

"No, Freddie, it didn't burn down," said Mr. Carford. "Sometimes I
almost wish it had--before my trouble happened," he added slowly.
"Yes, I almost wish it had. But Snow Lodge still stands, though I
haven't been near it for some years. I couldn't go. No, I couldn't