34 THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE;

 

she said, ‘and may you and the children _
have a ‘* Merry Christmas.” ’

**The poor woman seemed almost stunned
by the kindness which was so freely ex-
tended to her. She held the basket pas-
sively in her hand, and neither moved nor
spoke. But when the lady threw a coarse,
warm shawl about her shoulders, and asked
her to accept that also, she completely broke
_ down, and indulged in another hearty fit of
crying. | |

‘©*T never can thank you enough,
ma’am,’ she said, ‘for all your kindness to >
me this night ; but the Lord knows all, and
-I will pray Him to bless you for it, and
always to keep want and sorrow from you a
and yours.’ a

“ And the poor woman went back to her

wretched home, to gladden the hearts of _