Timothy Crumps Ward | Page 7

the man who had just left them. It was an uncomfortable
feeling, and she strove to get rid of it."
"Is there any tenement vacant in this neighborhood?" she asked.
"Yes, there's the one at the corner, belonging to Mr. Harrison."
"It is a better one than this."
"Yes, but Harrison only asks the same that we have been paying. He is
not so exorbitant as Colman."
"Couldn't we get that?"
"I am afraid, if he knew that we had failed to pay our rent here, he

would object."
"But he knows you are honest, and that nothing but the hard times
would have brought you to such a pass."
"It may be, Mary. At any rate you have lightened my heart a little. I feel
as if there was some hope left."
"We ought always to feel so, Timothy. There was one thing that Mr.
Colman said that didn't sound so well, coming from his lips; but it's
true, for all that."
"What do you mean, Mary?"
"I mean that about not distrusting Providence. Many a time have I been
comforted by reading the verse, "Never have I seen the righteous
forsaken, or his seed begging bread. "As long as we try to do what is
right, Timothy, God will not suffer us to want."
"You are right, Mary. He is our ever-present help in time of need. Let
us put away all anxious cares, fully confiding in his gracious promises."
They retired to rest thoughtfully, but not sadly.
The fire upon the hearth flickered, and died out at length. The last sands
of the old year were running out, and the new morning ushered in its
successor.

CHAPTER IV.
THE NEW YEAR'S PRESENT.

"HAPPY New Year!" was Jack's salutation to Aunt Rachel, as, with an
unhappy expression of countenance, she entered the sitting-room.
"Happy, indeed!" she repeated, dismally. "There's great chance of its
being so, I should think. We don't any of us know what the year may
bring forth. We may all be dead before the next New Year."
"If that's the case, said Jack, "we'll be jolly as long as it lasts."
"I don't know what you mean by such a vulgar word," said Aunt Rachel,
disdainfully. "I've heard of drunkards and such kind of people being
jolly; but, thank Providence, I haven't got to that yet."
"If that was the only way to be jolly," said Jack, stoutly, "then I'd be a
drunkard; I wouldn't carry round such a long face as you do, Aunt

Rachel, for any money."
"It's enough to make all of us have long faces, when you are brazen
enough to own that you mean to be a drunkard."
"I didn't say any such thing," said Jack, indignantly.
"Perhaps I have ears," remarked Aunt Rachel, sententiously, "and
perhaps I have not. It's a new thing for a nephew to tell his aunt that she
lies. They didn't use to allow such things when I was young.--But the
world's going to rack and ruin, and I shouldn't much wonder if the
people are right that says it's comin' to an end."
Here Mrs. Crump happily interposed, by asking Jack to go round to the
grocery, in the next street, and buy a pint of milk.
Jack took his cap and started, with alacrity, glad to leave the dismal
presence of Aunt Rachel.
He had scarcely opened the door when he started back in surprise,
exclaiming, "By hokey, if there isn't a basket on the steps!"
"A basket!" repeated Mrs. Crump, in surprise. "Can it be a New Year's
present? Bring it in, Jack."
It was brought in immediately, and the cover being lifted there
appeared a female child, of apparently a year old. All uttered
exclamations of surprise, each in itself characteristic.
"What a dear, innocent little thing!" said Mrs. Crump, with true
maternal instinct.
"Ain't it a pretty 'un?" said Jack, admiringly.
"Poor thing!" said the cooper, compassionately.
"It's a world of iniquity!" remarked Rachel, lifting up her eyes, dismally.
"There isn't any one you can trust. I didn't think a brother of mine
would have such a sin brought to his door."
"Good heavens, Rachel!" said the honest cooper, in amazement, "what
can you mean?"
"It isn't for me to explain," said Rachel, shaking her head; "only it's
strange that it should have been brought to this house, that's all I say."
"Perhaps it was meant for you, Aunt Rachel," said Jack, with
thoughtless fun.
"Me!" exclaimed Rachel, rising to her feet, while her face betrayed the
utmost horror at the suggestion. She fell back in her seat, and made a
violent effort to faint.
"What have I said?" asked Jack, a little frightened at the effect of his

words. "Aunt Rachel takes one up so."
"He didn't mean anything," said