By prayers and entreaties, Madame Tube had obtained her bed and some indispensable articles from the constable; but in their new habitation they had neither table, chair, bread, wood, or candle—­neither had they any clothing but what they wore—­and yet they felt happy—­happy at being together again; they seemed to love each other more than ever, and felt thankful that although so very poor, they had the comfort of not being obliged to live with strangers, or with the wicked.  Raphael was delighted to have his bird, and his mother and sister rejoiced at his happiness; but the question now was, What to do?  How to live?  The bird was there, it is true, but there was no seed for him.  This caused Madame Tube to say, “After all we have been foolish to give our last ten-pence for Jacot—­we shall suffer for want of it, and in the end the bird will die of hunger.  Yes, my Raphael, it is not well to attach our hearts so much to any earthly thing—­sooner or later it is taken from us, and then we are miserable.  Let us then set our affections on things above, and not on those of the earth.”

Thus spoke Madame Tube, while Raphael caressed his bird.

Then Madelaine jumping up suddenly, exclaimed, “I must go immediately to my teacher—­I cannot bear that he should think so ill of me.”  She ran off, and in about half-an-hour returned.  “Mother, mother,” she cried, “all is right, and I am quite happy.  The teacher is so grieved that he should have listened to the falsehoods which that wicked apprentice told of me; and see, dear mother, the beautiful present he has given me.”  So saying, she took from her apron a large parcel, containing a new Bible nicely bound.  Her eyes sparkled with joy as she said, “Now, Raphael, I can read so many beautiful stories to you.”

“May the blessing of God enter our house, with his Word!” said Madame Tube, solemnly.

They were all silent for a few moments, when Madelaine spoke, “I ought also to go to good Master Teuzer, mother—­I am sure he will employ me again.”

She went, and after a considerable time returned, knocked at the door, and called to her mother to open it—­she entered quite loaded.  Her mother looked on in astonishment as she spread before her a large cake, apples, nuts, oranges, several pairs of warm stockings, a knitted jacket, and four shillings.  “All these are given by kind Master Teuzer,” said Madelaine, “he has been from home, and did not hear any thing of our distress, but he kept all these Christmas presents for me, and I am to work with him as often as I can, and the wicked apprentice is sent away:”  and pulling Raphael along with her, she danced about the room.