“Poor little foot!” rubbing it tenderly, smoothing the stocking over it, and chafing it to bring warmth and life to its surface.  Her “baby,” she called it, for it was no bigger than when he was a little fellow.  “Poor, tired foot! ain’t it a dreadful long walk, sonny?”

“Pretty long, mother; but I’d take twice that to do such work at the end.”

“Yes, indeed, it’s good work, and Mr. Surrey’s a good man, and a kind one, that’s sure!  I only wish some others had a little of his spirit.  Such a shame to have you dragging all the way up here, when any dirty fellow that wants to can ride.  I don’t mind for myself so much, for I can walk about spry enough yet, and don’t thank them for their old omnibuses nor cars; but it’s too bad for you, so it is,—­too bad!”

“Never mind, mother! keep a brave heart.  ’There’s a good time coming soon, a good time coming!’ as I heard Mr. Hutchinson sing the other night,—­and it’s true as gospel.”

“Maybe it is, sonny!” dubiously, “but I don’t see it,—­not a sign of it,—­no indeed, not one!  It gets worse and worse all the time, and it takes a deal of faith to hold on; but the good Lord knows best, and it’ll be right after a while, anyhow!  And now that’s straight!” pulling a soft slipper on the lame foot, and putting its mate by his side; then going off to pour out the tea, and dish up the stew, and add a touch or two to the appetizing supper-table.

“It’s as good as a feast,”—­taking a bite out of her nice home-made bread,—­“better’n a feast, to think of you in that place; and I can’t scarcely realize it yet.  It seems too fine to be true.”

“That’s the way I’ve felt all the month, mother!  It has been just like a dream to me, and I keep thinking surely I’m asleep and will waken to find this is just an air-castle I’ve been building, or ’a vision of the night,’ as the good book says.”

“Well, it’s a blessed vision, sure enough! and I hope to the good Lord it’ll last;—­but you won’t if you make a vision of your supper in that way.  You just eat, Abram! and have done your talking till you’re through, if you can’t do both at once.  Talking’s good, but eating’s better when you’re hungry; and it’s my opinion you ought to be hungry, if you ain’t.”

So the teacups were filled and emptied, and the spoons clattered, and the stew was eaten, and the baked potatoes devoured, and the bread-and-butter assaulted vigorously, and general havoc made with the good things and substantial things before and between them; and then, this duty faithfully performed, the wreck speedily vanished away; and cups and forks, spoons and plates, knives and dishes, cleaned and cupboarded, Mrs. Franklin came, and, drawing away the book over which he was poring, said, while she smoothed face and hair once more, “Come, Abram, what is it?”

“What’s what, mother?” with a little laugh.

“Something ails you, sonny.  That’s plain enough.  I know when anything’s gone wrong with ye, sure, and something’s gone wrong to-day.”