“But about the boy, sir?” said Gardiner, whose mind was becoming active with more independent thoughts.

“All in good time,” said Mr. Prescott smiling.  “Rome was not built in a day, you know.  First let us secure a beginning.  If your wife goes to-morrow, I shall think her in earnest; as willing to help herself, and, therefore, worthy to be helped.  All the rest will come in due order.  But you may rest assured, that, if she does not come to work, it is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned.  So good evening to you.”

Bright and early came Mrs. Gardiner on the next morning, far tidier in appearance than when Mr. Prescott saw her before.  She was a stout, strong woman, and knew how to scrub and clean paint as well as the best.  When fairly in the spirit of work, she worked on with a sense of pleasure.  Mrs. Prescott was well satisfied with her performance, and paid her the half dollar earned when her day’s toil was done.  On the next day, and the next, she came, doing her work and receiving her wages.

On the evening of the third day, Mr. Prescott thought it time to call upon the Gardiners.

“Well this is encouraging!” said he, with an expression of real pleasure, as he gazed around the room, which scarcely seemed like the one he had visited before.  All was clean, and everything in order; and, what was better still, the persons of all, though poorly clad, were clean and tidy.  Mrs. Gardiner sat by the table mending a garment; her daughter was putting away the supper dishes; while the man sat teaching a lesson in spelling to their youngest child.

The glow of satisfaction that pervaded the bosom of each member of the family, as Mr. Prescott uttered these approving words, was a new and higher pleasure than had for a long time been experienced, and caused the flame of self-respect and self-dependence, rekindled once more, to rise upwards in a steady flame.

“I like to see this,” continued Mr. Prescott.  “It does me good.  You have fairly entered the right road.  Walk on steadily, courageously, unweariedly.  There is worldly comfort and happiness for you at the end.  I think I have found a very good place for your son, where he will receive a dollar and a half a week to begin with.  In a few months, if all things suit, he will get two dollars.  The work is easy, and the opportunities for improvement good.  I think there is a chance for you, also, Mr. Gardiner.  I have something in my mind that will just meet your case.  Light work, and not over five or six hours application each day—­the wages four dollars a week to begin with, and a prospect of soon having them raised to six or seven dollars.  What do you think of that?”

“Sir!” exclaimed the poor man, in whom personal pride and a native love of independence were again awakening, “if you can do this for me, you will be indeed a benefactor.”

“It shall be done,” said Mr. Prescott, positively.  “Did I not say to you, that God helps those who help themselves?  It is even thus.  No one, in our happy country who is willing to work, need be in want; and money earned by honest industry buys the sweetest bread.”