In their desire for economy they also fell into the very common error of buying salt fish and meat, and other articles of food that were cheap and easily prepared rather than nutritious, and Belle was inclined to make her lunch on pastry and cake instead of food.  In teaching them a better way Mrs. Wheaton proved herself a very useful friend.  “Vat yer vant is sumthink that makes blood an’ stands by von,” she had said; “an’ this ‘ere salt, dry stuff an’ light baker’s bread and tea and coffee don’t do this hat hall.  They’s good henough as relishes an’ trimmins an’ roundins hoff, but they hain’t got the nourishin’ in ’em that vorking people vants.  Buy hoat meal an’ corn meal—­make good bread of yer hown.  Buy good but cheap chunks of beef an’ mutton an’ wegetables, an’ make stews an’ meat pies an’ rich soups, an’ say yer prayers hagainst hall trashy things as hain’t vorth the trouble of heatin’.  Heggs, too, ven ther’re plenty, hare fust-rate, an’ milk is better than so much tea an’ coffee, heven if the milkman do spill it in the brook an’ pick it hout hagain before we get it.  Vorkin’ hon tea an’ coffee is like keepin’ the ‘orse hagoin’ on a vip hinstead of hoats.”

Mrs. Jocelyn and Mildred were sensible enough to take her advice, and although Belle complained at first over the more simple and wholesome diet, she soon felt so much the better for it that she made no further trouble.

As had been the case at the farmhouse, Mildred at last awakened to the evils of a depressed and sedentary life, and felt that she must look around for objects of interest.  She began to spend more time with Mrs. Wheaton, and found considerable amusement in her homely common-sense.  The good woman was all the more companionable for the reason that she never presumed on a coarse familiarity or indulged in a prying interest.  Mildred also aided the Wheaton children in their lessons, and gave more time to her own little brother and sister, taking them out to walk in the cool of the day, and giving much thought, while she plied her needle, to various little expedients that would keep them content to remain away from the street and the rude children that often made the old house resound with boisterous sport.  Mrs. Wheaton’s children were in the main well behaved, and there was much visiting back and forth among the little people of the two families, but here the line was drawn, and generally with very good reason.  After all, perhaps, the chief horror of tenement life to a family like the Jocelyns consisted in the fact that just outside their door were hordes of prowling little savages ignorant in the main of civilization, but prematurely enlightened as to its vices.  To prevent the inevitable contamination which would result from indiscriminate association, and to interest Fred and Minnie in their daily lessons, was the constant effort of both Mildred and Mrs. Jocelyn.  And yet, as at the farmhouse, Mildred’s conscience began to reproach her for keeping too much aloof from