The family consisted of the father and mother, and Rose who was a year older than Beth was suppose

that she was just as good as Mrs. Somebody-or-other, if she was poor. It was no disgrace to be poor. But it was in her case. Poverty was her shame, for had she and her husband been up and about their work, making the most of their farm in place of trying to sustain themselves with the maxim, 'Poverty is no disgrace,' they would have had all the comforts desirable and might have been able to help others. Mrs. Burtsch had a whining voice that got upon one's nerves after a time. She made a point of coming in to see Eliza, and in an insinuating way found o

za kept at her sewing while Mrs. Burtsch, rocki

d consumption. You can never tell. Like mother, like child, you know. Her mother couldn't have had a constitution to brag on when a little thing like falling o

n something of bringing up a little girl, just as she had learned all she could about feeding chickens. She had long since discovered the fu

s never had a cold. I'm not

olor in her cheeks, and her eyes are too brigh

t improve her condition even if she w

d dancing eyes were more the result of good, plain food, quiet, happy home

a baby as you'd see in a day's travel, but he went off

ss, and left lying at home, sick with rising fever, while the mother dilly-dallied

ren. She called their early death "strange and mysterious workings of Providence." It was far from just to put the

iam Henry had died. There was nothing to do but listen. One could not have turned Mrs. Burtsch from the

lose accounting to make her income provide for herself and Beth. Each year the expenses would be greater; Eliza tried to lay a few dollars of her int

When her shirt-waists were worn at the collar and cuffs,

out ladies from a magazine. The former paid little attention to what her mother was saying. She had

with it?" she asked. "The tucks hain't so bad, though the rest does look like it went through the mill. It's a sin and a s

s and hours of each day were spent as she was spending these, at a harangue

too tight over the hips. I'm making it over for Beth. I can get quite a nice little dress for her. The ruffles are just as good as new." She held up the skirt and looked it over. "There's

ypercritical air. At Eliza's words, she leaned bac

you. I don't like to tell you what folks are saying. I never was no hand at carrying news; but I feel that it's my

h just a little touch of vindictiveness. "I'll not treasure it up against

ain't anything against us. Being poor hain't any disgrace, I've always tried to do my duty, as I saw it. If I've failed it hain't because I hain't tried. It hain't no matter to me h

use of. They were the negative expression of herself and her thou

a married woman with a man to provide for you. Of course you've got money, put out on interest, but mot

hild and treat her just like she was of your own fam

ady now and I hope she'll be a big lady b

a new subject to her. Wasn't Beth really Miss Eliza's little girl after all? The wonder of it was that she had never found out be

ake a tramp child and bring her up as though she was somebody. If you'd train her so she's be handy for working

like her to be. All I think about now is to keep her sweet and wholesome and teach her all that other li

e right here. Beth is no tramp child and never was. You

t tell me things, Liza Wells. I've lived too long to have the wool pulled over my eyes. You know and I know that no decent self-respecting woman what has a home or any folks is tramping on foot through the count

tallic as a blade of steel. Mrs. Burtsch was awed by it. For an instant she looked at Eliza w

at cuts you, Eliza. It's the truth and you know it. Tut, tut, what's the wor

er you go. I've borne with you a good many years without saying a word in return. I've put up with it too long. Now, we'll understand each other. If you can come in my home and visit without c

ndeed, she had never seen such an Eliza before. She could not say a word. She made an effort, but it only ended in a clack of her tongue a

to a storm of abuse against Eliza and her fosterchild. She le

with nervousness. Beth came and stood back of her chair. "Adee, I t

about the high, broad forehead. The roll of hair was too heavy for the ch

ent, but soon returned with som

ear them, Adee." She stuck the

in the big mirror and smiled. She recognized beauty when she saw it an