its neighbors. It was built the year Nan was born, so the roses, the honeysuckle, and

locked them up. The front fence had got out of alignment, and the

been painted twice within Nan's remembrance; each t

he Sherwood cottage was not so attractive as in summer. Yet it was a cozy looking house with the early lam

quirk in the corner of his mouth, "a dwelling in

nough in the houses of her school friends to k

n the little shingled cottage on

burst of childish spirits was frowned upon, or one had

t the cottage all her life. She had been, in fact

nly with her little daughter. Mrs. Sherwood's voice w

e exact, where Mr. Sherwood had met and married her. She had grace and

rked. They deferred to her, made much of her, shielded her

w it she did all the work of the little family herself. Just now she was having what she smilingly

ls that had made her a semi-invalid since Nan was a very little girl. But in seeking medi

mity", and her mother's low rocker was drawn close to the sid

laundry-work, she insisted upon darning and patching

able on his foot after "Momsey" had darned it than when it

resting her head upon her hand and her elbow on the table when Nan came in. But she spoke in her usual br

rd from out of doors

mile into being. Her last words with Bess Harley had savored of

brought from outside tonight, Momsey," she conf

Mrs. Sherwood, with her low, caressing

and have extras to make up, in the

what

lling out; but I couldn't help offending h

' my dear?" queried littl

all!" cried Nan. "The yello

doubtfully, not at first understanding th

pany uses yellow posters, like a small-pox, or typhoid warning. The horrid thing!

man's involuntary tribute to the

drew Nan closer to her and her own brown eyes, the

at let's do, N

sey?" repeated the gir

herwood know about it, it

of one of the mill departments, would know all about the announcement of the shut-down; but they would k

. Surely, if Momsey could present a cheerf

f her mother's coiled hair, glossy brown hair throu

Momsey," she said anxi

ney," confesse

poor head, dear," said Nan. "You know,

like,

ome with feet that dragged more than usual on this evening

bout her, falling quite to the floor as she sat in her low chair. Ou

ed. "Nan is becoming a practical maid, and I presume I put upo

rom me, Jessie," said her husband. "If she favored

n said, he always "cleaned up" at

of both my parents," declared Nan briskly, beginning to braid the w

nder the shoulder blades with a bl

sprouting yet, Nancy,"

have to have a new winter coat if you did,

ng to a less cheerful level, as he went away to change his coat and light

looked at each oth

n. "I never do open my mout

mused. "That is an acrobatic feat that

d of our hard luck instead of be

came back into the kitchen as Nan finished arranging the hair. "Come, Papa Sherwood!" cried the little lady. "Hot biscuit; the last of the honey; sweet pi

the years that had elapsed, Mr. Sherwood had paid in part for the cottage; but now the property was deteriorating instead of advancing in value. He could not increase the m

which it is difficult for a man to take up a new