He found his mother sitting in her rocking-chair with a sober face.
"Well, mother," he asked, gayly, "how have you passed the day?"
"Very unprofitably, Luke. I went out this afternoon, and visited two places where I thought they might have some sewing for me, but I only met with disappointment. Now that I have a sewing machine, it is a great pity that I can't make use of it."
"Don't be troubled, mother! We can get along well enough."
"But we have only your earnings to depend upon."
"If I always have as good a day as this, we can depend on those very easily."
"Did you earn much, Luke?"
"I earned a lot of money."
Mrs. Walton looked interested, and Luke's manner cheered her.
"There are always compensations, it seems. I was only thinking of my own bad luck."