"I know, mamma," said Joshua, "Martha always looks pleasant, even in a shabby dress."
"Mr. Kelly is a very kind and good man," said Mrs. Payson; "and I hope, before another Christmas, he will be able to give his family a better home.
"They look happy because they have good thoughts and try to do their duty. None can be happy, even in beautiful homes, unless their thoughts are right.
"I hope you will select a pleasant book for little Martha, my daughter, and I will send some articles to her mamma."
"It is now your bedtime, my darlings. To-morrow we will begin to prepare our Christmas gifts for the poor."
The children kneeled down and thanked God for being so good to them, and asked him to help them to be kind and obedient, and to speak the truth.
After they had said their prayers, Newton ran to his mamma and kneeled down again by her side, and said, "Will God please to help the hungry little children to smile, for Christ's sake?"
