"O Lu, tell me all about it!" exclaimed Grace when Lulu came home the next day, from her visit to Eliza. "Are they very, very poor and needy?"
"'Liza and her children? Well, not so very; because papa has been seeing to them for quite a while. They had a good fire ('Liza was ironing for somebody) and pretty good clothes; but the children are growing too big for some of their things and have torn or worn holes in others. So papa says he thinks we should make them some new ones. I'm going to ask Grandma Elsie to buy some flannel with some of my money, and let me make a skirt for the baby."
"I'd like to make an apron for one of the little girls," said Grace.
"Well I suppose you can. There are two girls and a boy besides the baby. Just think what a lot of trouble it must be to keep them all clothed and fed!"
"And poor 'Liza will have to do it all herself while Ajax is in jail."
"I don't believe he was much help anyhow," said Lulu, with a scornful little toss of her head; "she says he didn't work half the time and was always getting drunk and beating her and the children. I should think she'd want him kept in jail as long as he lives."
"But maybe he'll grow good, and be kind and helpful to her when he gets out."
"Papa will do all he can to make him good," said Lulu; "he's gone now to the jail to talk to him. Just think of his taking so much trouble for such an ungrateful wretch."
"It's very good in him," responded Grace; "and it's being like the dear
Lord Jesus to take trouble to do good to ungrateful wretches."
"Yes; so it is, and nobody can be acquainted with papa without seeing that he tries always to be like Jesus."