Mr. Caruth, who had been pressed into service as doorkeeper by Cousin Helen, was in the hall with Aunt Zélie.
"Here are nine dollars and a half for you, Grandma," he said, putting a box into Louise's hands.
"Oh, thank you! Then that will be enough with the basket money. Don't you think our entertainment was pretty good, Mr. Caruth?" she asked.
"Delightful! I was just telling Mrs. Howard that it was a star performance," he answered.
"I don't know what that is, but Aunt Zélie and Cousin Helen made it all up, every bit," Bess said proudly.
The performers were so enchanted with the evening's fun that they refused to take off their gay costumes, and declared one and all that they meant to see the old year out.
The Father of his Country forgot his dignity, and cut up all sorts of antics with April Fool's Day. Even Father Time joined in the fun, and Christmas and New Year bestrewed the floor with cotton batting as they danced with the old ladies.
But they were tired out before midnight, and when the city bells rang in the new year they were all sound asleep and heard not a bit of it.
And this is what came of it:
Of course in the first place the harp was mended and paid for, and its owner was able once more to earn something for his family. With her burden thus made lighter, Marie worked away cheerfully at her embroidery, and Tina went happily to school in the warm dress Mrs. Howard gave her. Many were the blessings invoked on the heads of the young people who had helped them!