“You can love us; and that is all we want—isn’t it, father?”
“Yes, my child; and we must always deserve their love. We may yet be poor, and David may yet be very rich.”
“When he is, David will be good to us, I know. Wouldn’t it be funny, if we should get poor, and David should bring us a load of wood, some potatoes, flour, tea, sugar, and apples?”
“And mustard and pepper,” added Henry, laughing.
“It would not be very funny for us, but I know we should be thankful to him,” replied Mr. Lee, with a smile.
“Well, David, when things change, you shall do for us what we have done for you, and then it will be all square.”
“I hope you never will be poor, but if you are, I will give you every thing I have,” said David, in a feeling and earnest tone.
The children stopped nearly an hour at the little black cottage; but they were so happy, it seemed like a palace to them. They had all felt the luxury of doing good. The plenty they had carried to the home of the poor family filled their own hearts with plenty—with love and peace.
Before they went away, Mr. Lee gave Mrs. White money enough to buy some warm clothes for all the children, and for herself. She had nothing more to fear from the cold winter and hard times; and she hoped in the spring to be able to take care of her family herself.
The party, so happy they could hardly keep from shouting, bade the family good by, and started for home. As they passed through the village, they saw, in front of a store where rum was sold, two men fighting. They were soon parted by some people, and Henry saw that one of them was the man to whom he had given the money.