"Cannot he get another pair?" Mr. Richmond asked gravely.
"I guess not, sir."
"Then it is a case for the 'Aid and Comfort' committee," said Mr. Richmond. "Who is the head of your department? Who is chief of those who are looking up new scholars?"
"John Depeyster."
"Very well. Tell John Depeyster all about your little boy and his toes, and John will go to the head of the relief committee—that is, Miss Forshew—and she will see about it. Very well, Everett; you have made a good beginning. Who is next?"
"I would like to know," said Miss Forshew, in a small voice, "where the relief committee are to get supplies from? If new shoes are to be bought, there must be funds."
"That is the very thing the relief committee undertook, I thought," said Mr. Richmond. "Must there be some scheme to relieve them first? Your business abilities can manage that, Miss Forshew, or I am mistaken in them. But, dear friends, we are not going to serve Christ with that which costs us nothing—are we?"
"Mr. Richmond," said Ailie Swan, "may temperance people drink cider?"
The laughter was universal now.
"Because," said Ailie, unabashed, "I was talking to a boy about drinking it; and he said cider was nothing."