"No more, Granny."
"And the flour, does it hold yet, Peggy?"
"It is all gone, Granny; but there's oat-cake enough for the breakfast, and we've a nice sup of porridge on the fire."
"Let us eat it then, and be thankful," said the old woman, solemnly.
The child divided her portion with the cat, and then, with what seemed like careless indifference to the grandmother began to play about the room with her pet.
"Peggy, Peggy, how can you be so light-hearted when we have no food for the morrow?"
Peggy stopped playing, and began to look grave. Suddenly her face lighted up, and she clapped her hands.
"To-morrow is dole-day. Granny; don't you remember? They give out the loaves at church, and your turn began last week."
"Sure enough, yes. To think that I should have lived to be one of the oldest people of the parish, as well as one of the poorest! Ah me!—I who began life so well!"
"And you shall end it well, too. I can do something."