Year: 1864

Happy, Louisa dear, tonight Is my little
| girl happy when her toes are creeping through
4 her shoes, and she had Daught but a crust oil
bread for her dinner, and no supper at all?-
am glad ii my little girl can feel so, for ma
ma feels very much troubled. But never
mind" she said, as she saw the little counte
Dance fall, 'if can only get these button holes
worked tonight. l can get my little one good
warm breakfast for 10 morrow. But come,
| tell me what it is that makes you so happy TO-
| night" she said, resting her needle 10 smooth
her sunny hair.


Il am happy because papa does not know
| that am so cold and hungry; because he does
not know that your warm clothes are all worn
out; and that cannot go to Sunday School
tomorrow because I have nothing 20 wear
He would not feel very happy, would be, ma
ma and l don't think be would fight so well
| if he knew we were suffering. And Oh ma
ma, do want them to fight so the war will
end and we live as we used to when father was
in the great store"


Mrs. Preston piled the needle faster and
faster, as the little one prattled on. In and
out the needle few, until the last Of sixteen
button-hoes were finished. Sixteen button
holes, two cents each thirty-two cents
| Many of us who have all we need, and can
| throw away dollars in value, would laugh at
the idea of this trifle making any one happy,
but on the night of which we write Mrs. Pres
ton felt very rich indeed for she had been dis
abled for week or two by a severe cold, and
as her husband had not been paid for nine
months, her stores had almost entirely run out.
Yes, the last of sixteen button-holes were
worked, and out into the dark cold night she
went, leaving the little Louisa at home to keep
house. On and on she went, passing by
brightly lighted windows filed with every lux
ury of life. With cold shivering frame she
hurried on, ever and anon gettisg a Whit Of
the fragrant coffee or broiliug steak, as she
passed comfortable homes-homes from which
probably no loved ones had gone to battle for
our country's freedom-hOmes where all was
comfort, ease and luxury, and where the in
mates many of them gave no passing thought
to those who were battling against poverty
and want And she who had been so happy
and comfortable herself bat short time ago


"What of herr" No wonder her heart
throbbed as she hurried past and ran up the
dark stairs of the clothiog establishment where
the great coat belonged that she had in her
arms. No wonder she trembled as she stopped
at the door to listen whether there was any
one there beside the employers, for she always
dreaded to take her work home for fear i.
would not suit; and now she had not much
time to lose, for Louisa was at home alone, and
without listening more she turned the knob
and went in. She was happy to see several
there who like herself had brought in werk-
10 tod ho, fur,, tn bova bar
ined, and get her pay.


"Good evening, Mrs. Preston" said Mr.
Frazier, from behind the desk, "good evenings
1 am ready to examine your work if you will
step this way"


She handed him the great bundle of coats
very timidly, for she had never been used to
this before, and always felt very fearful that
her work would not answer. She therefore
felt a great sense of relief as she heard him
say, very well done; very well done, indeed
If you prefer l viii give you fine goods. and
for those we give three cents apiece for the
holes"


~ will be very thankful indeed" she said
with a quivering voice, 'if you think l can do
them well enough, for my little one and myself
are very destitute Of clothing, and if can
earn trife more by the same labor, will feel
as though it was worth working for"


Certainly, madam, certainly; you shall
have the fine goods. james give Mrs. Pres
ton six fine coats"


And accordingly the six fine coats were
brought forth, and Mrs. Preston, lighter in
heart and thirty-two cents in hand, hurried
down the steps and out into the night again,
past brightly lighted windows, only stopping
now to spend her thrty-two cents for some
thing for their morning meal-on past the
rich homes, feasting as she went on the aroma
of the coffee which arose from the basement
kitchens as she few along; only praying that
the cause for which her husband had sacrificed
ALL and for which she had sacrificed so much,
would prosper, and that be might return to
her unharmed


And what the little hungry, cold Lou
isa doing while she was gone? We will see.
As soon as her mother left the room, the little
one was busy. She went into the corner and
knelt down. We do not know how long she
had been there when, Gs if in answer to her
prayers, there came a rap on the door, She
arose, and going to the door admitted two Ia
dies, who looked familiar to her, for she had
seen them once before when her mother was
i'll. Before they had time to speak she had
chairs drawn up to the stove for them.


"Ohl am so glad to see you tonight" she
seid, as she took the poker TO stir around the
one stick of wood thai simmerng in the
ashes, 81 think our Heavenly Father heard
me pray this time, for l just asked him to
send some kind person here TO make mama
happy, she feels so dreadfully tonight


"And where is your mother?" asked one of
the ladies, addressing herself to the child, sis
she not at homer"


'Sbe has taken the coats home that she
worked the button-hoes in to-day, so that she
can get US some breakfast, for we have not had
any dinner or supper to-day but papa does not
know it. 'Aint you glad he don'l?"


Mrs. Williams, the lady who addressed her.
turned her head SO that the child might not
see the tear that was glisteniDg 10 her eye, for
she had dear son in the army, and well she
knew that those who are off battling for our
country have need of cheer, and that it would
be very hard indeed for Louisa's father to
know that she was left to suffer,


I'VE came to help your mother, my DEAR"
said Mrs. Williams, "and we will wait her re-
turn, so that we can talk to her and ask her
what she needs"


"Oh! l thought you had come to help US as
soon as l opened the door, for our Father in
heaven says those who ask shall receive, and l
have been asking him ever since mama has