Mrs. Meredith was a most kind and thoughtful woman. She spent a
great deal of time visiting the poor. One morning she told her
children about a family which she had visited the day before.
There was a man sick in bed, his wife who took care of him, and
could not go out to work, and their little boy. The little
boy--his name was Bernard--had interested her very much.

"I wish you could see him," she said to her own children, John,
Harry, and Clara, "he is such a help to his mother. He wants very
much to earn some money, but I don't see what he can do."

After their mother had left the room, the children sat thinking
about little Bernard.

"I wish we could help him to earn money," said little Clara.

"So do I, said Harry.

For some moments John said nothing, but, suddenly, he sprang to
his feet and cried:

"I have an idea!"

The other children also jumped up all attention. When John had an
idea, it was sure to be a good one.

"I tell you what we can do," said John. "You know that big box
of corn Uncle Sam sent us for popping? Well, we can pop it, and
put it into paper bags, and Bernard can take it round to the