had, too, a certain standing in the community and a line of
credit at the stores that he might have used.

Debt, however, save that upon their house, he had fought to keep
out of all his married life. That his equity in the Amity Street
cottage was so small was not his fault; but he owed not any man.

"Now we must go fishing," Mrs. Sherwood said, in her sprightly
way, when the little family really discussed the unfortunate
situation after the announcement of the shut-down of the mills
was made public.

"Goodness, Momsey! What a reckless creature you are," laughed
Mr. Sherwood. "Waste our precious time in such employment, and
in the dead of winter, too?"

"Now, Papa Sherwood, I don't mean that kind of fishing at all!"
cried the little woman gaily. "We are going to fish for
employment for you, perhaps for a new home."

"Oh!" gasped Nan. The thought of deserting the little cottage on
Amity Street was a dreadful shock.

"We must face that possibility," said her mother firmly. "It may
be. Tillbury will see very hard times now that the mills are
closed. Other mills and shops will follow suit."

"Quite true, Momsey," agreed the husband and father.

"I am a very logical person, am I not?" said the smiling little