"But he knows you are honest, and that nothing but the hard times
would have brought you to such a pass."

"It may be, Mary. At any rate you have lightened my heart a little.
I feel as if there was some hope left."

"We ought always to feel so, Timothy. There was one thing that Mr.
Colman said that didn't sound so well, coming from his lips; but
it's true, for all that."

"What do you mean, Mary?"

"I mean that about not distrusting Providence. Many a time have I
been comforted by reading the verse, "Never have I seen the
righteous forsaken, or his seed begging bread. "As long as we try to
do what is right, Timothy, God will not suffer us to want."

"You are right, Mary. He is our ever-present help in time of need.
Let us put away all anxious cares, fully confiding in his gracious
promises."

They retired to rest thoughtfully, but not sadly.

The fire upon the hearth flickered, and died out at length. The last
sands of the old year were running out, and the new morning ushered
in its successor.