her income from this source probably did not average more than three
dollars a week. This was absolutely all that they had to live on,
though there was no rent to pay; and the reader will not be
surprised to learn that Luke had no money to spend for watches.

"Are you tired, Luke?" asked his mother, after supper.

"No, mother. Can I do anything for you?"

"I have finished a dress for Miss Almira Clark. I suppose she
will want to wear it to church to-morrow. But she lives so far
away, I don't like to ask you to carry it to her."

"Oh, I don't mind. It won't do me any harm."

"You will get tired."

"If I do, I shall sleep the better for it."

"You are a good son, Luke."

"I ought to be. Haven't I got a good mother?"

So it was arranged. About seven o'clock, after his chores were
done--for there was some wood to saw and split--Luke set out, with
the bundle under his arm, for the house of Miss Clark, a mile and
a half away.

It was a commonplace errand, that on which Luke had started, but
it was destined to be a very important day in his life. It was to