When  at  last  the  troublesome  curls  hung
in  smooth,  glistening  clusters  over  her  shoul-
ders, she  laid  Dolly  on  the  bed,  "  to  make  her
look  comfortable,"  kissed  little  Faith,  and
wishing  Jennie  a  merry  Christmas,  soon  stood,
hooded  and  cloaked,  watching  for  Mr.  Grey
through  the  side  light  of  the  front  door.  She
had  not  waited  long  when  a  sleigh  drove  up,
and  in  another  moment  she  was  sitting,  wrap-
ped in  soft  robes,  beside  her  kind  friend,  who
was  telling  her  the  result  of  his  visit  to  Mr.
Jones.  It  appeared  that  Captain  Marvin,
just  before  he  sailed  on  his  last  voyage,  had
authorized  Mr.  Jones  to  collect  some  debts
that  were  owing  him,  during  his  absence.
The  money  was  collected,  but  the  owner  did
not  return,  and  when  news  came  of  his  loss  at
sea,  Mr.  Jones  placed  the  money  in  bank  and
advertised  for  the  heirs.  Receiving  no  re-
sponse to  the  advertisement,  he  still  continued


184:

to  have  it  inserted  in  the  papers  several  times
each  year,  hoping  that  at  last  it  might  meet
the  eye  of  some  one  interested.  It  so  happened
that  neither  the  orphans,  nor  any  of  their

friends  in  the  remote  little  village  of  B ,

had  chanced  to  see  the  notice,  and  but  for
Eva's  charitable  effort  to  assist  the  old  blind
man,  they  might  never  have  known  of  the
good  fortune  that  awaited  them.
The  property  was  not  very  large,  but  it
would  be  amply  sufficient  to  support  our
young  friends  in  their  simple,  economical
habits,  even  allowing  them  something  to  give
away  to  those  less  fortunate.
