After  she  had  eaten  her  breakfast  of  bread  and
milk,  the  child  went  up  stairs  and  got  an  old  pair
of  stockings,  which  she  drew  on  over  her  shoes,  that
had  long  been  so  worn  as  to  afford  but  little  pro
tection  to  her  feet;  and  then  taking  from  a  closet  an
old  shawl,  drew  it  over  her  head.  Thus  attired,  she
waited  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  until  her  mother
was  out  of  the  way,  and  -then  went  quickly  down.
She  managed  to  leave  the  house  without  being  seen
by  any  one,  and  took  her  way,  through  the  deep
and  untracked  snow,  towards  the  mill,  which  was
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off.  The  air  was  bitter


168  THE  NEW  YEAR'S  GIFT.
cold,  and  the  storm  still  continued;  but  the  child
plodded  on,  chilled  to  the  very  heart,  as  she  soon
was,  and,  at  length,  almost  frozen,  reached  the  mill.
The  owner  had  observed  her  approach  from  the
window,  and  wondering  who  she  was,  or  what  brought
so  small  a  child  to  the  mill  through  the  cold  and
storm,  went  down  to  meet  her.
"  Bless  me  !  little  one  !"  he  said,  lifting  her  from
the  ground  and  placing  her  within  the  door.  "  Who
are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  ?"

"I'm  George's  sister,  and  I've  come  to  work  in
his  place  till  he  gets  well/'  replied  the  child,  as  she
stood,  with  shivering  body  and  chattering  teeth,
looking  up  earnestly  into  the  man's  face.
