I think Lizzy could manage that for us." And in her own mind Mercy resolved that the old woman should never lack for food and fire, however unwilling the overseers might be to permit her to have unusual comforts.
Stephen's next letter opened with these words: "O Mercy, I have such a strange thing to tell you.

I am so excited I can hardly find words.

I have found a lot of money in your old fireplace.

Just think of our having sat there so quietly night after night, within hands' reach of it, all last winter! And how lucky that I found it, instead of any of the workmen! They'd have pocketed it, and never said a word." "To be sure they would," thought Mercy, "and poor old Granny Jacobs would have been"-- she was about to think, "cheated out of her rights again," but with a pang she changed the phrase into "none the better off for it.
Oh, how glad I am for the poor old thing! People always said her husband must have hid money away somewhere." Mercy read on.

"I was in such a hurry to get the house done before the snow came that I took hold myself, and worked every night and morning before the workmen came; and, after they had gone, I found this last night, and I declare, Mercy, I haven't shut my eyes all night long.