Now Mrs.Thomas had long had her eye on Charlie, with a view of incorporating him with the Thomas establishment, and thought this would be a favourable time to broach the subject to his mother: she therefore commenced by inquiring-- "How have you got through the winter, Ellen?
Everything has been so dear that even we have felt the effect of the high prices." "Oh, tolerably well, I thank you.

Husband's business, it is true, has not been as brisk as usual, but we ought not to complain; now that we have got the house paid for, and the girls do so much sewing, we get on very nicely." "I should think three children must be something of a burthen--must be hard to provide for." "Oh no, not at all," rejoined Mrs.Ellis, who seemed rather surprised at Mrs.Thomas's uncommon solicitude respecting them.

"We have never found the children a burthen, thank God--they're rather a comfort and a pleasure than otherwise." "I'm glad to hear you say so, Ellen--very glad, indeed, for I have been quite disturbed in mind respecting you during the winter.

I really several times thought of sending to take Charlie off your hands: by-the-way, what is he doing now ?" "He goes to school regularly--he hasn't missed a day all winter.

You should just see his writing," continued Mrs.Ellis, warming up with a mother's pride in her only son--"he won't let the girls make out any of the bills, but does it all himself--he made out yours." Mrs.Thomas took down the file and looked at the bill again.