Now, think of that. From a crust at Saturday noon, on nothing till Sunday night. Of all the abundant marketing of Saturday evening; of all the luxuries of Sunday breakfast and dinner, not a crumb for this poor child. While we were dressing our children for their trip to Sunday-school, or their romp over the hills, this poor child, gnawed by hunger, deserted by her drunken father, holding a starving baby, sat crouched in a hovel, given up to despair and hopelessness. And that, too, within the sound of the bells that made the church-steeples thrill with music, and called God’s people to church! A friend who had heard Jane’s story had given me three dollars for her. I gave it to her, and told her that as her rent was paid, she could with this lay in some provisions. She was crying then, but she dried her tears and hurried off. * * * * * “Will you please come here and look?” called a lady whose call I always obey, about an hour afterward. I went, and there stood Jane, flushed and happy. “I declare I am astonished at this child!” said the lady. And therewith she displayed Jane’s purchases. A little meal and meat had been sent home. The rest she had with her. First, there was a goblet of strained honey; then a bundle of candy “for baby,” a package of tea “for father,” and a chip straw hat, with three gayly colored ribbons, “for herself.” And that’s where the money had gone! “I am just put out with her,” said the arbitress of my affairs, after Jane had gathered up her treasures and departed. “To waste her money like that! I can imagine how the poor, half-starved child couldn’t help buying the honey-goblet; I should die myself if I didn’t have something sweet; but how she came to buy that hat and ribbons I can’t see!” Ah, blue-eyed woman! There’s a yearning in the feminine soul stronger than hunger. There’s a passion there that starvation cannot conquer. The hat and ribbons were bought in response to that craving. The hat, I’ll bet thee, was bought before the honey,—aye, before the meal or meat. “Can’t understand it?” Then, my spouse, I’ll explain: Jane is a woman! I must confess that I was pleased at the misdirection of Jane’s funds. Have you ever had a child deep in a long-continued stupor from fever? How delighted you were then when, tempted by some trifle, he gave signs of eagerness! So I was rejoiced to see that the long years of suffering had not crushed hope and emotion out of this girl’s life.