“WHO are those oddly dressed children?” asked Miss Vinton. She was reclining in her invalid’s chair, which was drawn up before the window looking out upon the street. “I have seen them pass several times lately and I think they must be new-comers in the neighborhood.” “They are,” replied Emma Copeland, her companion; “they belong to a German family that have moved into the little house back of Mr. Swift’s.” “Do you know anything about them?” Emma smiled; she had been waiting for this question. She knew that sooner or later Miss Vinton would find them out and would want to know all about them, not from curiosity, but from a desire and purpose to aid, if in any way they needed help that she could give. “The family consists of the father and mother and these two children, besides the baby. The baby is sick, and I think they are quite poor. The children sell flowers; you remember there is a garden attached to that house. They go past every morning with baskets of flowers which they take to town. The father means to raise fruit and vegetables, but as this is the beginning, they are poorly prepared for sickness.” “I see!” replied Miss Vinton thoughtfully. Presently she said, “Emma, I think you will have to go out upon an errand for me.” “Down to the Rutgers?” asked Emma. “Yes; your German will enable you to understand enough to find out their needs. Who is their physician, do you know?” “I saw Doctor Prince pass this morning, perhaps he was going there.” “There he is coming up the street now!” exclaimed Miss Vinton; “Emma, ask him to come in for a moment, if he is not in too much haste.” He came in smiling, saying without being questioned, “You want to know about the Rutgers, I suppose?” he understood Miss Vinton. “Yes; do they need anything that I can supply?” “So far as I can judge they would do very well if it were not for this sickness. If you can send comforts for the sick child, it would help. I would suggest the loan of a cot-bed, a soft pillow, and something in the way of a child’s wrapper, besides nourishing, easily digested food. Milk, beef extract—you know what to send?” “Do you think the child will get well?” “There is no reason why, with proper care and plenty of nourishing food, the child should not recover. If the family could be relieved so that the mother could give her whole time to the care of the child all would be well, so far as I can see.” “I understand. I will see what I can do.” Then the doctor bowed himself out, and as he went down street he said within himself, “I declare! to look at that girl and know what her sufferings are, one would feel that if any one could be excused for letting other people take care of themselves she would be the one. Yet she does more to help the poor, and smooth the beds of the sick and suffering than any other five women in this whole town! The Rutgers will find their path brightening, I am thinking!”