[Illustration: T]HE brave girl was now full of hope that a good day was about to dawn for the P. S. P. S. Uncle John was there. He had said as much; and what could not he do? The members must each be visited and urged to attend the meeting and hear what Uncle John had to say. She would undertake it. Of course they would be so glad to hear that the Society was now to be revived and go on finely again. So she thought. With a light heart and face full of sunshine she started on her way. The first ring brought a servant to the door, only to say that the children had just gone away for some days. The next door opened promptly as she still held the knob in her hand, but only to assure her that Carrie was not well—probably could not go out for weeks. The third call found no one at home. A fourth was answered with, “My! I thought the P. S. P. S. was dead. But I’ll see what mamma says. Maybe she’ll let me come.” A little further on Jennie met an old member and laid before her Uncle John’s plans for a meeting, and all about it, only to receive a stare and, “Who is your Uncle John?” And the inquirer, without waiting to be told, went skipping on her way. Sometimes Jennie was told, “Don’t get me to any more P. S. P. S. poky meetings;” or, “Oh! I’m invited to a card-party the very night of your meeting. Of course I must go. And there’ll be dancing and ice-cream, and ever so much fun;” or, “Mamma says I can never attend any more,” etc., etc. A sunny sky is sometimes overcast and the rain falls instead of beams of light. Do not blame Jennie if she cried. It was such a sharp disappointment. Thus far not one word of encouragement. Every one seemed to frown upon her, and all the laughing she met or saw on either side of the streets through which she passed, seemed to be at her expense. She was mistaken, but a heavy heart often feels a sting where there is really no stinger. What shall she do? “It’s no use, Jennie; I told you so,” came from one of the committee boys, who happened to follow her track and overhear some of the rebuffs received by Jennie, and who now came up by her side to put the last straw upon her breaking heart. “What’s the use?” he went on. “They say you are making yourself ridiculous, and—” and he was about to add another straw when they turned a corner and met Uncle John coming towards them. Without noticing her face, he took Jennie by the hand and turned up another street, leaving her companion to go his way. Uncle John went on to say how he had thought of little else besides the Poplar Street Pansy Society and now he was all ready for the meeting. [Illustration: SNOW HOUSES.] A little further on the other member of the committee was met, who reported that he had called upon some of the others, but no one had promised to attend the meeting. But blessed Uncle John cheered Jennie by saying it was always darkest before the day and that no matter how matters had turned out this time, it might be just the contrary to-morrow.