And wondered much if ’twere sadder fate To live in the house with the wooden gate. But something happened, the other day, That has stirred the heart of Miss Marion Ray: A mother went out of the almshouse door, Went out of it to go back no more; Went out to be buried under the leaves, While the wind of November moans and grieves, And left a wee blossom with eyes of brown, To the tender mercies of all the town. Miss Marion has thought of the baby’s fate Till love and pity have grown so great. She has opened her Bible there to see: “As ye did it to Mine, ye did it to Me;” And so, on the morn of Thanksgiving Day In the early morn, when the sky is gray, At the almshouse door a carriage stands, With shining horses in gleaming bands; And into the eyes of the little child, The sad-eyed lady looked and smiled. On the silken shoulder the glittering head, Then—“I love ’oo, lady,” the baby said, Gathered close to the hungry heart, The child and the lady never to part— Carried home to the mansion grand, The proudest and richest in all the land. Never a pauper, the lovely child Into whose face the lady smiled. “Done to the least it is done to Me.” What grander honor on earth could be? Oh! a sweet and joyous Thanksgiving Day Has come to the home of Miss Marion Ray. EMILY BAKER SMALLE. */ THEY “TWO AGREED.” [Illustration: M]ISS RAINES was very earnest that day. Deb and Dora noticed as she bent over them and whispered, “Where two agree, just two, dear ones,” that her face was filled with a strange light. They went home from Sabbath-school, wondering about that promise and why their teacher gave them such a tender look as she said “Two, remember; you are two, dear ones; haven’t you some great thing you’d like to ask of your Heavenly Father—something for Thanksgiving Day? Think now, won’t you? and then just you _two agree_ to ask Him.” And she gave each a kiss, and went her way; they, theirs. But they turned about to catch one more sight of their “beautiful teacher.” She had turned, too, and was looking after them. She waved her hand with another kiss, and disappeared around the corner. On they went their weary way and talked as to what they should agree to ask. They thought of a turkey and cranberries and mince pie as it used to be when papa was “right” and had work and brought home money, and mamma bought what she liked. But a turkey and no papa there to eat it with them, or, if there, to curse, and mamma crying! that would be no Thanksgiving for them. Besides, how could they expect a turkey with no money or friends? and they two walked on together, wondering what Miss Raines _could_ mean. Then a thought struck them, and at once they stopped and their faces shone like Miss Raine’s, and there on the street they fairly leaped up and down for joy. “What is it?” said Deb.