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The grown-up phrases on the childish lips amused Ruth She watched the little boy as he lifted his beautiful serious face to the responsive look of the stranger, and marvelled Here was no parrot-like repetition of word she had heard oft repeated by his elders; the boy was talking a native tongue, and speaking of things that were real to hiodliness nor conceit, no holier-than-thou smirk about the child It was all sincere, as a boy would promise to speak to his own father about a friend's need It touched Ruth and tears sprang to her eyes

All the doubts she had had about the respectability of the place had vanished long ago There , but there was a holy influence here which e for anyone, and she felt quite safe about sleeping in the great barn-like room so open It was as if they had happened on some saint's abode and been made welcome in their extremity

Presently, one by one the inmates of the rooht out and set up, little siether in a twinkling, and very inviting to the teary wo day The cheery proprietor called out, "Mrs Brown, haven't you an extra blanket in your room?" and a pleasant voice responded promptly, "Yes, do you want it?"

"Throw it over then, please A couple of ladies hadn't any place to go Anybody else got one?"

A great gray blanket ca over the top of the partition, and down the line another voice called: "I have one I don't need!" and a white blanket with pink stripes followed, both caught by the Salvationist, and spread upon the little cots Then the lights were turned out one by one and there in the shelter of the tall piano, curtained by the darkness the two lay down

Ruth was so interested in it all and so filled with the hueness of her situation that tired as she was she could not sleep for a long time

The house settled slowly to quiet The proprietor and his wife talked comfortably about the duties of the next day, called some directions to the two boys in the puppy tent, soothed their ot them another blanket The wo enough supplies for ed for, all in a patient, earnest way and in the sas They discussed their own boy, evidently the brother of the small boys, who had apparently just sailed for France as a soldier a few days before, and whoone to New York to see off, and they commended him to their Christ in little low sentences of reassurance to each other Ruth could not help but hear much that was said, for the rooood people apparently had nothing to hide They spoke as if all their household were one great fa and patient in the necessities of this aar