"I thought I'd lost some of my gifts if I could not talk a body
to sleep," said Sally, in a satisfied and self-complacent tone.
Youth is strong and powerful, and makes a hard battle against
sorrow. So Ruth strove and strengthened, and her baby flourished
accordingly; and before the little celandines were out on the
hedge-banks, or the white violets had sent forth their fragrance
from the border under the south wall of Miss Benson's small
garden, Ruth was able to carry her baby into that sheltered place
on sunny days.
She often wished to thank Mr. Benson and his sister, but she did
not know how to tell the deep gratitude she felt, and therefore
she was silent. But they understood her silence well. One day, as
she watched her sleeping child, she spoke to Miss Benson, with
whom she happened to be alone.
"Do you know of any cottage where the people are clean, and where
they would not mind taking me in?" asked she.
"Taking you in! What do you mean?" said Miss Benson, dropping her
knitting, in order to observe Ruth more closely.
"I mean," said Ruth, "where I might lodge with my baby--any very
poor place would do, only it must be clean, or he might be ill."
"And what in the world do you want to go and lodge in a cottage
for?" said Miss Benson indignantly.
Ruth did not lift up her eyes, but she spoke with a firmness
which showed that she had considered the subject.
"I think I could make dresses.
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