VALLEY

night ifTHE ADVENT OF MARY VANCE $$you'll lend me a quilt," said Mary philosophically."It was kind of chilly last night, but 'cept forthat I've had worse beds.""Oh, no, no, you mustn't do that," said Una."I'veFaith. You know that little trestlethought of a plan,bed in the garret room, with the old mattress on it,,that the last minister left there? Let's take up thespare room bedclothesand make Marya bed there.You won't mind sleeping in the garret, will you, Mary ?It's justabove our room.""Any place'll do me. Laws,place to sleep in in my life. I sleptthe kitchen at Mrs. Wiley's.summer and the snow druv in in winter.a straw tick on the floor.I never had a decentin the loft overThe roof leaked rain inMy bed wasYou won't find me a mitehuffy about where / sleep."The manse" garret was a long, low, shadowy place,with one gable end partitioned off. Here a bed wasmade up for Mary of the dainty hemstitched sheetsand embroidered spread which Cecilia Meredith hadonce so proudly made for her spare room, and whichstill survived Aunt Martha's uncertain washings. Thegoodnights were said and silence fell over the manse.Una was just falling asleep when she heard a soundin the room just above that made her situp suddenly."Listen, Faith Mary's crying," she whispered.Faith replied not, being already asleep. Una slippedout of bed, and made her way in her little white gowndown the hall and up the garret stairs.The creaking