learn to make baskets.

"Now, in his little bed, with his eyes shut, he was thinking how he would make them and sell them for money to help poor children.

"The next morning Fritz told his mamma what he had been thinking about.

"She was pleased with his plan; for she thought it would amuse her darling little lame boy.

"Fritz went to the basket-maker's shop all Summer, and by the time cold weather came he could make very beautiful baskets. Some merchants in town sold them for him, and by Christmas time he had laid up several dollars, which he said he should give to poor widow Wilcox, who looked sick and pale, and had two children.

"Mrs. Ritter gave Fritz a little room at home for his shop; and his papa put into it all the materials necessary for making baskets; and there Fritz spent several hours every day at his work.

"He was happy and said, 'Now I am of some use, as I can help to make others good and happy.'

"Widow Wilcox and her children had food, and a fire, and clothes in the cold Winter weather; and it was the little pale-faced lame boy who gave them to her.

"Jim and Dora Wilcox learned their books because Fritz wished them to do so. They would not play any more with bad children on the streets, because Fritz told them they must not. And when Jim promised that he would try to remember and not use any more naughty words, Fritz told him he would give him all the books he would read to Dora and his mother.

"Finally, Jim went every day to Fritz's little shop, and learned to make baskets. He was so handy that, by the time another Christmas came, he was able to carry to his mother money that he had himself earned.

"Fritz was about ten years old when he began to make baskets. The Lord allowed him to live only two years longer; but, in that time, many poor children loved him, and thanked him for his kindness. When he died many tears were shed in the alleys and back streets, where the dear pale-faced boy had tried to make others good and happy.

"Little children went in a great company, when he was buried, and threw flowers into his grave.

"We believe that when Fritz's gentle spirit left his poor, crooked body, it went to the happy land, to grow in beauty forever. But he is not forgotten on earth; and now, many years after, there are those who bless the dear little lame boy."

"Did you know him, mamma?" asked Rebecca, with tears in her eyes.

"Yes," said Mrs. Payson. "It was when I was a young girl that I attended the funeral of little Fritz.

"Mr. Wilcox, who keeps the great store of baskets in town, where you have sometimes stopped with me to see how beautiful they are, is the little Jim whom Fritz taught to be good and useful.

"He has always taken tender care of his mother, who is now so old she remembers but little; but if you ask her about Fritz she will talk a long time about him, whom she calls 'God's dear child.'"

"Your true story, mamma, is better than made-up ones," said Joshua, as he walked away to the window.

"When I look at my little work-basket, mamma," said Rebecca, "that you bought of Mr. Wilcox, I shall think of Fritz, and the basket will help me to be good."

"So you see, my darling," said Mrs. Payson, "when our bodies are turning to dust in the ground, the deeds which we did may be helping others to be good or bad."