ThroughthewindowMartinheardthebabycrying，andthewomantryingtosootheit，butunabletodoso。Martinroseandgoingoutofthedoorandupthestepshecalledtoher。
　　’Mydear，Isay，mydear！’
　　Thewomanheard，andturnedround。
　　’Whydoyoustandouttherewiththebabyinthecold？Comeinside。
　　Youcanwraphimupbetterinawarmplace。Comethisway！’
　　Thewomanwassurprisedtoseeanoldmaninanapron，withspectaclesonhisnose，callingtoher，butshefollowedhimin。
　　Theywentdownthesteps，enteredthelittleroom，andtheoldmanledhertothebed。
　　’There，sitdown，mydear，nearthestove。Warmyourself，andfeedthebaby。’
　　’Haven’tanymilk。Ihaveeatennothingmyselfsinceearlymorning，’
　　saidthewoman，butstillshetookthebabytoherbreast。
　　Martinshookhishead。Hebroughtoutabasinandsomebread。Thenheopenedtheovendoorandpouredsomecabbagesoupintothebasin。Hetookouttheporridgepotalsobuttheporridgewasnotyetready，sohespreadaclothonthetableandservedonlythesoupandbread。
　　’Sitdownandeat，mydear，andI’llmindthebaby。Why，blessme，I’vehadchildrenofmyown；Iknowhowtomanagethem。’
　　Thewomancrossedherself，andsittingdownatthetablebegantoeat，whileMartinputthebabyonthebedandsatdownbyit。
　　Hechuckedandchucked，buthavingnoteethhecouldnotdoitwellandthebabycontinuedtocry。ThenMartintriedpokingathimwithhisfinger；hedrovehisfingerstraightatthebaby’smouthandthenquicklydrewitback，anddidthisagainandagain。Hedidnotletthebabytakehisfingerinitsmouth，becauseitwasallblackwithcobbler’swax。Butthebabyfirstgrewquietwatchingthefinger，andthenbegantolaugh。AndMartinfeltquitepleased。
　　Thewomansateatingandtalking，andtoldhimwhoshewas，andwhereshehadbeen。
　　’I’masoldier’swife，’saidshe。’Theysentmyhusbandsomewhere，faraway，eightmonthsago，andIhaveheardnothingofhimsince。Ihadaplaceascooktillmybabywasborn，butthentheywouldnotkeepmewithachild。ForthreemonthsnowIhavebeenstruggling，unabletofindaplace，andI’vehadtosellallI
　　hadforfood。Itriedtogoasawet-nurse，butnoonewouldhaveme；theysaidIwastoostarved-lookingandthin。NowIhavejustbeentoseeatradesman’swifeawomanfromourvillageisinservicewithherandshehaspromisedtotakeme。Ithoughtitwasallsettledatlast，butshetellsmenottocometillnextweek。Itisfartoherplace，andIamfaggedout，andbabyisquitestarved，poormite。Fortunatelyourlandladyhaspityonus，andletsuslodgefree，elseIdon’tknowwhatweshoulddo。’
　　Martinsighed。’Haven’tyouanywarmerclothing？’heasked。
　　’HowcouldIgetwarmclothing？’saidshe。’WhyIpawnedmylastshawlforsixpenceyesterday。’
　　Thenthewomancameandtookthechild，andMartingotup。Hewentandlookedamongsomethingsthatwerehangingonthewall，andbroughtbackanoldcloak。
　　’Here，’hesaid，’thoughit’saworn-outoldthing，itwilldotowraphimupin。’
　　Thewomanlookedatthecloak，thenattheoldman，andtakingit，burstintotears。Martinturnedaway，andgropingunderthebedbroughtoutasmalltrunk。Hefumbledaboutinit，andagainsatdownoppositethewoman。Andthewomansaid:
　　’TheLordblessyou，friend。SurelyChristmusthavesentmetoyourwindow，elsethechildwouldhavefrozen。ItwasmildwhenI
　　started，butnowseehowcoldithasturned。SurelyitmusthavebeenChristwhomadeyoulookoutofyourwindowandtakepityonme，poorwretch！’
　　Martinsmiledandsaid；’Itisquitetrue；itwashemademedoit。
　　Itwasnomerechancemademelookout。’
　　Andhetoldthewomanhisdream，andhowhehadheardtheLord’svoicepromisingtovisithimthatday。
　　’Whoknows？Allthingsarepossible，’saidthewoman。Andshegotupandthrewthecloakoverhershoulders，wrappingitroundherselfandroundthebaby。Thenshebowed，andthankedMartinoncemore。
　　’TakethisforChrist’ssake，’saidMartin，andgavehersixpencetogethershawloutofpawn。Thewomancrossedherself，andMartindidthesame，andthenhesawherout。
　　Afterthewomanhadgone，Martinatesomecabbagesoup，clearedthethingsaway，andsatdowntoworkagain。Hesatandworked，butdidnotforgetthewindow，andeverytimeashadowfellonithelookedupatoncetoseewhowaspassing。Peopleheknewandstrangerspassedby，butnooneremarkable。
　　AfterawhileMartinsawanapple-womanstopjustinfrontofhiswindow。
　　Shehadalargebasket，buttheredidnotseemtobemanyapplesleftinit；shehadevidentlysoldmostofherstock。Onherbackshehadasackfullofchips，whichshewastakinghome。Nodoubtshehadgatheredthematsomeplacewherebuildingwasgoingon。Thesackevidentlyhurther，andshewantedtoshiftitfromoneshouldertotheother，sosheputitdownonthefootpathand，placingherbasketonapost，begantoshakedownthechipsinthesack。Whileshewasdoingthisaboyinatatteredcapranup，snatchedanappleoutofthebasket，andtriedtoslipaway；buttheoldwomannoticedit，andturning，caughttheboybyhissleeve。Hebegantostruggle，tryingtofreehimself，buttheoldwomanheldonwithbothhands，knockedhiscapoffhishead，andseizedholdofhishair。Theboyscreamedandtheoldwomanscolded。Martindroppedhisawl，notwaitingtostickitinitsplace，andrushedoutofthedoor。Stumblingupthesteps，anddroppinghisspectaclesinhishurry，heranoutintothestreet。Theoldwomanwaspullingtheboy’shairandscoldinghim，andthreateningtotakehimtothepolice。Theladwasstrugglingandprotesting，saying，’Ididnottakeit。Whatareyoubeatingmefor？
　　Letmego！’
　　Martinseparatedthem。Hetooktheboybythehandandsaid，’Lethimgo，Granny。ForgivehimforChrist’ssake。’
　　’I’llpayhimout，sothathewon’tforgetitforayear！I’lltaketherascaltothepolice！’
　　Martinbeganentreatingtheoldwoman。
　　’Lethimgo，Granny。Hewon’tdoitagain。LethimgoforChrist’ssake！’
　　Theoldwomanletgo，andtheboywishedtorunaway，butMartinstoppedhim’AsktheGranny’sforgiveness！’saidhe。’Anddon’tdoitanothertime。
　　Isawyoutaketheapple。’
　　Theboybegantocryandtobegpardon。
　　’That’sright。Andnowhere’sanappleforyou，andMartintookanapplefromthebasketandgaveittotheboy，saying，’Iwillpayyou，Granny。’
　　’Youwillspoilthemthatway，theyoungrascals，’saidtheoldwoman。
　　’Heoughttobewhippedsothatheshouldrememberitforaweek。’
　　’Oh，Granny，Granny，’saidMartin，’that’sourway——butit’snotGod’sway。Ifheshouldbewhippedforstealinganapple，whatshouldbedonetousforoursins？’
　　Theoldwomanwassilent。
　　AndMartintoldhertheparableofthelordwhoforgavehisservantalargedebt，andhowtheservantwentoutandseizedhisdebtorbythethroat。Theoldwomanlistenedtoitall，andtheboy，too，stoodbyandlistened。
　　’Godbidsusforgive，’saidMartin，’orelseweshallnotbeforgiven。
　　Forgiveeveryone；andathoughtlessyoungstermostofall。’
　　Theoldwomanwaggedherheadandsighed。
　　’It’strueenough，’saidshe，’buttheyaregettingterriblyspoilt。’
　　’Thenweoldonesmustshowthembetterways，’Martinreplied。
　　’That’sjustwhatIsay，’saidtheoldwoman。’Ihavehadsevenofthemmyself，andonlyonedaughterisleft。’Andtheoldwomanbegantotellhowandwhereshewaslivingwithherdaughter，andhowmanygrandchildrenshehad。’Therenow，’shesaid，’Ihavebutlittlestrengthleft，yetIworkhardforthesakeofmygrandchildren；
　　andnicechildrentheyare，too。Noonecomesouttomeetmebutthechildren。LittleAnnie，now，won’tleavemeforanyone。
　　“It’sgrandmother，deargrandmother，darlinggrandmother。“’
　　Andtheoldwomancompletelysoftenedatthethought。
　　’Ofcourse，itwasonlyhischildishness，Godhelphim，’saidshe，referringtotheboy。
　　Astheoldwomanwasabouttohoisthersackonherback，theladsprangforwardtoher，saying，’Letmecarryitforyou，Granny。
　　I’mgoingthatway。’