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’swife(awomanfromourvillageisinservicewithher)andshehaspromisedtotakeme。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。’
