,transcriber's note3 ,this is the first 
of a series of four novels by     #a4   
,what ,she ,could   #b4 ,opportunities  
#c4 ,the ,house in ,town   #d4 ,trading 
,,what ,,she ,,could4    ,,by ,,the     
,,author ,,of  ,,the ,,wide ,,wide      
,,world1 c4    ,,london3  ,,james       
,,nisbet  ,,co41 #ba ,,berners ,,street4
  ,,mdccclxxi4          ,,what ,,she    
,,could4     ,,chapter ,i4   ,girls1    
there's a ,band6  ,a what8  ,a ,band--in
 the ,sunday-,school4  ,i am sure there 
is a careless girl in the house1 put in 
another speaker4 ,go and wipe your feet1
 ,maria2 look at the snow you have      
brought in4  ,but1 mamma----  ,go and   
get rid of that snow before you say     
another word4 ,and you too1 ,matilda2   
see1 child1 what lumps of snow are      
sticking to your shoes4 ,was there no   
mat at the door8  ,there was a cold wind
 there1 muttered ,maria1 as she went to 
obey orders4 ,what harm does a little   
snow do8  ,but while she went to the    
door again1 her sister1 a pretty1       

delicate child of fewer years1 stood    
still1 and adroitly slipped her feet out
 of the snowy shoes she had brought in1 
which she put in the corner of the      
fireplace to thaw and dry off2 the      
little stocking feet standing           
comfortably on the rug before the blaze4
 ,it was so neatly done1 the mother and 
elder sisters looked on and could not   
chide4 ,neatness suited the place4 ,the 
room was full of warm comfort2 the      
furniture in nice order2 the work1      
several kinds of which were in as many  
hands1 though lying about also on chairs
 and tables1 had yet the look of order  
and method4 ,you would have said at once
 that there was something good in the   
family4 ,the child in front of the fire 
told more for it4 ,her delicate         
features1 the refined look and manner   
with which she stood there in her       
uncovered feet1 even a little sort of   
fastidious grace which one or two       
movements testified1 drew the eyes of   
mother and sisters1 and manifestly      

stopped their tongues2 even called forth
 a smile or two4  ,what is all this     
,maria is talking about1 ,matilda8      
,why1 we have been to the               
,sunday-,school meeting1 mamma4  ,i know
 that2 and it was not a night fit for   
you to go4 ,what ever possessed you and 
,maria8 remarked one of the sisters4    
,why1 ,mr4 ,richmond wanted to see all  
the ,sunday-,school1 said ,matilda1     
thoughtfully4 ,he wanted you too1 ,i    
suppose2 and you were not there4  ,there
 is no use in having a meeting such a   
night4 ,of course1 a great many people  
could not be there4 ,it ought to have   
been put off4  ,well1 it was not put    
off1 said ,matilda4  ,what did he want8 
,what was ,maria talking about8  ,she is
 the best one to ask1 said the child4   
,at the same moment ,maria came in from 
getting rid of the snow1 and enquired if
 ,tilly had told them everything8       
,finding all was right1 she sat down    
contentedly before the fire and         
stretched out her feet towards it4      

,we've had a splendid time1 ,i can tell 
you1 she began4  ,what was done in      
particular8 asked one of the older      
girls1 who was making a bonnet4 ,more   
than usual8  ,a great many things in    
particular1 and one in general4 ,we've  
made a ,band4  ,i have made several     
since you have been away1 the other     
sister remarked4  ,you know we cannot   
understand that unless you explain1 said
 the bonnet-maker4  ,you must let ,maria
 take her own manner1 said their mother4
  ,well1 now1 ,i'll tell you all about  
it1 said ,maria4 ,there weren't a great 
many people there1 to begin with4  ,of  
course not6 such a night4  ,so there    
were plenty of empty benches1 and it    
didn't look like a meeting at all1 at   
first2 and ,i wondered if it would come 
to anything2 but then ,mr4 ,richmond    
came in1 and ,i saw he meant something4 
,mr4 ,richmond always does mean         
something1 interrupted ,matilda4  ,you  
hush1 ,tilly6 ,well1 there were prayers 
first1 of course2 and then ,mr4         

,richmond stood up in the aisle1 and    
said he wanted to know how many of us   
all there were willing to be really     
good4  ,the servants of ,christ1 he     
said1 ,matilda explained4  ,yes1 the    
servants of ,christ1 of course2 and he  
said he didn't know any better way to   
get at it than that we should all stand 
up4  ,a burst of laughter from all      
,maria's audience a little confused her4
 ,only ,matilda looked gravely at her   
sister1 as if she were making bad work  
of it4 ,maria coloured1 stammered1 and  
began again4  ,you all know what ,i     
mean6 ,you know what ,i mean1 mamma8    
,mr4 ,richmond did not say that we      
should all stand up4  ,then why did you 
say it8  ,i thought you would           
understand4 ,he said that all those     
should stand up1 so that he might see   
who they were1 who were willing to be   
real workers for ,christ2 those who were
 willing to give themselves to the      
,lord1 and to do everything or anything 
he gave them to do for ,him4 ,so we     

stood up1 and ,mr4 ,richmond went round 
and took our names down4  ,everybody who
 was there8  ,why1 no6--those who were  
willing to do as ,mr4 ,richmond said4   
,did you stand up8 asked one of her     
sisters4  ,yes2 ,i did4  ,who else8     
,after a pause----  ,oh1 a great many   
people6 ,all the members of the church1 
of course2 and then a good many more    
that aren't4 ,esther ,trembleton rose1  
and ,ailie ,swan1 and ,mattie ,van      
,dyke1 and ,frances ,barth1 and ,mrs4   
,rice4 ,and little ,mary ,edwards1 she  
was there1 and she rose1 and ,willie    
,edwards2 and ,mr4 ,bates got up and    
said he was happy to see this day4 ,i   
think he was ready to cry1 he was so    
glad4  ,and is this the ',band' you     
spoke of8  ,this is the ,sunday-,school 
,working ,band2 that is what ,mr4       
,richmond called it4  ,what work are you
 going to do8  ,i don't know6 ,mr4      
,richmond said he could not tell just   
yet2 but we are to have meetings and all
 sorts of things4 ,and then ,mr4        

,richmond talked4  ,what about8  ,oh1 ,i
 can't tell4 ,you know how he talks4    
,he said what the ,band were to do1     
remarked ,matilda4  ,i told what that   
was4  ,you did not tell what he said4   
,why1 yes1 ,i did2 he said they were to 
do all the work for ,christ that they   
could2 and they were to pray a great    
deal1 and pray for each other a great   
deal2 and they were to live right4      
,uncompromising ,christian lives1 he    
said4 ,mamma1 what does 'uncompromising'
 mean8  ,why1 you know6 put in her      
sister4  ,tell1 then1 ,maria1 said the  
mother4  ,matilda must know1 mamma2 for 
,mr4 ,richmond explained it enough4     
,then certainly you must4  ,i can't talk
 like ,mr4 ,richmond1 though1 said      
,maria4 ,letty1 you'll spoil that bonnet
 if you put red flowers in4  ,that's as 
you think1 said ,letty4 ,blue would be  
very dull4  ,mamma1 what is             
uncompromising8 pursued ,matilda1 a pair
 of large1 serious brown eyes fastening 
on her mother's face to await the       

answer4  ,did not ,mr4 ,richmond tell   
you8  ,if he did1 ,i did not understand1
 mamma4  ,then he ought to use words you
 can understand2 that is all ,i have to 
say4 ,i cannot undertake to be ,mr4     
,richmond's dictionary4 ,uncompromising 
means different things at different     
times4 ,it isn't a word for you1 ,tilly1
 the mother added1 with a smile at the  
child4  ,there is only one thing ,tilly 
will ever be uncompromising about1 her  
oldest sister remarked4  ,what is that8 
the little one asked quick4  ,girls1    
stop talking and go to bed1 said their  
mother4 ,letitia and ,anne1 put up work2
 ,i am tired4 ,maria1 you and ,tilly go 
at once and be out of the way4  ,i can't
 see how ,i am in the way1 remarked     
,maria4 ,letty has not done her bonnet  
yet1 and she will not go till she has4  
,letty1 ,i am not going to wait for that
 bonnet4  ,no1 ma'am2 there is no need4 
,i am not going to leave you up1 either4
 ,i know how that works4 ,the bonnet can
 be finished to-morrow4 ,and1 ,anne1    

roll up your ruffles4 ,come1 girls6     
,what a lovely mantilla that is going to
 be2 isn't it1 mamma8 said ,maria4      
,won't ,anne look nice when she gets it 
on8 ,i wish you'd let me have one just  
like it1 mamma4  ,i do not care about   
your having one just like it1 said      
,anne4 ,what would be the use of that8  
,the same use1 ,i suppose----  ,maria1  
go to bed6 said her mother ,and         
,matilda4 ,look what o'clock it is4  ,i 
can't go1 mamma1 unless somebody will   
bring me some shoes4 ,mine are wet4     
,maria1 fetch ,tilly a pair of shoes4   
,and go1 children4  ,the children went2 
but ,maria grumbled4  ,why couldn't you 
come up-stairs in your stocking feet8 ,i
 should4  ,it isn't nice1 said the      
little one4  ,nice6 you're so terribly  
nice you can't do anything other people 
do4 ,there is no use in our coming to   
bed now2 ,anne and ,letty will sit up   
till eleven o'clock1 ,i shouldn't       
wonder2 and we might just as well as    
not4 ,mamma can't get them to bed4      

,letty and ,anne ought to have been at  
the meeting to-night4 ,i wonder if they 
would have risen8 ,why did not you rise1
 ,matilda8  ,i had not thought about it4
  ,can't you do anything without        
thinking about it first8  ,i do not     
understand it yet4  ,understand6 why1   
nothing is easier than to understand4   
,of course1 we are all to be as good as 
we can be1 that's all4  ,you don't think
 that is much1 said the little one1 as  
she began slowly to undress herself4    
,the work of undressing and dressing was
 always slow with ,tilly4 ,every article
 of clothing taken off was to be        
delicately folded and nicely laid away  
at night2 and taken out and put on with 
equal care and punctiliousness in the   
morning4 ,maria's stockings went one way
 and her shoes another2 while ,tilly's  
were put exactly ready for use under her
 chair4 ,and ,maria's clothes presently 
lay in a heap on the floor4 ,but not    
till some time after ,matilda's neat    
arrangements had been made and she      

herself was safe in bed4 ,maria had     
dallied while the other was undressing4 
,i think you are very curious1 ,matilda6
 she exclaimed1 as she followed her     
sister into bed4 ,i shouldn't think it  
required much thinking1 to know that one
 ought to be good4  ,you haven't put out
 the candle1 ,maria4  ,maria bounced    
from her bed1 and bounced in again4  ,o 
,maria6 said ,matilda in a moment or    
two1 plaintively2 you've blown it out6  
and the room is all filled with smoke4  
,it doesn't make any difference1 said   
,maria4  ,it is very disagreeable4  ,it 
will be gone in a minute4  ,no1 it      
won't1 for ,i can see the red spark on  
the end of the candle now4  ,you are so 
particular1 ,tilly6 said her sister4 ,if
 you ever take a notion to be good1     
you'll have to leave off some of your   
ways1 ,i can tell you4 ,you needn't mind
 a little smell of candle-smoke4 ,go to 
sleep1 and forget it4  ,don't good      
people mind disagreeable things8 said   
,matilda4  ,no1 of course1 they don't4  

,how could they get along1 you know8    
,don't you remember what ,mr4 ,richmond 
said8  ,i don't remember that he said   
that4 ,but then1 ,maria1 would you mind 
getting up to snuff out that candle8    
,it's dreadful6  ,nonsense6 ,i shan't do
 it4 ,i've just got warm4  ,another     
minute or two gave tokens that ,maria   
was past minding discomfort of any sort4
 ,she was fast asleep4 ,tilly waited1   
panted1 looked at the glimmering red end
 of the candle snuff2 finally got out of
 bed and crept to the dressing-table    
where it stood1 and with some trouble   
managed to put a stop to smoke for that 
night4     ,,chapter ,,ii4   ,the house 
in which these things happened was a    
brown house1 standing on the great      
high-road of travel which ran through   
the country1 and just where a           
considerable village had clustered round
 it4 ,from the upper windows you caught 
a glimpse of a fine range of blue       
mountains1 lying miles away1 and with   
indeed a broad river flowing between2   

but the river was too far off to be     
seen1 and hidden behind intervening     
ground4 ,from the lower windows you     
looked out into the village street2     
clean and wide1 with comfortable houses 
standing along the way1 not crowded     
together2 and with gardens between and  
behind them1 and many trees shielding   
and overhanging4 ,the trees were bare   
now2 the gardens a spread of snow2 the  
street a white way for sleigh-runners2  
nevertheless1 the aspect of the whole   
was hopeful1 comfortable1 thriving1 even
 a little ambitious4 ,within this       
particular house1 if you went in1 you   
would see comfort1 but little           
pretension2 a neat look of things1 but  
such things as had been mended and      
saved1 and would not be rashly replaced4
 ,it was very respectable1 therefore1   
and had no look of poverty4 ,so of the  
family gathered around the              
breakfast-table on the morning after the
 ,sunday-,school meeting4 ,it was a fair
 group1 healthy and bright2 the four    

girls and their mother4 ,they were      
nicely dressed2 and good appetites spoke
 of good spirits2 and the provision on  
the table was abundant though plain4    
,maria asked if ,letty had finished her 
bonnet last night4 ,letty said she had4 
,and did you put those red flowers in8  
,certainly4  ,that will be gay4  ,not   
too gay4 ,just enough4 ,the bonnet would
 be nothing if it had not flowers4      
,maria's spoon paused half way to mouth4
 ,i wonder1 she said1 gravely1 if ,mr4  
,richmond likes red flowers8  ,he has   
nothing to do with my bonnet1 said      
,letitia4 ,and no more have you4 ,you   
need not raise the question4 ,i shall   
wear what becomes me4  ,what is the     
difference whether one wears red or     
blue1 ,maria8 said her mother4 ,do you  
think one colour is more religious than 
another8--or more wicked8 ,what do you  
mean8  ,nothing1 ma'am1 ,maria answered1
 a little abashed4 ,i was only thinking4
  ,i think ,mr4 ,richmond likes flowers 
everywhere1 said ,matilda2 and all      

colours4  ,people that are very         
religious do not wear flowers in their  
bonnets though1 do they8 said ,maria4   
,mr4 ,richmond did not say any such     
thing6 said ,matilda1 indignantly4      
,what did he say8 ,what was all this    
last night's talk about8 said ,anne4 ,i 
did not understand half of it4 ,was it  
against red flowers1 or red anything8   
,i did not understand any of it1 said   
,mrs4 ,englefield4  ,why1 mamma1 ,i told
 you all1 as plain as could be1 said    
,maria4 ,i told you he made a ,band---- 
,he didn't1 interrupted ,matilda2 the   
,band made themselves4  ,but at this1   
the shout that went round the           
breakfast-table threatened to endanger  
the dishes4  ,it's no use trying to     
talk1 said ,maria1 sullenly1 if you     
laugh so4 ,i told you there was a ,band2
 ever so many of us rose up and agreed  
that we would belong to it4  ,matilda1  
are you in it too8 the mother asked4    
,no1 mamma4  ,why not8 ,how comes that8 
,she wasn't ready1 her sister said4     

,why not1 ,tilly8  ,mamma1 ,i want to   
understand1 said the child4  ,quite     
right2 so do ,i4  ,wouldn't you do what 
,mr4 ,richmond says1 whether you        
understand or not8 inquired ,maria1     
severely4  ,i would rather know what it 
is1 first1 said ,matilda1 in her way1   
which was a compound of cool and demure1
 but quite natural4  ,and when is the   
next meeting8 said ,letitia4 ,i guess   
,i'll go4  ,it won't be for a week1 said
 ,matilda4  ,and will you join the      
,band1 ,letty8 ,maria asked somewhat    
eagerly4  ,how1 join it8  ,why1 rise up1
 when you are asked4  ,what does 'rising
 up' mean1 ,maria8 ,what do you rise    
for8  ,why1 it means just that you      
promise to be good1 you know4  ,but ,i  
have heard you promise that a number of 
times1 it seems to me2 without 'rising  
up1' as you call it4 ,will the promise  
not better1 if you make it on your feet 
instead of sitting8  ,now1 mamma1 said  
,maria1 flushing1 isn't that just wicked
 in ,letitia8  ,my dear1 ,i do not      

understand one word at present of what  
this is all about1 her mother answered4 
,perhaps ,matilda was in the same mood1 
for she was a thoughtful little child   
all the way to school that morning4 ,and
 at the close of the school day1 when   
the children were going home1 she went  
slowly and demurely along the icy       
street1 while her sister and companions 
made a merry time4 ,there had been a    
little thaw in the middle of the day1   
and now it had turned cold again1 and   
the sidewalks were a glare of ice4      
,matilda was afraid1 and went           
cautiously2 ,maria and the others took  
the opportunity for a grand slide1 and  
ran and slipped and slid and sailed away
 homewards1 like mad things4 ,one after 
another1 they passed her and rushed     
along1 till ,matilda was left the last1 
slowly shuffling her little feet over   
the track the feet of the others had    
made doubly slippery2 when quick steps  
came up behind her1 and a pleasant voice
 spoke--  ,are you afraid you are going 

to tumble down8  ,matilda started1 but  
lifted her eyes very contentedly then to
 the face of the speaker4 ,they had a   
good way to go1 for he was a tall young 
man4 ,but he was looking down towards   
her with a bright face1 and two good1   
clear blue eyes1 and a smile2 and his   
hand presently clasped hers4 ,matilda   
had no objection4  ,where is everybody  
else8 how come you to be all alone8     
,they have gone ahead1 sliding on the   
ice4  ,and you do not practise sliding8 
,i am always afraid ,i shall fall down4 
,the best way is not to be afraid2 and  
then you don't fall down4 ,see2 no6 hold
 fast4 ,i shall not let you slip6  ,and 
the gentleman and ,matilda slid along   
the street for half a block4  ,how do   
you like that8  ,very well1 ,mr4        
,richmond1 with you holding me4  ,it    
doesn't give you courage1 eh8 ,well1 we 
will walk on soberly together4 ,i didn't
 see you stand when ,maria did last     
night8  ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,i did not know 
just what it all meant2 and so ,i sat   

still4  ,you did not know just what it  
all meant8  ,no1 sir4  ,then you were   
perfectly right to sit still4 ,but that 
means that ,i did not speak so that you 
could understand me8 ,was it so8  ,i did
 not understand---- said ,matilda4  ,it 
comes to that1 ,i suppose4 ,it is my    
fault4 ,well1 ,i shall remember and be  
very careful what ,i say the next time4 
,i will speak so that you will          
understand4 ,but in that case1 ,i want  
you to do one thing for me1 ,tilly2 will
 you8  ,if ,i can1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,do 
you think ,i would ask something you    
could not do8  ,matilda looked up to the
 blue eyes again2 they were fastened    
upon her gravely1 and she hesitated4    
,mr4 ,richmond--,i don't know4 ,you     
might4  ,i hope not1 he said1 smiling4  
,i will try not4 ,you won't promise me8 
,if ,i can ,i will1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,i 
am only going to ask you1 when you hear 
what ,i have to say next time1 if you   
understand it1 will you do what you     
think you ought to do8  ,there fell a   

silence upon that4 ,mr4 ,richmond's firm
 step on the icy ground and ,matilda's  
light footfall passed by house after    
house1 and still the little one's tongue
 seemed to be tied4 ,they turned the    
corner1 and went their way along        
,matilda's own street1 where the light  
of afternoon was now fading1 and the    
western sky was throwing a reflection of
 its own4 ,past the butcher's shop1 and 
the post-office1 and house after house2 
and still ,matilda was silent1 and her  
conductor did not speak1 until they     
stopped before the little gate leading  
to the house1 which was placed somewhat 
back from the road4 ,at the gate ,mr4   
,richmond stood still4  ,what about my  
question1 ,matilda8 he said1 without    
loosing his hold of the little hand     
which had rested so willingly in his all
 the way4  ,aren't you coming in1 ,mr4  
,richmond8  ,not to-night4 ,what about  
my question8  ,mr4 ,richmond1 said the  
child1 slowly1--,i do not always do the 
things ,i ought to do4  ,no2 ,i know you

 do not4 ,but will you do that thing1   
which you will think you ought to do1   
when you have heard me1 and understood  
what ,i say1 the next time the ,band has
 a meeting8  ,matilda stood silent1 her 
hand still in ,mr4 ,richmond's4  ,what's
 the matter8  ,perhaps ,i shall not want
 to do it1 she said1 looking up frankly4
  ,i ask you to do it all the same4     
,matilda did not move1 and now her face 
showed great perplexity4  ,well8 said   
,mr4 ,richmond1 smiling at last4        
,perhaps ,i cannot do it1 ,mr4          
,richmond8  ,then1 if you think you     
cannot do it1 will you come and tell me8
  ,matilda hesitated and pondered and   
hesitated4  ,do you wish it very much1  
,mr4 ,richmond8 she said1 looking up    
appealingly into his face4  ,i do wish  
it very much4  ,then ,i will6 said      
,matilda1 with a sigh4  ,he nodded1     
shook her hand1 and turned away with    
quick steps4 ,matilda went in and       
climbed the stairs to the room she and  
,maria shared together4  ,what were you 

talking to ,mr4 ,richmond so long about8
 said ,maria4  ,i wasn't talking to ,mr4
 ,richmond4 ,he was talking to me4      
,what's the difference8 ,but ,i wish he 
would talk to ,ailie ,swan2 she wants   
it1 ,i know4 ,that girl is too much6    
,what has she done8  ,oh1 you don't     
know2 she isn't in your set4 ,i know4   
,she's just disagreeable4 ,i think      
people ought to be civil1 if they are   
ever so good4  ,i thought good people   
were civil always4  ,shows you don't    
know much4  ,isn't ,ailie ,swan civil8  
,i do not call it civility4 ,what do you
 think1 ,tilly8 ,i asked her if my      
,south ,america wasn't good8 and she    
said she thought it was not4 ,isn't that
 civility8  ,what did you ask her for8  
,because6 ,i knew my ,south ,america was
 good4  ,let me see it4  ,nonsense6 ,you
 do not know the first thing about it4  
,but she gave her little sister the     
sheet on which the map was drawn4       
,matilda took it to a table under the   
window1 where the dying light from the  

western sky fell brightest2 and putting 
both elbows on the table and her head in
 her hands1 studied the map4  ,where is 
the atlas8  ,what do you want of the    
atlas8  ,i want to see if it is like4   
,it is like1 of course1 child4  ,i can't
 tell without seeing1 ,matilda          
persisted4 ,and ,maria grumblingly      
brought the atlas1 open at the map in   
question4 ,matilda took it and studied  
anew4  ,it is getting dark1 said she at 
length4 ,but your ,south ,america is    
crooked1 ,maria4  ,it isn't6 said       
,maria1 vehemently4 ,how should it be   
crooked1 when we angle it on1 just      
according to the rules8  ,angle it on8  
repeated ,matilda1 looking at her       
sister4  ,yes4 ,oh1 you don't           
understand1 child2 how should you8 ,i   
told you you didn't know anything about 
it4 ,of course1 we have rules and things
 to go by2 and my ,south ,america was   
put on just right4  ,it is not straight1
 though1 said ,matilda4  ,why1 no1 it   
isn't straight2 it is not meant to be   

straight2 it is all crookly crawly1     
going in and out1 all round4  ,but it   
don't stand straight1 said ,matilda2 and
 it looks thin1 too1 ,maria2 it don't   
puff out as much as the real ,south     
,america does4  ,puff out6 ,maria       
repeated4 ,it's as good as ,ailie's1    
anyhow2 and a great deal better than    
,frances ,barth's4 ,frances got a great 
blot on hers2 she's so careless4 ,george
 ,van ,dyke is making a nice one2 and   
,ben ,barth is doing a splendid map2 but
 then ,ben does everything----  ,here   
there was a great call to tea from      
below1 and the girls went down4         
,down-stairs there was excitement4 ,a   
letter had come from ,mrs4 ,candy1 ,mrs4
 ,englefield's sister1 saying that she  
herself with her daughter ,clarissa     
would be with them the beginning of the 
week4 4  ,to stay1 mamma8 ,o mamma1 is  
,aunt ,candy coming to stay8 ,do tell   
me4 ,is she coming to stay8 ,maria      
exclaimed and questioned4  ,she will    
stay a night with us1 ,maria4 ,don't be 

so eager4  ,only a night1 mamma8 ,won't 
she be here longer8  ,she is coming to  
stay till summer1 ,maria1 said her      
eldest sister4 ,do be reasonable4  ,i   
think it is reasonable to want to know1 
said ,maria4 ,you knew2 so you didn't   
care about it4  ,i care a great deal2   
what do you mean8 said ,anne4  ,i mean  
you didn't care about knowing4 ,o mamma1
 can't ,i have my dress finished before 
they come8  ,what dress1 ,maria8 her    
sister went on2 for ,mrs4 ,englefield   
was busy with the letter4  ,my new      
merino4 ,it is almost done2 it only     
wants finishing4  ,there's all the braid
 to put on1 isn't there8  ,well1 that   
isn't much4 ,mamma1 cannot ,i have my   
red merino finished before they come8 ,i
 have got nothing to wear4  ,what can   
you mean1 ,maria8 ,you have everything  
you want4 ,that is only for your best   
dress4  ,but1 mamma1 it is just when ,i 
should want it1 when they come2 you'll  
be having everybody to tea4 ,won't you  
have it done for me8 please1 mamma8  ,i 

think you can do it for yourself1       
,maria4 ,i have no objection to your    
finishing it4  ,i cannot put on that    
braid--in that quirlicue pattern1 mamma2
 ,i never did such work as that2 and ,i 
haven't time1 besides4  ,nor            
inclination1 said ,letitia1 laughing4   
,come1 ,maria1 it is time you learned to
 do something for yourself4 ,matilda1   
now1 might plead inexperience1 and have 
some reason2 but you are quite old      
enough4  ,the dispute would have gone   
on1 but ,mrs4 ,englefield desired       
silence1 and the family drew round the  
tea-table4 ,other plans for the         
following weeks filled every tongue4    
,mrs4 ,candy was well off2 a widow with 
one child1 her daughter ,clarissa2 she  
had been in ,europe for several years2  
coming back now to her own country1 she 
was bending her steps first of all to   
her sister's house and family4  ,we     
shall have the new fashions1 straight   
from ,paris1 ,anne remarked4  ,has ,aunt
 ,candy been in ,paris8 ,i thought she  

was in ,scotland1 mamma8  ,people may go
 to ,paris1 if they have been in        
,scotland1 ,maria4 ,it is not so far as 
around the world4  ,but has she been in 
,paris8  ,lately4  ,mamma1 what is ,aunt
 ,candy going to do with herself when   
summer comes8 ,she says1 'till summer4' 
,when she tells us1 ,i shall know1      
,letty4 ,at present ,i am as ignorant as
 you4  ,do you think she will buy a     
house here1 and make her home here8     
,that depends on how well she likes     
,shadywalk1 ,i imagine4  ,i hope she    
will6  ,i would like to see1 first1 what
 she is1 said ,maria4 ,we shall have    
time enough for that1 if they stay with 
us till summer4 ,how old1 mamma1 is     
,clarissa ,candy8  ,over your age1      
,maria1 by a year or so4  ,will she go  
to school with us1 do you suppose1      
mamma8  ,i really cannot tell1 ,maria4  
,i think it very likely4  ,is ,aunt     
,candy very rich8  ,you talk like a     
foolish girl4 ,why do you want to know8 
,i was thinking whether ,clarissa would 

be dressed a great deal better than we  
are4  ,and what if she is8  ,nothing4 ,i
 was thinking4 ,that's all4  ,i don't   
think it signifies1 said ,matilda4  ,oh6
 ,matilda has found her tongue6 ,i was  
waiting to see when she would speak1    
cried ,anne4 ,what don't signify1 little
 one8  ,it don't signify1 ,i think1     
whether any one is dressed better than  
another2 anybody--,clarissa or anybody  
else4  ,well1 you are mistaken then1    
said ,anne2 for it does signify4 ,all   
the world knows it2 and what is more1   
all the world feels it4  ,i don't think 
,i do1 said ,matilda4  ,your time has   
not come4  ,your time had come1 though1 
before you were as old as she1 said her 
mother2 and ,maria's and ,letty's4  ,i  
know ,matilda is a wonderful child1 said
 ,anne1 but her time will come too1     
mamma2 and she will find it makes a     
difference whether she is dressed one   
way or another4  ,i think that now1     
observed ,matilda4  ,anybody that has to
 fasten ,tilly's dresses knows that1    

laughed ,maria4 ,i don't make half so   
much fuss4  ,i wish you did1 said her   
mother4 ,you are not near careful enough
 in putting on your things4 ,now putting
 on is half the battle4  ,the argument  
lasted till ,tilly and ,maria went back 
to the consideration of ,south ,america1
 which was brought down-stairs to the   
lamp4  ,you haven't got the ,amazon     
right1 said ,matilda2 and ,rio ,janeiro 
is too far down2 and it's all           
crooked--don't you see8  ,no6 said      
,maria2 and if it is1 ,ailie ,swan      
needn't have said hers was better4  ,you
 asked her4  ,well1 if ,i did8  ,what   
could she say8  ,i don't care2 it was   
awfully rude2 and people ought to be    
polite1 if they're ever so good4  ,what 
is all that8 said ,mrs4 ,englefield4    
,that is not ,tilly's map8  ,oh no1     
mamma2 she can't draw maps2 she is only 
setting up for a judge4  ,she would do  
it as well as that1 if she would try1   
said her mother4 ,i wish you would love 
your studies1 ,matilda4 ,you could do so

 well if you pleased4  ,clarissa ,candy 
will make you both ashamed1 said ,anne4 
,she has learned everything1 and is     
terribly smart2 'going on to learn      
everything else1' her mother says4      
,mamma1 said ,maria1 ,i have only my    
green silk and my blue delaine for nice 
dresses2 and the silk is old-fashioned1 
you know1 and the delaine is too short2 
and ,i want my merino finished4  ,finish
 it1 then4  ,maria pouted4  ,i cannot   
afford every indulgence to you1 as your 
aunt can to ,clarissa2 you must make it 
up by your own industry4  ,but can ,i1  
mamma8  ,can you what8  ,if ,i am very  
smart1 can you give me things1 if ,i    
make them up1 that ,i can be as well    
dressed as ,clarissa ,candy8  ,let us   
see the merino made first1 said her     
mother4     ,,chapter ,,iii4   ,there   
was great interest now at ,shadywalk1 at
 least in one house1 to know when the   
,liverpool steamer1 ,city of ,pride1    
would be in4 ,conjectures proving       
unsatisfactory and uncertain1 the whole 

family took to studying the marine lists
 in the daily papers2 and when everybody
 else had looked them over1 the last one
 of the family did it again with extra  
care2 lest by some singular coincidence 
the letters forming the ,city of ,pride 
might have escaped the eyes so keen set 
to find them4 ,the paper grew better    
than a novel4 ,it furnished a great deal
 of matter for conversation1 besides2   
for all the steamers which had got in   
were talked over1 with their dates of   
sailing1 and number of days on the      
passage2 with each of which the times1  
certain and probable1 of the ,city of   
,pride were compared4 ,then there was   
the question1 whether ,aunt ,candy might
 have changed her mind at the last      
minute1 and waited for another steamer2 
and the reports of the weather lately   
experienced at sea were anxiously read  
and put alongside of the weather lately 
experienced at ,shadywalk4              
,preparations in the house went on      
diligently2 whatever might help it to   

make a better impression1 or afford     
greater comfort to the expected guests1 
was carefully done4 ,mrs4 ,englefield   
even talked of getting a new            
stair-carpet1 but contented herself with
 having the old one taken up and put    
down again1 the stairs washed1 and the  
stair-rods brightened2 the spare room1  
the large corner chamber looking to the 
north and west1 was scrupulously swept  
and dusted2 furniture rubbed2 little    
white knitted mats laid on the          
dressing-table2 the chintz curtains     
taken down and put up again2 a new nice 
chamber set of white china was bought1  
for the pitcher of the old set had an   
ugly nick in it and looked shabby2 the  
towel rack was filled with white napery2
 the handsomest ,marseilles quilt was   
spread on the bed2 the stove was        
blackened and polished4 ,it looked very 
respectable1 ,anne said1 when all was   
done4  ,what private preparations went  
on1 besides1 on the part of the girls1  
it would be hard to say4 ,maria worked  

hard at her braiding--that was open to  
anybody's observation2 but there were   
less obvious flutings and ironings down 
in the kitchen1 and adjusting of ribbons
 and flowers in secret consultations    
up-stairs4 ,and one piece of care was   
made public by ,maria1 who announced    
that ,letty had trimmed her old bonnet  
three times over before she would be    
suited4  ,very well1 said ,letty1       
contentedly4 ,i should like to know who 
would wear an old thing when he could   
have a new2 and mine is like new now4   
,things can't be new always1 said       
,matilda4  ,what then8 her sisters      
asked1 laughing4  ,then it must be      
respectable for them to be old1         
sometimes4  ,respectable6 ,not very     
pleasant1 when they are to be set       
alongside of things as new and nice as  
they can be4 ,i like to be as good as   
anybody1 for my part4  ,mamma1 said     
,matilda1 do you know there is a great  
hole in the door mat8  ,it is worn out a
 great deal too soon1 said ,mrs4        

,englefield2 ,i shall tell ,mr4 ,hard   
that his goods do not last2 to be sure1 
you children do kick it to pieces with  
the snow4  ,but1 mamma1 ,i should think 
you might get another1 and let that one 
go to the kitchen4  ,and then1 wouldn't 
you like me to buy a new hall cloth8    
there is very nearly a hole in that4    
,oh yes1 mamma6  ,i cannot do it1       
children4 ,i am not as rich as your     
,aunt ,candy4 ,you must be contented to 
let things be as they are4  ,the girls  
seemed to take it as a grave fact1 to   
judge by their faces4  ,and ,i think all
 this is very foolish talking and       
feeling4 ,people are not any better for 
being rich4  ,but they are a great deal 
happier1 said ,letitia4  ,i don't know1 
,i am sure4 ,i never was tried4 ,i think
 you had better put the thought out of  
your heads4 ,i should be sorry if you   
were not as happy as your cousin1 and   
with as much reason4  ,mamma's being    
sorry doesn't help the matter1 said     
,letitia1 softly4 ,i know ,i should be  

happier if ,i had what ,i want4 ,it is  
just nonsense to say ,i should not4 ,and
 mamma would herself4  ,that evening1   
the end of the week it was1 the         
newspaper rewarded the first eyes that  
looked at its columns1 with the         
intelligence that the ,city of ,pride   
had been telegraphed4 ,she would be in  
that night4 ,and the list of passengers 
duly showed the names of ,mrs4 ,candy   
and daughter4 ,the family could hardly  
wait over ,sunday now4 ,monday morning's
 train1 they settled it1 would bring the
 travellers4 ,sunday was spent in a     
flutter4 ,but1 however1 that ,monday1 as
 well as that ,sunday1 was a lost day4  
,the washing was put off1 and a special 
dinner cooked1 in vain4 ,the children   
stayed at home and did not go to school1
 and did nothing4 ,nobody did anything  
to speak of4 ,to be sure1 there was a   
great deal of running up and down       
stairs2 setting and clearing tables2    
going to and from the post-office2 but  
when night came1 the house and          

everything in it was just where the     
morning had found them2 only1 all the   
humanity in it was tired with looking   
out of windows4  ,that's the worst of   
expecting people6 ,mrs4 ,englefield     
observed1 as she wearily put herself in 
an arm-chair1 and ,letitia drew the     
window curtains4 ,you never know what to
 do1 and the thing you do is sure to be 
the wrong thing4 ,here ,judith might as 
well have done her washing as not2 and  
now it's to do to-morrow1 when we don't 
want it in the way1 and it will be in   
the way4  ,don't you think they will    
come to-night1 mamma8 said ,matilda4  ,i
 don't know1 ,i am sure4 ,i know no more
 than you do4 ,how can ,i tell8 ,only   
don't ask me any more questions4  ,would
 you have tea yet1 mamma8 said ,letitia4
  ,there's a question1 now6 ,i tell you1
 don't ask me4 ,just when you like4     
,there's no train due for a good while1 
mamma2 they couldn't come for two or    
three hours4 ,i think we had better have
 tea4  ,so she went off to prepare it1  

just as ,matilda who had put her face   
outside of the window curtain1          
proclaimed that somebody was coming to  
the door4  ,only one person though1     
mamma4 ,mamma6 it's ,miss ,redwood--,mr4
 ,richmond's ,miss ,redwood4  ,it wanted
 but that6 ,mrs4 ,englefield exclaimed1 
with a sort of resigned despair4 ,let   
her in1 ,matilda4 ,i locked the door4   
,the person who followed ,matilda to the
 sitting-room was a slim woman1 in black
 costume1 neither new nor fashionable4  
,indeed1 it had no such pretensions2 for
 the fashion at that time was for small 
bonnets1 but ,miss ,redwood's shadowed  
her face with a reminiscence of the     
coal-scuttle shapes1 once worn many     
years before4 ,the face under the bonnet
 was thin and sharp-featured2 yet a     
certain delicate softness of skin saved 
it from being harsh2 there was even a   
little peachy bloom on the cheeks4 ,the 
eyes were soft and keen at once2 at     
least there was no want of benevolence  
in them1 while their glance was swift   

and shrewd enough1 and full of business 
activity4  ,miss ,redwood1 how do you   
do8 ,i am glad to see you4 ,do sit down1
 was ,mrs4 ,englefield's salutation1    
made without rising4  ,how do you do1   
,mis' ,englefield8 ,why--seems as if you
 was expectin' folks here8  ,just what  
we are doing2 and it is some of the     
hardest work one can do4  ,depends on   
who you expect1 seems to me4 ,and ,i    
guess 'tain't harder work than what     
,i've been doing to-day4 ,i've been     
makin' soap4 ,got it done1 too4 ,and    
'tain't to do agin till this time next  
year comes round4  ,can you make enough 
at once for the whole year8 ,i cannot4  
',spects you use a passel1 don't ye8    
,of course--in so large a family4 ,but  
you're a great hand for soap1 ,miss     
,redwood1 if folks say true8  ,cellar   
ain't never out of it1 said ,miss       
,redwood1 shaking her head4 ,it's       
strong1 mine is2 that's where it is4    
,you see ,i've my own leach sot up1 and 
there's lots o' ashes2 the minister1 he 

likes to burn wood1 and ,i like it1 for 
it gives me my ley2 and ,i don't have no
 trouble with it2 the minister1 he saws 
it and splits it and chops it1 and then 
when all's done he brings it in1 and he 
puts it on4 ,all ,i have to do is to get
 my ashes4 ,i did think1 when ,i first  
come1 and the minister he told me he    
calculated to burn wood in his room1 ,i 
did think ,i should give up4 ',why sir1'
 says ,i1 'it'll take a load o' wood a  
day1 to fill that ere chimney2 and ,i   
hate to see a chimney standin' empty    
with two or three sticks a makin'       
believe have a fire in the bottom of it4
 ,besides1' says ,i1 'stoves is a sight 
cleaner and nicer1 ,mr4 ,richmond1 and  
they don't smoke nor nothin'1 and       
they're always ready4' ',i'll take care 
of the fire1' says he1 'if you'll take  
care of the ashes4' ,well1 it had to be2
 but ,i declare ,i thought ,i should    
have enough to do to take care of the   
ashes2 a-flyin' over everything in the  
world as they would1 and nobody but my  

two hands to dust with2 but ,i do       
believe the minister's wood burns       
quieter than other folks'1 and somehow  
it don't fly nor smoke nor nothin'1 and 
the room keeps decent4  ,your whole     
house is as neat as a pin4 ,but you have
 no children there to put it out of     
order1 ,miss ,redwood4  ,guess we do1   
said the minister's housekeeper quietly2
 there ain't any sort o' thing in the   
village but the minister has it in there
 by turns4 ,there ain't any sort o'     
shoes as walks1 not to speak of boots1  
that don't go over my carpets and       
floors2 little and big1 and brushed and 
unbrushed4 ,i tell you1 ,mis'           
,englefield1 they're goin' in between   
them two doors all the week long4  ,i   
don't know how you manage them1 ,i'm    
sure4  ,well1 ,i don't1 said the        
housekeeper4 ,the back is fitted to the 
burden1 they say2 and ,i always did pray
 that if ,i had work to do1 ,i might be 
able to do it2 and ,i always was1       
somehow4 ,and it's a first-rate place to

 go and warm your feet1 when the        
minister is out1 she added after a      
pause4  ,what8 said ,mrs4 ,englefield1  
laughing4  ,the minister's fire1 to be  
sure1 that ,i was talkin' about4 ,of    
course1 ,i have to go in to see it's    
safe1 when he ain't there2 and sometimes
 ,i think it's cheaper to sit down and  
watch it than to be always runnin'4     
,mr4 ,richmond was a lucky man when he  
got you for a housekeeper1 said ,mrs4   
,englefield4  ,well1 ,i don't know1 said
 ,miss ,redwood1 contemplatively1 with  
rather a sweet look on her old face4 ,i 
'spose ,i might as well say ,i was a    
lucky woman when ,i got his house to    
keep4 ,it come all by chance1 too1 you  
may say----  ,mamma1 tea is ready1      
,maria here interrupted4  ,miss         
,redwood1 will you come down and have   
tea with us8  ,no2 but what ,i come to  
ask was somethin' different4 ,i was so  
taken up with my soap-kettle all day1 ,i
 just forgot somethin' more important1  
and didn't make no new risin'2 and ,i   

hain't got none to-night for the        
minister's bread4 ,i know you're one of 
the folks that likes sweet bread1 ,mis' 
,englefield1 and has it2 and ,i've come 
to beg a cup o' your risin'4  ,one of   
the girls was sent for the article1 and 
,mrs4 ,englefield went on4  ,the        
minister's an easy man to live with1 ,i 
suppose2 isn't he8  ,what sort do you   
mean by that1 ,mrs4 ,englefield8  ,why6 
,i mean he is easily suited1 and don't  
give more trouble than can be helped1   
and don't take it hard when things go   
wrong4  ,things don't go wrong1 fur's ,i
 know1 said ,miss ,redwood4 ,not with   
him1 nor with me4  ,easily pleased1     
isn't he8  ,when folks do just what     
they'd ought to do1 he is1 said the     
housekeeper with some energy4 ,i have no
 sort of patience1 for my part1 with the
 folks that are pleased when they hadn't
 ought to be pleased4  ,but isn't that  
what ,mr4 ,richmond preaches to us all  
the time8 that we ought to be pleased   
with everybody8  ,why1 no1 mamma6 said  

,matilda4  ,i thought he did4  ,i take  
it t'other way1 ,miss ,redwood observed4
 ,it comes close1 it does1 some of the  
minister's talk2 but ,i always think1 if
 ,i had a right to be better pleased    
with myself1 maybe other folks'         
onesidedness wouldn't worry me4 ,i'll do
 as much for you1 next time1 ,miss      
,letty1 she said1 rising to take what   
that young lady had brought her4 ,and   
therewith away she went4  ,well1 we have
 got off with our lives this time1 said 
,mrs4 ,englefield4 ,now1 girls1 let us  
have tea4  ,mamma1 ,i believe here they 
are this minute1 said ,matilda4 ,the    
omnibus is stopping4  ,it was declared  
to be impossible2 but nevertheless found
 true4 ,the omnibus was certainly at the
 door1 backing down upon the side walk2 
and two figures did get out of it and   
came through the little courtyard to the
 house4 ,and then all doubts were       
resolved2 ,mrs4 ,candy was in the arms  
of her sister1 and the cousins were     
looking at each other4  ,that is1 as    

soon as people could get their wrappings
 off4 ,letty and ,maria were assiduous  
in their endeavours to relieve ,miss    
,clarissa of her hood and furs and the  
cloakings and mufflings which a night   
ride had rendered necessary2 while ,anne
 waited upon her aunt2 and impressions  
were forming and opinions taking ground1
 under all the confused chatter about   
the journey1 the train1 the omnibus1 and
 the ,city of ,pride2 opinions and      
impressions which were likely enough to 
get turned topsy-turvy in another day or
 two2 but for the present nobody knew   
that4  ,and here is somebody who says   
nothing6 ,mrs4 ,candy remarked1 stooping
 down to touch ,matilda's hair with a   
light finger4  ,tilly does the thinking 
for the family1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield4 
,now do come down and have some tea4    
,down8 ,where are we going8 said ,mrs4  
,candy4 ,your house stands on the ground
 level1 ,i noticed4  ,oh1 we have a very
 nice basement2 and just for eating1 you
 know1 it does not make much difference 

where you are--and it is so much more   
convenient1 being near the kitchen4  ,in
 ,germany we used to take our meals in  
the open air a great deal1 ,mrs4 ,candy 
went on1 as the party filed down the    
narrow stairs4  ,in the open air6 ,not  
at this season8  ,well1 not with the    
thermometer at zero1 said ,mrs4 ,candy1 
laughing a little4 ,nor at quite so high
 a temperature as you have here6  ,the  
room down-stairs was bright enough1 and 
looked cheerful1 with its well-spread   
table and tea-urn2 but it was low1 and  
full of close stove heat4 ,the          
travellers got as far from the source of
 this as the limits of the table would  
let them1 and presently begged for an   
open door4 ,but ,mrs4 ,englefield's tea 
was good2 and very soon the family talk 
began to move naturally4 ,mrs4 ,candy   
pleased her nieces4 ,a fine-looking and 
also a kind-looking woman1 with a good  
figure1 well clothed in a handsome      
travelling dress2 a gold watch and      
chain2 and an easy1 good-humoured1 and  

at the same time1 sensible air and way  
of talking4 ,it was not difficult to get
 acquainted with her2 she met all       
advances more than half way2 and her    
talk even that first evening was full of
 amusement and novelty for the young    
people4 ,it was less easy to know what  
to think of ,clarissa4 ,her cousins held
 a consultation about her that night    
before going to sleep4  ,she looks as   
old as ,letty4  ,but she isn't4 ,oh1 she
 don't1 either4  ,she's well looking2   
don't you think so8  ,i'll tell you what
 ,i think1 said ,matilda4 ,she's        
beau-ti-ful4  ,i don't think so1 said   
,letty2 but she's an uncommon looking   
girl4  ,how old is she8  ,she is        
sixteen4  ,well6 ,maria's only half a   
year younger than that4  ,she hasn't    
said three words yet2 so ,i cannot tell 
what she is1 ,anne remarked4  ,she      
didn't like going down into the         
basement1 said ,letty4  ,how do you     
know8  ,i know she didn't6  ,i should   
like to know where she would go2 there  

is no other place1 said ,maria4  ,i     
suppose that is just what she didn't    
like1 said ,letitia4  ,there might be1  
though1 ,matilda began again4 ,if mamma 
would open the back room behind the     
parlour1 and move the table and things  
up there1--,i think it would be a great 
deal pleasanter4  ,that's like ,matilda6
 the other girls exclaimed in chorus4   
,well1 ,i don't think that basement room
 is pleasant1 said the girl4 ,i never   
did4 ,i am always glad to get out of it4
  ,and now1 ,i suppose1 you will be     
taking all ,clarissa's dainty ways1 in  
addition to your own6 said ,letitia4 ,i 
wonder what will become of the rest of  
us4  ,what dainty ways has ,clarissa8   
,matilda inquired4  ,you can see for    
yourself4 ,she doesn't like the heat of 
a stove2 and she must look at her watch 
to see what time it is1 though the clock
 was right opposite to her4  ,i am sure 
,i would look at a watch1 if ,i had it1 
,matilda added4  ,and did you see what  
travelling gloves she wore8  ,why not8  

said ,matilda4  ,why not1 of course6 you
 will have no eyes for any one shortly  
but ,clarissa ,candy2 ,i can see it4    
,but she is a member of the ,church1    
isn't she8  ,what if she is8 said       
,matilda4 ,mamma read that in one of    
,aunt ,candy's letters1 ,i remember4    
,we'll see what ,mr4 ,richmond will say 
to her4 ,maria reports that he does not 
like red flowers2 ,i wonder what he will
 think of some other things4  ,that is  
only ,maria's nonsense1 ,matilda        
insisted4 ,i know ,mr4 ,richmond likes  
red flowers2 he has got a red lily in   
his room4  ,in his room--oh yes6 but not
 in people's bonnets1 you know2 nor in  
their heads2 if they are ,christians4   
,i can't imagine what people's being    
,christians has to do with red flowers1 
said ,matilda4 ,besides1 ,clarissa      
hadn't any flowers about her at all4 ,i 
don't know what you are talking of4     
,didn't you see her gold chain1 though1 
that hung round her neck8  ,her watch   
was on that4 ,mayn't ,christians wear   

gold chains8 ,what nonsense you do talk1
 ,letitia6  ,i shouldn't want to be a   
,christian if ,i thought ,i couldn't    
wear anything1 ,maria remarked4  ,nor   
would ,i1 said ,letitia4 ,so ,i advise  
you1 my dears1 to be a little careful   
how you join ,bands and such things4    
,you may find that ,mr4 ,richmond is not
 just the sort of ,christian you want to
 be4  ,the conclave broke up1 having    
reached a termination of general        
dissatisfaction common to such          
conclaves4 ,maria went to bed grumbling4
 ,matilda was as usual silent4  ,the    
next day1 however1 found all the family 
as bright as itself4 ,it was a cold day 
in ,january2 snow on the ground2 a      
clear1 sharp sunshine glittering from   
white roofs and fence tops and the banks
 of snow heaped against the fences1 and 
shining on twigs and branches of the    
bare trees2 coming into houses with its 
cheery and keen look at everything it   
found1 as if bidding the dark sides of  
things1 and the dusty corners1 to change

 their characters and be light and fair4
 ,in the basement the family gathered   
for breakfast in happy mood1 ready to be
 pleased with each other2 so pleasure   
was the order of the day4 ,pleasure had 
a good deal to feed on1 too2 for after  
the long breakfast was over and the     
conversation had adjourned to the       
parlour1 there came the bestowing of    
presents which ,clarissa had brought for
 her friends4 ,and they were so many and
 so satisfactory1 that the criticisms of
 the past night were certainly for the  
present forgotten2 ,letitia forgave her 
cousin her daintiness1 and ,maria       
overlooked the gold watch4 ,matilda as  
usual said little1 beyond the civil1    
needful words1 which that little girl   
always spoke gracefully4  ,you are a    
character1 my dear1 ,i see1 her aunt    
observed1 drawing ,matilda to her side  
caressingly4  ,what is that1 ,aunt      
,candy8  ,well1 ,i don't know1 my dear1 
her aunt answered1 laughing2 you put me 
to define and prove my words1 and you   

bring me into difficulty4 ,i think1     
however1 ,i shall be safe in saying1    
that a 'character' is a person who has  
his own thoughts4  ,but doesn't         
everybody8  ,have his own thoughts8 ,no1
 my dear2 the majority have the thoughts
 of other people4  ,how can they1 ,aunt 
,candy8  ,just by not thinking for      
themselves4 ,it saves a great deal of   
trouble4  ,but we all think for         
ourselves1 said ,matilda4  ,do we8      
,reflect a little4 ,don't some of you   
think like other people8 about ways of  
doing1 and acting1 and dressing1 for    
instance8  ,oh yes4 ,but1 ,aunt ,candy1 
if people think for themselves1 must    
they do unlike other people8  ,if they  
follow out their thoughts1 they must1   
child4  ,that suits ,matilda then1 said 
her sister ,anne4  ,well1 it is very    
nice for a family to have one character 
in it1 said ,mrs4 ,candy4  ,but1 ,aunt  
,candy1 isn't ,clarissa a character too8
  ,i don't know1 ,tilly2 ,i really have 
not found it out1 if she is4 ,up to this

 time she always thinks as ,i think4    
,now she has given you the tokens of    
remembrance she has brought home for    
you2 what do you think ,i have got8  ,o 
aunt1 nothing more6 exclaimed ,anne4    
,clarissa and ,i are two people1 if     
neither of us is a character1 however1  
said ,mrs4 ,candy4 ,her gifts are not my
 gifts4 ,but mine shall be different    
from hers4 ,and if there is more than   
one character among us1 ,i should like  
to find it out2 and this will do it4    
,so saying1 she fetched out her purse   
and presented to each of her sister's   
children a bank-note for twenty-five    
dollars4  ,mrs4 ,englefield exclaimed   
and protested4 ,but ,mrs4 ,candy laid   
her hand on her sister's mouth1 and     
declared she must please herself in her 
own way4  ,what do you want us to do    
with this1 ,aunt ,candy8 ,matilda       
inquired in a sort of contemplative     
wonder4  ,just whatever will please you1
 will please each of you1 best4 ,only   
that4 ,that is my condition1 girls1 if  

,i may call it so4 ,you are not to spend
 that money for any claims of duty or   
conscience2 but simply in that way which
 will afford you the highest pleasure4  
,thanks were warm and gratification very
 high2 and in the best mood in the world
 the new relations sat down to talk to  
each other and study each other for the 
remainder of the day4 ,clarissa pleased 
her cousins4 ,she was undoubtedly       
extremely pretty1 with big1 brown1      
honest eyes1 that gave a good full look 
into the face she was speaking to2      
beautiful hair a little lighter in      
colour1 and great sweetness of outline  
and feature4 ,yet she was reserved2 very
 quiet2 very self-possessed--to a degree
 that almost carried an air of          
superiority in the minds of her cousins4
 ,those large brown eyes of hers would  
be lifted swiftly to the face of some   
one speaking1 and then go down again1   
with no sign of agreeing or             
disagreeing--indeed1 with no sign of her
 thought at all2 but she had thoughts of

 course2 why should she not show them1  
as her cousins did8 ,it was almost      
supercilious1 to the fancy of ,anne and 
,letitia2 ,matilda and ,maria were      
fascinated4 ,then her hands were more   
delicate than those of ,mrs4            
,englefield's children2 and there were  
one or two costly rings on them4 ,anne  
and ,letty did not understand their     
value1 but nevertheless even they could 
guess that they belonged to a superior  
description of jewellery from that which
 was displayed beneath the glass cases  
of ,mr4 ,kurtz the watchmaker of        
,shadywalk4 ,then ,clarissa's dress was 
of fine quality1 and made beautifully1  
and her little gold watch with its chain
 put a finish upon it1 ,anne said4 ,a   
little hair necklace with a gold clasp  
was round her neck besides2 and her comb
 was real tortoise-shell4 ,clarissa was 
dainty1 there was no doubt2 but her     
sweet mouth was grave and modest2 her   
words were few2 her manners were very   
kindly and proper2 and her cousins on   

the whole were obliged to approve her4  
,,chapter ,,iv4   ,what is all this     
hurry about8 ,clarissa inquired one     
evening1 as they were going down-stairs 
in answer to the tea-bell2 why are we   
earlier than usual8 ,anne says we are4  
,oh1 because it is prayer-meeting       
night--no1 not prayer meeting1 it isn't 
either1 but our ,band-meeting2 and we   
have to be early for that1 you know4    
,oh1 you don't know anything about our  
,band2 but you will1 to-night4 ,you'll  
join it1 won't you1 ,clarissa8  ,i know 
something about ,bands1 said ,clarissa2 
but ,i never belonged to one4 ,is it the
 custom here for ladies to do such      
things8  ,what things8 ,and do you know 
about bands8 like ours8  ,i daresay ,i  
shall find ,i have something to learn1  
said ,clarissa4  ,there is a great deal 
to learn from ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,i can    
tell you1 said ,maria4 ,oh1 you don't   
know ,mr4 ,richmond1 you haven't seen   
him1 because ,sunday was so stormy4     
,well1 you'll see him to-night4  ,aunt  

,englefield1 said ,clarissa1 when they  
were seated at the tea-table1--is your  
,mr4 ,richmond ,band-master as well as  
clergyman8  ,bands are a mystery to me1 
,clarissa1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield2 ,i do
 not understand ,maria when she gets    
upon that subject4 ,i hope you will be  
able to enlighten me some time4 ,are you
 going to-night8--well1 then1 ,i shall  
hope to be wiser when you return4  ,tea 
was hurried through1 cloaks and furs and
 hoods and all sorts of wrappings were  
put on2 and the party set forth1 ,anne  
and ,letitia this time going along4 ,it 
was pleasanter out than in4 ,white      
streets and clear starlight1 and still1 
cold1 fine air4 ,about the corner a few 
men and boys were congregated as usual2 
after passing them and turning into the 
other street1 few passengers were to be 
seen4 ,here and there one1 or a group1  
making for the lecture-room2 here and   
there somebody seeking a friend's house 
for pleasure2 nobody was out on business
 at ,shadywalk in the evening1 and no   

waggons or sleighs got belated in the   
darkness4 ,it would have been very dark1
 but for the snow and the stars4 ,there 
were no shop-windows illuminated1 and no
 lamps along the street and no gas      
anywhere4 ,past the shut-up houses and  
stores1 in the dim1 snowy street1 the   
little cluster of girls went swiftly on4
  ,you are in a great hurry1 said       
,clarissa4  ,oh1 we want to get there   
before anything begins1 ,maria said4    
,and it's cold1 besides6  ,what church  
is this we are passing8  ,oh1 this is   
our church4 ,you haven't seen it4 ,it is
 real nice inside4  ,not outside8 said  
,clarissa4 ,well1 ,i cannot see it in   
this light4 ,and is that next place the 
one we are going to8  ,yes1 that's our  
lecture-room4 ,that's very nice4  ,so it
 was4 ,pleasant light from withinside   
streamed warm through the hanging       
window-blinds of the long windows1 and  
promised welcome before they got in4 ,at
 the door1 under the projecting hood1 a 
lamp shone bright upon the entrance     

steps4 ,people were flocking in4 ,the   
opening door let them into a cheerful   
room1 not large1 with long rows of seats
 on either hand of a wide1 matted aisle2
 the view closed by a little desk at the
 farther end on a raised platform4      
,right and left of the desk1 two small  
transepts did somewhat to enlarge the   
accommodations of the place1 which had a
 cosy1 home look1 comfortable and       
bright4  ,where do those doors lead to8 
,clarissa whispered2--behind the desk8  
,oh1 those open to the infant class     
room4 ,isn't it nice8 ,maria answered4  
,it is small1 said ,clarissa4  ,it is   
large enough1 though4 ,we shall not fill
 it to-night4  ,and they did not4 ,there
 was only a little company gathered1 of 
various ages4 ,some quite grown people2 
many who were younger4 ,they had drawn  
towards the upper end of the room1 and  
clustered near the platform4  ,there is 
,mr4 ,richmond1 ,maria whispered        
presently2 do you see him8 he is up     
there near the desk talking to ,mr4     

,barker1--,mr4 ,barker is one of our    
teachers1 but he has got nothing to do  
with the ,band4 ,that is ,mrs4          
,trembleton1 isn't she pretty8--sitting 
down there in front2 she always sits    
just there1 if she can1 and ,i have seen
 her ever so put out if she couldn't    
when somebody else had got it1 you know4
 ,and there----  ,but1 ,maria1 whispered
 ,clarissa1 gravely1 do you think it is 
quite proper to whisper so in church8   
,this isn't church6 ,maria replied1 with
 great readiness4  ,what then8  ,why1 it
 is only our ,sunday-,schoolroom2 and   
this is a ,band meeting4  ,it looks very
 like church to me1 said ,clarissa4     
,hush6 don't whisper any more4  ,for the
 minister now took his stand at the     
little desk before mentioned2 and even  
,maria was quiet enough during the      
prayer with which he began the          
proceedings4 ,but then ,mr4 ,richmond   
came in front of the desk1 and began to 
speak seriously indeed1 but with an easy
 simplicity which ,clarissa thought was 

not like church4  ,it may not be known  
to everybody present1 ,mr4 ,richmond    
began1 exactly what was done at our last
 meeting here ,thursday night4 ,i wish  
it to be very well understood1 that     
every one may join with us in the action
 we took1 intelligently2--or keep away  
from it1 intelligently4 ,i wish it to be
 thoroughly understood4 ,we simply      
pledged ourselves1 some of us who were  
here ,thursday night1 to live and work  
for ,christ to the best and the utmost  
of our ability1 as ,he would give us    
grace to do4 ,we pledged ourselves to   
each other and to our ,master2 to the   
end that we might the better help each  
other1 being so pledged2 and that we    
might enter into some system and plan of
 work by which we might accomplish much 
more than we could hope to do without   
plan or system4 ,i have a list in my    
hand of various kinds of work which it  
may be well for us to attempt2 some     
kinds will suit some people1 and other  
kinds will suit other people2 but before

 we go into a consideration of these1 ,i
 will read something else to you4 ,we   
must do this thing--we must enter into  
this pledge to ,god and each other1     
those of us who enter into it1--knowing 
exactly what we do1 and if possible1 why
 we do it4 ,i have drawn up in a few    
words what we mean1 or what we ought to 
mean1 in giving this pledge2 and now ,i 
am going to read it to you2 and after ,i
 have read it ,i shall ask all of you   
who have heard it and agreed to it1 to  
rise up1 without any regard to the      
question whether you were among those   
who rose last ,thursday or not4 ,i wish 
no one to stand who does not fully and  
intelligently agree to every word of    
this covenant2--but ,i hope that will be
 the case with every one of you all4    
,the children can understand it as well 
as the grown people4 ,this is the       
covenant3--  ',we are the servants of   
,christ4  ',and as ,he died for all1    
that they which live should not live    
unto themselves but unto ,him2 so we do 

not count ourselves to belong to        
ourselves4 ,we are the ,lord's4  ',we   
want to do all we can do1 that would    
please ,him and honour ,him1 whether it 
be in our own hearts or in the world4   
',so we stand ready to do ,his will2 in 
telling the good news to others2 in     
showing how precious we hold it2 in     
carrying help of every sort to our      
neighbour1 upon every opportunity2      
walking as children of the ,light2 if by
 any means we may advance our ,lord's   
kingdom and glory4  ',and all this we   
will try to do1 by ,his help1--trusting 
in ,his grace and resting in ,his       
promises1 whose word cannot fail4'      
,now1 said ,mr4 ,richmond1 when he had  
read this1 which he read very slowly and
 deliberately1 as if he wished that     
every one should weigh every word1 ,i am
 going to ask you to rise and so declare
 your agreement with this covenant--all 
of you who have heard and understood it1
 and who are ready to pledge yourselves 
to its responsibilities4 ,every one     

whose own mind and wish this covenant   
expresses will please rise4  ,the little
 stir which this request occasioned     
through the room1 left few of the       
assembly in their seats4 ,maria1 as soon
 as she was upon her feet1 looked to see
 how it was with her companions4 ,to her
 great satisfaction1 ,clarissa was      
standing beside her2 but ,anne and      
,letitia were sitting in their places1  
and so was ,matilda in hers beyond them4
 ,maria frowned and nodded at her1 but  
,mr4 ,richmond had desired the people to
 sit down again before these signs could
 take any effect4  ,it is as ,i hoped1  
,mr4 ,richmond said in a satisfied      
voice4 ,i have no alteration to make in 
my lists1 beyond the addition of one or 
two new names2 and that sort of         
alteration ,i shall be glad to make     
whenever people will let me4 ,i will    
receive new names at any time1 of those 
who wish to join our ,band--our ,working
 ,band4 ,i do not know what we shall    
call ourselves2 but one thing is        

certain1 we mean to be a working people4
 ,now1 suppose we see what kinds of work
 we are prepared to undertake--each one 
of us in particular4 ,of course1 we are 
all to do all we can1 and of all kinds2 
but there are some kinds of work that   
each one can do better than he can do   
others2 and to those particular lines of
 effort each one will pledge himself to 
give special attention4  ,the first     
thing on my list is--  ',bringing new   
scholars to the school4 ,who will take  
this as his special work8 ,observe1 it  
is not meant that you should ask any    
children to come to our school who are  
already members of some other school4   
,we do not wish that4 ,but who will     
undertake to look out and bring in some 
of the children that go nowhere8 ,all   
who want to do this1 raise your hands4  
,there was a show of hands4  ,we must   
have a secretary1 said ,mr4 ,richmond4  
,mr4 ,van ,dyke1 here is paper and ink2 
will you kindly come and write for us8  
,we want to put down all the names that 

enlist in this department of work4 ,this
 is ,number ,one4 ,put down1 opposite to
 ,number ,one1 ,mattie ,van ,dyke1      
,willie ,edwards1 ,mary ,edwards1 ,maria
 ,englefield4  ,mr4 ,richmond went on   
giving the names until some eight or ten
 were registered4 ,the children looked  
delighted4 ,it was great doings4  ,the  
next thing on ,mr4 ,richmond's list was 
the ,school-singing4 ,he explained that 
he wished the special attention of those
 who could give it to this matter2 that 
they should always stand ready to help  
the singing in the ,sunday-,school1 and 
make it just as good as it could be1 and
 keep it good2 that they should not wait
 for others1 if there was no one to     
lead1 but start the hymn themselves and 
carry it through with spirit4  ,there   
were not so many that pledged themselves
 to this work2 but1 as before1 ,maria   
was one4  ,the third thing1 was         
,welcoming strangers and new scholars in
 the church and in the school4 ,here a  
breeze sprung up4 ,mr4 ,richmond had    

remarked upon the great importance of   
this duty and the common neglect of it2 
nevertheless there seemed to be some    
prospect that the neglect would         
continue4 ,mrs4 ,trembleton asked1 ,how 
were such strangers to be welcomed8     
,what would you like yourself1 ,mrs4    
,trembleton8 ,suppose you were to go to 
a strange church1 where you knew nobody4
 ,would it be pleasant to have some one 
come up and take your hand and say you  
were welcome8 and give you a greeting   
when you met in the street8--perhaps    
come to see you8  ,i think1 said ,mrs4  
,trembleton1 after a pause1 it would    
depend a good deal on who it was did it6
  ,whether it would be pleasant8 said   
,mr4 ,richmond1 smiling4 ,but you do not
 doubt that it would be pleasant to any 
stranger to have you come up and speak  
and shake hands1 and do such offices of 
kindness8  ,it might be pleasant to     
them1 said ,mrs4 ,trembleton4 ,i don't  
think ,i should like to do it to        
everybody4  ,what do you say1 ,miss     

,benyon8 ,mr4 ,richmond asked4  ,oh1 ,i 
couldn't1 ,mr4 ,richmond6 the young lady
 answered1 shrinking4  ,i'll do it1     
spoke out one of the boys4  ,george     
,lockwood will welcome strangers1 ,mr4  
,van ,dyke1 said the minister4 ,and     
,willie ,edwards holds up his hand1--and
 ,ben ,barth4 ,but shall we have none   
but the boys to do the welcoming8 ,the  
new scholars will not be all boys4 ,ah6 
there is ,miss ,peach2 ,ellen ,peach1   
,mr4 ,van ,dyke2--and ,maria            
,englefield1--and ,sarah ,bent4  ,won't 
it make confusion in the school8 ,mr4   
,van ,dyke suggested4  ,will not what   
make confusion8  ,why1 if half-a-dozen  
scholars are jumping up and leaving     
their classes1 to receive somebody who  
is coming in8  ,i did not say that they 
should choose lesson time--or school    
time at all--for their kind civilities4 
,after school is over--or when meeting  
in the street--or going into church4    
,opportunities will present themselves4 
,it is rather the will that seems to be 

wanting than the way4  ,it seems to me1 
spoke out another lady1 this welcoming  
of strangers is everybody's business4   
,proverbially nobody's business1 ,miss  
,fitch1 ,mr4 ,richmond answered with a  
smile4 ,you will leave it for me to do2 
and ,i shall conclude that ,mrs4        
,trembleton will attend to it2 ,mrs4    
,trembleton does not like the           
charge2--and there we are4 ,esther1 what
 do you say8  ,oh1 ,i should not like to
 do it1 ,mr4 ,richmond6  ,nobody seemed 
to like to do it4 ,some were shy2 some  
were humble1 or thought they were2 some 
fancied themselves of too little        
consequence2 some of too much6 ,mr4     
,richmond went on to the next thing1    
which was ,temperance ,work4 ,here there
 was no want of volunteers4 ,boys and   
girls and young ladies1 and even men1   
were ready to pledge themselves to this 
cause4 ,the names were many4 ,it took   
some time to get them all down4  ,then  
came what ,mr4 ,richmond's list called  
,aid and ,comfort2 and which he         

explained to mean1 the giving of all    
sorts of material and social aid that   
the cases of sick and poor and          
distressed might call for4 ,anybody who 
would visit such cases1 and provide or  
procure what they needed1 or anybody    
unable to visit who would furnish the   
necessary supplies if called upon1 might
 be enrolled on this committee4 ,plenty 
of people were ready for this4          
,visiting absent scholars found quite a 
number willing to engage in it4 ,the    
cause of ,missionary ,collections and   
,sunday-,school prayer-meetings found   
but few2 evidently those were not       
popular objects4 ,promoting attendance  
upon church did not meet with much      
favour4 ,the tenth department of work   
was ,carrying the ,message4 ,this ,mr4  
,richmond explained to mean1 the telling
 the good news of ,christ to all who    
have not heard or who do not accept it2 
to everybody we can reach1 at home and  
abroad1 wherever we may4 ,there were not
 a few who were ready to pledge         

themselves to this2 as also to ,bible   
,reading in houses where sickness or    
poverty or ignorance made such work     
desirable4 ,but ,tract ,distributing1   
which one would have thought a very     
kindred effort with the two last1 was   
much more cautiously undertaken4 ,some  
boys were ready for it2 a few girls2    
very few grown up people of either sex4 
,the young people of ,mrs4 ,englefield's
 family walked home more silently than  
they had come4 ,to be sure1 there was a 
little throng of persons going their    
way2 they could not speak in private4   
,so under the still1 bright stars1 they 
went home without telling any of their  
thoughts to each other4 ,but perhaps the
 air was chilly after coming out of the 
heated lecture-room2 for they all poured
 into the parlour to get warm1 before   
going up-stairs to take off their       
things4  ,well1 you are late1 ,mrs4     
,englefield said4  ,yes2 but we had1 oh1
 such a nice meeting6 ,maria answered4  
,what was it all about8 ,now1 ,i hope1  

we shall get at some light on the       
subject4  ,but the light was not in a   
hurry to come4 ,anne and ,letitia       
loosened their bonnet strings1 and sat  
down2 ,maria and ,matilda threw off     
their cloaks and hoods and sought the   
fire2 nobody volunteered to be spokesman
 for the party4  ,what was done1        
,clarissa8 her mother asked4  ,i can    
hardly tell1 mamma4 ,a sort of          
association formed1 for doing parish    
work4  ,i do not think much of          
associations1 ,mrs4 ,candy said4 ,people
 can work just as well in private1 if   
they would only be content4 ,did you    
join this association8  ,what is parish 
work1 ,clarissa8 ,matilda asked4  ,why1 
work in the parish1 of course1 ,mrs4    
,englefield answered4  ,i don't know    
what the parish is1 mamma8  ,don't you8 
,well1--all the people that ,mr4        
,richmond has the care of1 ,i suppose2  
isn't it1 sister8  ,but who has he the  
care of8 ,matilda persisted1 looking up 
at her mother earnestly4  ,well1 child1 

said ,mrs4 ,englefield1 half laughing1  
in a sort1 he has the care of all the   
people he preaches to4  ,does he8 said  
,matilda4 ,but at that the laugh became 
general4  ,why not1 ,tilly8 said ,mrs4  
,candy4  ,who gave him the care of us8  
said ,matilda1 thoughtfully4  ,a        
minister always has the care of a church
 when he has a church1 said ,mrs4       
,candy4 ,is this ,tilly's way of going  
into things in general1 ,marianne8      
,but1 said ,matilda1--can anybody take a
 church and take care of people1 if he  
has a mind8  ,no2 only a man who has    
been properly educated and appointed4   
,then how comes he to have the care of  
us8  ,come here1 ,tilly1 said ,clarissa4
 ,and she began a whispered explanation1
 to which the little girl listened      
intently4  ,i do not hear yet what was  
the business done to-night8 ,mrs4       
,englefield went on4  ,why1 there were  
committees formed1 said ,letitia1 for   
doing every sort of business under      
heaven4  ,committees6 said the two      

ladies who had stayed at home4  ,maria  
can tell you1 said ,anne4 ,maria1 on how
 many committees are you8  ,maria hugged
 the fire and did not answer4  ,on how  
many1 ,maria8  ,i don't know4 ,i didn't 
count4  ,i lost count1 too1 her sister  
said4 ,let me see4 ,mamma1 ,maria has   
undertaken to find and bring in new     
scholars for the school4  ,i hope she   
will be punctual in going herself1 then1
 said ,mrs4 ,englefield4 ,she hasn't    
been1 this six months past1 to my       
knowledge4  ,oh1 but ,i am now1 mamma1  
said ,maria4  ,she has undertaken to    
practise for the school singing4  ,i    
didn't1 said ,maria4 ,i only said ,i    
would help in it4  ,your help will not  
be worth much without practising4 ,she  
has promised to undertake temperance    
work1 too4 ,how she will manage it1 ,i  
do not know2 unless she is going to     
begin upon us here at home4 ,we are all 
such hard drinkers4  ,almost all the    
,sunday-,school are engaged to help in  
temperance work1 said ,maria1 standing  

on her defence4  ,how are you going to  
do anything8 her mother asked4 ,you have
 neither brothers1 nor father1 nor      
cousins1 in danger1 that you can go to  
work upon them4 ,what are you going to  
do1 ,maria8  ,that is but the beginning1
 mamma1 ,anne went on4 ,maria is also   
engaged to visit the sick and afflicted1
 and make soup and give medicine for    
them4  ,why1 ,i did not1 ,anne6 ,maria  
exclaimed again4  ,what did you mean1   
then1 by joining the ',aid and ,comfort'
 committee8  ,i did not say ,i would    
make soup1 or give medicine4 ,everybody 
does not make soup4  ,no2 and so ,i     
thought that is just what the ',aid and 
,comfort' committee agreed to do4  ,and 
the doctors give the medicine1 said     
,matilda4 ,clarissa is on that committee
 too4  ,we can go together1 said ,maria2
 and we can find something to do4       
,something for somebody else to do1 said
 ,anne4 ,you can find who would like    
some soup1 can't you8  ,there are next  
to no poor people in ,shadywalk1 said   

,mrs4 ,englefield4 ,i don't believe     
there is anybody in the village who     
would like some soup better than ,i     
should4  ,there are several doctors1    
said ,anne2 so ,i am afraid there are   
sick people occasionally4 ,else the     
doctors will soon be in want of soup4   
,but1 mamma1 that is not the whole of   
,maria's engagements4 ,she has pledged  
herself to 'carry the message1' read the
 ,bible1 and distribute tracts4  ,don't 
you read the ,bible now1 ,maria8 her    
mother asked4  ,oh yes1 mamma1 said     
,matilda4 ,this means reading the ,bible
 to somebody who is blind1 you know1 or 
sick and can't read1 or who doesn't know
 how4  ,there are no such people in     
,shadywalk1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield1     
promptly4  ,shadywalk is a happy village
 then1 said her sister4  ,when do you   
expect to find time for all these       
things1 ,maria8 her mother continued4   
,do you know what a state your bureau   
drawers are in1 at this minute8 ,you    
told me you had been too busy to attend 

to them4 ,and the frock that you spilt  
ink on1 the week before last1 at school1
 you have not mended2 and you need      
it--and you said you could not get a    
minute4  ,i have been busy about        
something else1 mamma1 ,maria said4     
,that braiding4 ,yes4 ,but there is     
always 'something else4' ,there are     
other things that ought to begin at home
 besides charity4 ,do you belong to this
 association1 ,matilda8  ,no1 mamma1    
came in a low voice from the child4     
,why not8  ,the answer was not ready4   
,have you joined it1 ,clarissa8 her     
mother asked4  ,yes1 mamma4  ,and what  
have you pledged yourself to do8  ,i    
think nothing1 mamma1 that ,i was not   
properly pledged to before4  ,such as   
what8  ,i gave my name for the visiting 
and helping sick and poor people2 for   
the singing in the school2--,i believe  
that is all1 mamma4  ,i shall not let   
you go where there is sickness1 said    
,mrs ,candy4 ,when did you pledge       
yourself to that ever8  ,when ,i took   

the vows of the ,church1 mamma1         
,clarissa said1 with a little           
hesitation1 ,i suppose ,i engaged to do 
some of these things4  ,some of them2 ,i
 have no objection to your singing as   
much as you like2 but as to your going  
where there are fevers and bad air1 and 
all that sort of thing1 ,i should not be
 willing at all4  ,there will not be    
much occasion for it in ,shadywalk1 said
 ,mrs4 ,englefield4 ,we have few poor   
people2 there are not many who have not 
friends of their own to take care of    
them4  ,anne and ,letitia1 you have     
nothing to do with all this8 their aunt 
asked4  ,i have enough to do as it is1  
,aunt ,candy1 said ,anne4  ,and ,i don't
 like the new sorts of work1 ,aunt      
,erminia1 said ,letitia4  ,i know you   
wanted to stand up with us this evening1
 though1 said ,maria4 ,you felt bad     
because you didn't4  ,this remark       
threatened to disturb the harmony of the
 party2 so ,mrs4 ,englefield broke it   
up1 and sent everybody to bed4  ,how do 

you like our ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,clarissa8 
she asked1 as they were separating4  ,i 
don't know1 ,aunt ,marianne2 it struck  
me he was something of an enthusiast4   
,that is just what ,i think1 said ,mrs4 
,englefield4  ,those people are         
dangerous1 ,marianne1 said ,mrs4 ,candy4
     ,,chapter ,v4   ,the next day but  
one1 in the afternoon1 a little figure  
set out from ,mrs4 ,englefield's gate on
 a solitary expedition4 ,she had left   
her sisters and cousin in high debate1  
over the various probabilities of       
pleasure attainable through the means of
 twenty-five dollars4 ,matilda listened 
gravely for a while2 then left them1 put
 on her hood and cloak1 and went out    
alone4 ,it was rather late in the short 
winter afternoon2 the slanting sunbeams 
made a gleam of cheer1 though it was    
cold cheer too1 upon the snowy streets4 
,they stretched away1 the white streets1
 heaped with banks of snow where the    
gutters should be1 overhung with brown  
branches of trees1 where in summer the  

leafy canopy made a pleasant shade all  
along the way4 ,no shade was wanted now2
 the air was growing more keen already  
since the sun had got so far down in the
 west4 ,tilly turned the corner1 where  
by ,mr4 ,forshew's hardware shop there  
was often a country waggon standing1 and
 always a knot of loitering men and boys
 gathering or retailing the news1 if    
there was any2 when there was none1     
seeking a poorer amusement still in     
stories and jests1 mingled with         
profanity and tobacco4 ,tilly was always
 glad to have passed the corner2 not    
that there was the least danger of      
incivility from any one lingering there1
 but she did not like the neighbourhood 
of such people4 ,she turned up towards  
the church1 which stood in one of the   
principal streets of the village4       
,matilda herself lived in the other     
principal street4 ,the two were at right
 angles to each other1 each extending   
perhaps half a mile1 with comfortable   
houses standing along the way2 about the

 corner they stood close together1 for  
that was the business quarter1 and there
 were the stores4 ,passing the stores   
and shops1 there came next a succession 
of dwelling-houses1 some of more and    
some of less pretension2 in general it  
was less4 ,the new houses of the        
successful tradesmen were for the most  
part in the street where ,matilda's     
mother lived4 ,these were many of them  
old and low2 some were poor4 ,here there
 was a doctor's shop2 there a heap of   
dingy sheep skins and brown calf hides  
cast down at a door1 told of the leather
 store2 here and there hung out a       
milliner's sign4 ,a few steps further on
 the other side of the way1 a great     
brick factory stood2 ,matilda had no    
very distinct notion of what wares it   
turned out1 but the children believed   
they were iron works of some sort4 ,a   
cross street here led to side ways which
 extended parallel with the main        
thoroughfare1 one on the north and one  
on the south of it1 and which1 though   

more scatteringly built up1 were yet a  
considerable enlargement of the village4
 ,a little further on1 and ,matilda had 
reached the church2 in her language the 
church1 though only one of several in   
which the villagers delighted4 ,a great 
creamy-brown edifice1 of no particular  
style of architecture1 with a broad     
porch upheld by a row of big pillars1   
and a little square tower where hung a  
bell1 declared to be the sweetest and   
clearest of all in the neighbourhood4   
,so1 many thought1 were the utterances  
inside the church4 ,just beyond1        
,matilda could see the lecture-room1    
with its transepts1 and its pretty hood 
over the door1 for all which and sundry 
other particulars concerning it she had 
a private favour2 but ,matilda did not  
go so far this afternoon4 ,short of the 
lecture-room1 a gate in the fence of the
 church grounds stood open2 a large     
gate1 through which waggons and         
carriages sometimes passed2 ,matilda    
turned in there1 and picked her way over

 the ridgy snow down the lane that led  
to the parsonage4  ,the parsonage sat   
thus quietly back from the sights and   
noises of the street2 a little brown    
house1 it looked1 half hidden in summer 
by the sweeping foliage of the elms that
 overarched the little lane2 half       
sheltered now in winter by a goodly     
pine-tree that stood in the centre of   
the little plot of grass round which    
swept the road to the front-door4       
,wheels or runners had been there1 for  
the road was tracked with them2 but not 
many1 for the villagers needed no such  
help to get to the minister1 and there  
were few of the church people who lived 
at a distance and could leave their work
 and take their teams on a week-day to  
come a-pleasuring2 and still fewer who  
were rich enough to do as they liked at 
all times4 ,there were some2 but        
,matilda ran little risk of meeting     
them2 and so mounted the parsonage steps
 and lifted the knocker with no more    
than her own private reasons for        

hesitation1 whatever those might be4    
,she knocked1 however1 and steps carne  
within1 and ,miss ,redwood opened the   
door4  ,well6 she said1 here's the first
 one this blessed afternoon4 ,i thought 
,i was going to get along for once      
without any one2 but such luck don't    
come to me4 ,wipe the snow off1 dear1   
will you1 clean8 for my hall's as nice  
as--well1 ,i don't know what2 as nice as
 it had ought to be4 ,that will do4     
,now1 come in1 for the air's growin'    
right sharp4 ,what is it1 my dear8  ,is 
,mr4 ,richmond at home8 ,matilda asked4 
,well1 ,i s'pose he is4 ,i hain't hearn 
him nor seen him go out since noon4 ,do 
ye want to see him1 or is it a          
message8--ye want to see him1 eh4 ,well1
 ,i s'pose he'll see you--if he ain't   
too busy--and ,i don't know when he gets
 time for all he has to do1 but he gets 
it2 so ,i s'pose ,i had ought to be     
satisfied4 ,i don't1 ,i know2 but ,i    
s'pose men and women is different4 ,some
 folks would say that's a reason why men

 was created the first and the best2 but
 ,i don't think so myself4 ,and here ,i 
am an old goose1 a-talkin' to little    
,tilly ,englefield about philosophy1    
instead o' lettin' her into the         
minister's room4 ,well1 come in1 dear2  
round this way2 the minister has taken a
 notion to keep that door shut up       
because of the cold4  ,miss ,redwood had
 not been idle during the utterance of  
this speech4 ,first she had been shaking
 the snow from the door mat on which    
,matilda's feet had left it2 then she   
seized a broom and brushed the white    
masses from the hall carpet out to the  
piazza1 and even off the painted boards 
of that4 ,finally came in1 shut the     
door1 and led ,matilda to the back of   
the hall1 where it turned1 and two      
doors1 indeed three1 confronted each    
other across a yard of intervening      
space4 ,the housekeeper knocked at the  
one which led into the front room2 then 
set it open for ,matilda to go in1 and  
closed it after her4  ,a pleasant room  

that was1 though nothing in the world   
could be more unadorned4 ,deal shelves  
all around were filled with books2 a    
table or two were piled with them2 one1 
before the fire1 was filled as well with
 papers and writing materials4 ,this    
fronted1 however1 a real blazing fire1  
the very thing ,miss ,redwood had once  
been so uneasy about2 in a wide open    
chimney-place1 where two great          
old-fashioned brass andirons with round 
heads held a generous load of oak and   
hickory sticks1 softly snapping and     
blazing4 ,the sweet smell of the place  
struck ,matilda's sense1 almost before  
she saw the minister4 ,it was a pure1   
quiet1 scented atmosphere that the room 
held2 where comfort and study seemed to 
lurk in the very folds of the chintz    
window-curtains1 and to shine in the    
firelight1 and certainly seemed to fill 
,mr4 ,richmond's arm-chair even when he 
was not in it4 ,he rose out of it now to
 meet his little visitor1 and laid study
 on the table4 ,of one sort4  ,all's    

well at home1 ,tilly8 he asked1 as he   
put her into his own chair4  ,yes1 sir4 
,and you do not come to me with any     
message but to see me yourself8  ,yes1  
sir4  ,that's nice4 ,now while you are  
talking to me1 ,i will roast you an     
apple4  ,matilda looked on with great   
curiosity and as great a sense of       
relief1 while ,mr4 ,richmond took out of
 a cupboard a plate of apples1 chose a  
fine one with a good bit of stem1 tied a
 long pack-thread to this1 and then hung
 the apple by a loop at the other end of
 the string1 to a hook in the woodwork  
over the fireplace4 ,the apple1         
suspended in front of the blazing fire1 
began a succession of swift revolutions2
 first in one direction and then in the 
other1 as the string twisted or         
untwisted4  ,did you ever roast an apple
 so8  ,no1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,it is the  
best way in the world--when you haven't 
got any other4  ,we haven't got that way
 at our house1 said ,matilda2 for we    
have no fires2 nothing but stoves4  ,you

 speak as if you thought fires were the 
best plan of the two4  ,oh1 ,i do1 ,mr4 
,richmond6 ,i do not like stoves at all4
 ,they're so close4  ,i always thought  
stoves were rather close1 said ,mr4     
,richmond4 ,now what did you come to see
 me roast apples for this afternoon8    
,did you come to keep your promise8     
,yes1 sir1 ,matilda answered1 rather    
faintly4  ,are you sorry you made the   
promise8 ,mr4 ,richmond inquired1       
looking at her4 ,but the look was so    
pleasant1 that ,matilda's could not keep
 its solemnity4 ,she had come in with a 
good deal4  ,i don't know but ,i was    
sorry1 she said4  ,and you are not sorry
 now8  ,i think not4  ,that is all the  
better4 ,now what did you want to say to
 me1 ,matilda8  ,you know you made me   
say ,i would come1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,did
 ,i8 ,i think not4 ,i do not think ,i   
made you say anything--do you think ,i  
did8  ,well1 you asked me1 ,mr4         
,richmond4  ,just what did ,i ask you8  
,you asked me1 if ,i would come and tell

 you--you said you wished ,i would come 
and tell you--if----  ,and ,matilda made
 a great pause4 ,the eyes of her friend 
seemed only to be watching the apple1   
yet perhaps they knew that her little   
lips were unsteady and were trying to   
get steady4 ,he left his seat to attend 
to the roast2 got a plate and put on the
 hearth under it2 arranged the fire2    
then came and with his own hands removed
 ,matilda's hood and loosened and threw 
back her cloak2 and while he did this he
 repeated his question1 in tones that   
were encouragement itself4  ,i wished   
you would come and tell me if--if what8 
,yes1 ,mr4 ,richmond--if ,i thought ,i  
could not do something that ,i          
thought--,i ought4  ,yes1 ,i believe    
that was it1 ,tilly4 ,now1 to begin with
 one thing at a time1 what do you think 
you 'ought' to do8  ,last night1 ,i     
mean1 ,mr4 ,richmond2 ,i mean1 the night
 before last1 at the meeting4  ,i know4 
,well1 what did you think then you ought
 to do8  ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,i think1 ,i   

thought that ,i ought to rise up when   
,maria and the others did4  ,i knew you 
thought so4 ,why did you not1 then1     
,matilda8  ,i couldn't4  ,do you know   
why you could not8  ,again there was    
difficulty of speech on the child's     
part4 ,mr4 ,richmond's saying that he   
knew she had had such feelings1 was an  
endorsement to her conscience2 and      
,matilda could not immediately get over 
a certain swelling in her throat1 which 
threatened to put a stop to the         
conversation4 ,the minister waited1 and 
she struggled4  ,why could you not do   
what the others did1 ,matilda8  ,mr4    
,richmond--,i didn't want to do the     
things4  ,what things8 ,bringing new    
scholars to the ,sunday-,school1 for    
instance8  ,oh no1 sir1 ,i wouldn't mind
 doing that1 or some other things       
either4 ,but----  ,you mean1 you do not 
want to pledge yourself to be a servant 
of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8  ,no1 sir1 
after a pause1 and low4  ,well1 ,tilly1 
said the minister1 ,i can only be very  

sorry for you4 ,you keep yourself out of
 a great joy4  ,but1 ,mr4 ,richmond1    
said ,matilda1 down whose cheeks quiet  
tears were now running1 one after       
another2 don't you think ,i am very     
young yet to be a member of the ,church8
  ,do you think ,jesus died for you1    
,tilly8  ,yes1 sir4  ,do you believe ,he
 loves you now8  ,yes1 sir4  ,you       
understand all about that4 ,does ,he    
want you to be ,his obedient child and  
dear servant8  ,yes1 ,mr4 ,richmond4    
,you know all about that1 too4 ,can you 
think of any reason why you should for  
another year refuse to love ,him1 refuse
 to mind ,him1 and do all that your     
example and influence can do to keep    
others from loving and minding ,him8    
,when ,he so loves and has loved you8   
,tilly's little hands went up to her    
face now1 and the room was very still2  
only the flames softly flickering in the
 fireplace1 and the apple sputtering    
before the fire4 ,mr4 ,richmond did not 
say a word for several minutes4  ,mr4   

,richmond1 said ,matilda at last1 do you
 think anybody cares what ,i do8--when  
,i am so little8  ,i think the ,lord    
,jesus cares4 ,he said nobody was to    
hinder the little children from coming  
to ,him4 ,and ,i would rather be in ,his
 arms and have ,him bless me1 if ,i were
 you1 than be anywhere else1 or have    
anything else4 ,and so would you1       
,tilly4  ,but1 ,mr4 ,richmond--it is    
because ,i am not good4  ,yes1 ,i know  
it4 ,but that is a reason for giving    
yourself to the ,lord ,jesus4 ,he will  
make you good2 and there is no other    
way4  ,but ,tilly's trouble at this got 
beyond management4 ,she left her seat   
and came to ,mr4 ,richmond1 letting his 
arm draw her up to him1 and dropping her
 head on his shoulder4  ,o ,mr4         
,richmond1 she said1 ,i don't know how6 
,don't know how to give yourself to     
,jesus8 ,do it in your heart1 ,tilly4   
,he is there4 ,tell ,him ,he may have   
you for ,his own child4 ,he is at the   
door of your heart knocking2 open the   

door and bid ,him come in4 ,he will make
 it a glad place if you do4  ,mr4       
,richmond1 said the child1 with great   
difficulty between her sobs--won't you  
tell ,him that ,i will8  ,they kneeled  
down and the minister made a short      
prayer4 ,but then he said--  ,now1      
,tilly1 ,i want you to tell the ,lord   
yourself4  ,i can't1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,i
 think you can4 ,and ,i want you to try4
  ,they waited and waited4 ,tilly sobbed
 softly1 but the minister waited still4 
,at last ,tilly's tears ceased2 then    
with her little hands spread before her 
face1 she said very slowly--  ,o ,lord1 
,i am a naughty child4 ,i want to be    
good4 ,i will do everything that you    
tell me4 ,please take my heart and make 
it all new1 and help me to be strong and
 do right4 ,amen4  ,they rose up1 but   
,mr4 ,richmond kept the child within his
 arm1 where she had been standing4      
,now1 ,tilly1 how do we know that our   
prayers are heard8  ,god has promised1  
hasn't ,he1 ,mr4 ,richmond8  ,where8 in 

what words8  ,tilly hesitated1 and then 
repeated part of the verse1 ,ask1 and it
 shall be given you4 ,seek1 and ye shall
 find4  ,and look here1 said ,mr4       
,richmond1 half turning1 so as to bring 
her and himself within reach of the     
,bible that lay at his elbow on the     
table--see here1 ,matilda4 ,read these  
words4  ',if ye shall ask anything in   
,my name1 ,i will do it4'  ,and here1-- 
',whatsover ye shall ask the ,father in 
,my name1 ,he will give it you4'  ,does 
,jesus ever break ,his promises8  ,no1  
,mr4 ,richmond2 ,he can't4  ,then       
remember that1 whenever you think of    
to-day1 and whenever you feel troubled  
or weak4 ,you are weak1 but ,he is      
strong2 and ,he cannot break ,his       
promises4 ,so you and ,i are safe1 as   
long as we hold to ,him4  ,there was    
silence a little while1 and ,mr4        
,richmond set the apple to twirling     
again4 ,it had untwisted its string and 
was hanging still4  ,i am to put your   
name now1 ,i suppose1 ,tilly1 among the 

names of our ,band2 am ,i8  ,yes1 ,mr4  
,richmond4  ,what work would you like   
specially to do8  ,i do not know1 ,mr4  
,richmond2 ,i will think4  ,very well2  
that is right4 ,and there is another    
place where your name ought to go--is   
there not8  ,i don't know1 sir4  ,yes2  
among those who desire to be members of 
the ,church2 to tell the world they are 
,christ's people4  ,oh no1 ,mr4         
,richmond4  ,why 'oh no1 ,mr4           
,richmond'8  ,i am not good enough4 ,i  
want to be better first4  ,how do you   
expect to get better8  ,silence4  ,i    
suppose your thought is1 that ,jesus    
will make your heart new1 as you asked  
,him just now1 and help you to be       
strong4 ,is that it8--,yes4 ,and you do 
not expect to accomplish the change or  
grow strong by your own power8  ,oh no1 
sir4  ,don't you think ,jesus loves you 
now as well as ,he will by and by1 and  
is as ready to help you8  ,yes1 ,mr4    
,richmond4  ,then1 ,tilly1 ,i call it   
just distrust of ,him1 to hold off from 

what ,he commands you to do1 for fear   
,he will not help you to do it4 ,i would
 be ashamed to offer such an excuse to  
,him4  ,but--has ,he commanded that1    
,mr4 ,richmond8  ,he has commanded us to
 confess openly that we are ,his        
servants1 hasn't ,he8 and to be baptized
 in token of the change ,he has wrought 
in us1 and as a sign that we belong to  
,him8 ,how can we do either the one or  
the other without joining the ,church8  
,i thought--,matilda began1 but         
seemingly did not like to tell what she 
had thought4  ,let us have it1 ,tilly1  
said her friend1 drawing her closer to  
him4 ,you and ,i are talking            
confidentially1 and it is best in those 
cases to talk all out4 ,so what did you 
think8  ,i thought there were people who
 were the servants of ,christ1 and yet  
did not join any church1 ,matilda said  
softly4  ,by not doing it1 they as good 
as say to the world that they are not   
,his servants4 ,and the world judges    
accordingly4 ,i have known people under 

such a delusion2 but when they were     
honest1 ,i have always known them to    
come out of it4 ,if you give all you    
have to the ,lord ,jesus1 you must      
certainly give your influence4  ,but1 ,i
 thought ,i might wait1 ,tilly said     
again4  ,till when8  ,i don't know1 she 
whispered4  ,wait for what8  ,till ,i   
was more like what--,i ought to be1 ,mr4
 ,richmond4  ,till you were more like   
the ,lord ,jesus8  ,yes1 sir4  ,do you  
not think the quickest way to grow like 
,him would be to do and obey every word 
,he says8  ,matilda bowed her head a    
little4  ,you will be more likely to    
grow good and strong that way than any  
other2 and ,i am sure the ,lord will be 
more likely to help you if you trust    
,him1 than if you do not trust ,him4  ,i
 think so too1 ,matilda assented4  ,then
 we will do everything1 shall we1 that  
we think our ,lord would like to have us
 do8 and we will trust ,him to help us  
through with it8 ,mr4 ,richmond said1   
with an affectionate look at the child  

beside him2 and ,matilda met the look   
and answered it with another4  ,but1    
,mr4 ,richmond----  ,what is it8  ,there
 is one question ,i should like to ask4 
,ask it4  ,why ought people to be       
baptized8  ,because our ,lord commands  
it4 ,isn't that a good reason8  ,yes1   
sir2 but--what does it mean1 ,mr4       
,richmond8  ,it is a way of saying to   
the world1 that we have left it1 and    
belong to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,it 
is a way of saying to the world1 that   
,his blood has washed away our sins and 
,his ,spirit has made our hearts clean2 
or that we trust ,him to do both things 
for us4 ,and it is the appointed way of 
saying all this to the world2 ,his      
appointed way4 ,do you understand8      
,yes1 sir4  ,now1 do you not think that 
those who love the ,lord ,jesus1 ought  
to be glad to follow ,his will in this  
matter8  ,yes1 sir1 ,matilda said again1
 raising her eyes frankly to ,mr4       
,richmond's face4  ,would you be willing
 to be left out1 when next ,i baptize   

some of those who wish to make it       
publicly known that they are ,christ's8 
,no1 sir4 ,and presently she added4     
,when will that be1 ,mr4 ,richmond8  ,i 
do not know1 he answered1 thoughtfully4 
,not immediately4 ,you and ,i must have 
some more talks before that time4  ,you 
are very good to me1 ,mr4 ,richmond1    
,matilda said1 gratefully4  ,have we    
said all we ought to say this time8 ,are
 there any more questions to bring up8  
,i haven't any to bring up1 ,matilda    
said4  ,is all clear that we have been  
talking about8  ,i think so4  ,now1 will
 you be good to me1 and stay and take   
supper with me8 ,that knock at the door 
means that ,miss ,redwood would like to 
have me know that supper is ready4 ,and 
you shall have this apple we have been  
roasting4  ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,i think     
mamma would be frightened if ,i did not 
go home4  ,she does not know where you  
are8  ,nobody knows1 said ,matilda4     
,then it won't do to let you stay4 ,you 
shall come another time1 and we will    

roast another apple1 won't you8  ,i     
should like to come1 said ,matilda4 ,mr4
 ,richmond1 didn't you say you were     
going to talk to the ,band and explain  
things1 when we have our meetings8  ,i  
did say so4 ,what do you want explained8
  ,some time1--,i would like to know    
just all it means1 to be a servant of   
,christ4  ,all it means1 said ,mr4      
,richmond4 ,well1 it means a good deal1 
,tilly4 ,i think we had better begin    
there with our explanations4 ,i shall   
not make it a lecture2 it will be more  
like a class2 so you may ask as many    
questions as you please4     ,,chapter  
,,vi4   ,the light of day was darkening 
fast1 as ,matilda ran home4 ,even the   
western sky gave no glow1 when she      
reached her own gate and went in4 ,after
 all1 she had run but a very little way1
 in her first hurry2 the rest of the    
walk was taken with sober steps4  ,when 
she came down-stairs1 she found the lamp
 lit and all the young heads of the     
family clustering together to look at   

something4 ,it was ,anne's purchase1 she
 found2 ,anne had spent her aunt's gift 
in the purchase of a new silk dress2 and
 she was displaying it4  ,it is a lovely
 colour1 said ,maria4 ,i think that     
shade of--what do you call it8 is just  
the prettiest in the world4 ,what do you
 call it1 ,clarissa8 and where did you  
get it1 ,anne8  ,it is pearl gray1 said 
,clarissa4  ,i would have got blue1     
while ,i was about it1 said ,letitia2   
there is nothing like blue2 and it      
becomes you1 ,anne4 ,you ought to have  
got blue4 ,i would have had one dress   
that suited me1 if ,i was you1 if ,i    
never had another4  ,this will suit me1 
,i think1 said ,anne4  ,aren't you going
 to trim it with anything8 ,dresses are 
so much trimmed now-a-days2 and this    
colour will not be anything unless you  
trim it4  ,anne replied by producing the
 trimming4 ,the exclamations of delight 
and approval lasted for several minutes4
  ,what are you going to get1 ,letitia8 
,maria asked4  ,i have not decided4  ,i 

don't know1 but ,i will have a watch1   
said ,maria4 ,you can get a very good   
silver watch1 a really good one1 you    
know for twenty-five dollars4  ,but a   
silver watch6 said ,anne4 ,i would not  
wear anything but a gold watch4  ,how am
 ,i going to get a gold watch1 ,i should
 like to know8 said ,maria4 ,i think it 
would be splendid4  ,but what do you    
want of a watch1 ,maria8 her little     
sister asked4  ,oh1 here is ,matilda    
coming out6 ,just like her6 ,not a word 
about ,anne's dress2 and now she says1  
what do ,i want with a watch4 ,why1 what
 other people want with one2 ,i want to 
see the time of day4  ,i don't think you
 do1 said ,matilda4 ,when do you8  ,why1
 ,i should like to know in school1 when 
it is recess time2 and at home1 when it 
is time to go to school4  ,but the bell 
rings1 said ,matilda4  ,well1 ,i don't  
always hear the bell1 child4  ,but when 
you don't hear it1 ,i tell you4  ,yes1  
and it's very tiresome to have you      
telling me1 too4 ,i'd rather have my own

 watch4 ,but ,i don't know what ,i will 
have2 sometimes ,i think ,i'll just buy 
summer dresses1 and then for once ,i'd  
have a plenty2 ,i do like to have plenty
 of anything4 ,and there's a necklace   
and earrings at ,mr4 ,kurtz's that ,i   
want4 ,such lovely earrings6  ,well1    
,matilda1 what are you thinking of8     
,letitia burst forth4 ,such a face6 ,one
 would think it was wicked to wear      
earrings4 ,what is it1 you queer child8 
,but ,matilda did not say what she was  
thinking of4 ,the elder ladies came in1 
and the party adjourned to the          
tea-table4  ,a few hours later1 when the
 girls had gone to their room1 ,matilda 
asked--  ,when are you going to look for
 new scholars1 ,maria8  ,what8 was      
,maria's energetic and not very graceful
 response4  ,when are you going to look 
for some new scholars to bring to the   
school8  ,the ,sunday-,school6 said     
,maria4 ,i thought you meant the school 
where we go every day4 ,i don't know4   
,you promised you would try4  ,well1 so 

,i will1 when ,i see any ,i can bring4  
,but don't you think you ought to go and
 look for them8  ,how can ,i1 ,tilly8 ,i
 don't know where to go2 and ,i haven't 
got time1 besides4  ,i think ,i know    
where we could go1 said ,matilda1 and   
maybe we could get one1 at any rate4    
,don't you know the ,dows' house8 on the
 turnpike road8--beyond the bridge ever 
so far8  ,the ,dows'6 said ,maria4 ,yes1
 ,i know the ,dows' house2 but who's    
there8 ,nothing but old folks4  ,yes1   
there are two children2 ,i have seen    
them2 two or three2 but they don't come 
to school4  ,then ,i don't believe they 
want to1 said ,maria2 they could come if
 they wanted to1 ,i am sure4  ,don't you
 think we might go and ask them8        
,perhaps they would come if anybody     
asked them4  ,yes1 we might1 said       
,maria2 but you see1 ,tilly1 ,i haven't 
any time4 ,it'll take me every bit of   
time ,i can get between now and ,sunday 
to finish putting the braid on that     
frock2 you have no idea how much time it

 takes4 ,it curls round this way1 and   
then twists over that way1 and then     
gives two curls1 so and so2 and it takes
 a great while to do it4 ,i almost wish 
,i had chosen an easier pattern2 only   
this is so pretty4  ,but you promised1  
,maria4  ,i didn't promise to go and    
look up people1 child4 ,i only promised 
to do what ,i could4 ,besides1 what have
 you got to do with it8 ,you did not    
promise at all4  ,i will go with you1 if
 you will go up to the ,dows'1 said     
,matilda4  ,oh1 well6--don't worry1 and 
,i'll see about it4  ,but will you go8  
,come1 ,maria1 let us go4  ,when8  ,any 
afternoon4 ,to-morrow4  ,what makes you 
want to go8 said ,maria1 looking at her4
  ,i think you ought to go1 ,matilda    
answered1 demurely4  ,and ,i say1 what  
have you got to do with it8 ,i don't see
 what particular concern of mine the    
,dows are1 anyhow4  ,matilda sat a long 
while thinking after this speech4 ,she  
was on the floor1 pulling off her       
stockings and unlacing her boots2 and   

while her fingers moved slowly1 drawing 
out the laces1 her cogitations were very
 busy4 ,what concern were the ,dows of  
hers or ,maria's8 ,they were not        
pleasant people to go near1 she judged1 
from the look of their house and        
dooryard as she had seen it in passing2 
and the uncombed1 fly-away head of the  
little girl gave her a shudder as she   
remembered it4 ,they were not people    
that were often seen in church2 they    
could not be good2 maybe they used bad  
language2 certainly they could not be   
expected to know how to behave4 ,slowly 
the laces were pulled out of ,matilda's 
boots1 and her face grew into portentous
 gravity4  ,aren't you coming to bed8   
said ,maria4 ,what can you be thinking  
of8  ,i am thinking of the ,dows8  ,what
 about them8 ,i never thought about them
 three times in my life4  ,but oughtn't 
we to think about people1 ,maria8  ,nice
 people4  ,i mean1 people that are not  
nice4  ,it will be new times when you   
do1 said ,maria4 ,come6 let the ,dows   

alone and come to bed4  ,maria1 said her
 little sister as she obeyed this       
request1 ,i was thinking that ,jesus    
thought about people that were not nice4
  ,well8 said ,maria4 ,do lie down6 what
 is the use of getting into bed1 if you 
are going to sit bolt upright like that 
and talk lectures8 ,i don't see what has
 got into you4  ,maria1 it seems to me1 
now ,i think of it1 that those were the 
particular people ,he did care about4   
,don't you think ,he cared about good   
people8 said ,maria1 indignantly4  ,but 
they were not good at first4 ,nobody was
 good at first--till ,he made them good4
 ,he said ,he didn't come to the good   
people2 don't you remember8  ,well1 what
 do you mean by all that8 ,are we not to
 care for anybody but the people that   
are not good8 ,a nice life we should    
have of it8  ,maria1 said her little    
sister1 very thoughtfully1 ,i wonder    
what sort of a life ,he had8  ,tilly6   
said ,maria1 rising up in her turn1 what
 has come to you8 ,what book have you   

been reading8 ,i shall tell mamma4  ,i  
have not been reading any book1 said    
,matilda4  ,then lie down and quit      
talking4 ,how do you expect ,i am going 
to sleep8  ,let us go and see what we   
can do at the ,dows1 ,maria1 to-morrow1 
won't you8  ,but ,maria either did not  
or would not hear2 so the matter passed 
for that night4 ,but the next day       
,matilda brought it up again4 ,maria    
found excuses to put her off4 ,matilda1 
however1 was not to be put off          
permanently2 she never forgot2 and day  
after day the subject came up for       
discussion1 until ,maria at last        
consented4  ,i am going because you     
tease me so1 ,tilly1 she said1 as they  
set forth from the gate4 ,just for that 
and nothing else4 ,i don't like it a    
bit4  ,but you promised4  ,i didn't4    
,to bring in new scholars8  ,i did not  
promise ,i would bring the ,dow         
children2 and ,i don't believe they'll  
come4  ,the walk before the children was
 not long1 and yet it almost took them  

out of the village4 ,they passed the    
corner this time without turning1       
keeping the road1 which was indeed part 
of the great high road which took       
,shadywalk in its way1 as it took many  
another village4 ,the houses in this    
direction soon began to scatter further 
apart from each other4 ,they were houses
 of more pretension1 too1 with grounds  
and gardens and fruit trees about them2 
and built in styles that were notable1  
if not according to any particular rule4
 ,soon the ground began to descend      
sharply towards the bed of a brook1     
which brawled along with impetuous      
waters towards a mill somewhere out of  
sight4 ,it was a full1 fine stream1     
mimicking the rapids and eddies of      
larger streams1 with all their life and 
fury given to its smaller current4 ,the 
waters looked black and wintry in       
contrast with the white snow of the     
shores4 ,a foot-bridge spanned the      
brook1 alongside of another bridge for  
carriages2 and just beyond1 the black   

walls of a ruin showed where another    
fine mill had once stood4 ,that mill had
 been burnt4 ,it was an old story2 the  
girls did not so much as think about it 
now4 ,matilda's glance had gone the     
other way1 where the stream rushed along
 from under the bridge and hurried down 
a winding glen1 bordered by a road that 
seemed well traversed4 ,a house could be
 seen down the glen1 just where the road
 turned in company with the brook and   
was lost to view4  ,i wonder who lives  
down there8 said ,matilda4  ,i don't    
know4 ,yes1 ,i do1 too2 but ,i have     
forgotten4  ,i wonder if they come to   
church4  ,i don't know that2 and ,i     
shall not go to ask them4 ,why1         
,matilda1 you never cared before whether
 people went to church4  ,don't you care
 now8 was ,matilda's rejoinder4  ,no6 ,i
 don't care4 ,i don't know those people4
 ,they may go to fifty churches1 for    
aught ,i can tell4  ,but1 ,maria1--said 
her little sister4  ,what8  ,i do not   
understand you4  ,very likely4 ,that    

isn't strange4  ,but1 ,maria1--you      
promised the other night--,o ,maria1    
what things you promised6  ,what then8  
said ,maria4 ,what do you mean8 ,what   
did ,i promise8  ,you promised you would
 be a servant of ,christ1 ,matilda said1
 anxiously4  ,well1 what if ,i did8 said
 ,maria4 ,of course ,i did2 what then4  
,am ,i to find out whether everybody in 
,shadywalk goes to church1 because ,i   
promised that8 ,it is not my business4  
,whose business is it8  ,it is ,mr4     
,richmond's business and ,mr4 ,everett's
 business2 and ,mr4 ,schnflocker's      
business4 ,i don't see what makes it    
mine4  ,then you ought not to have said 
that you would bring new scholars to the
 school1 ,i think1 if you did not mean  
to do it2 and whom do you mean to carry 
the message to1 ,maria8 ,you said you   
would carry the message4  ,i don't know 
what carrying the message means1 said   
,maria4  ,matilda let the question drop1
 and they went on their way in silence2 
rising now by another steep ascent on   

the other side of the brook1 having     
crossed the bridge4 ,the hill was steep 
enough to give their lungs play without 
talking4 ,at the top of the hill the    
road forked2 one branch turned off      
southwards2 the high road turned east2  
the sisters followed this4 ,a little way
 further1 and both slackened their steps
 involuntarily as the house they were   
going to came full in view4  ,it was    
like a great many others2 brown with the
 weather1 and having a certain forlorn  
look that a house gets when there are no
 loving eyes within it to care how it   
looks4 ,the doors did not hang straight2
 the windows had broken panes2 a tub    
here and a broken pitcher there stood in
 sight of every passer-by4 ,a thin      
wreath of smoke curled up from the      
chimney1 so it was certain that people  
lived there2 but nothing else looked    
like it4 ,the girls went in through the 
rickety gate4 ,over the house the bare  
branches of a cherry tree gave no       
promise of summery bloom2 and some tufts

 of brown stems standing up from the    
snow hardly suggested the gay hollyhocks
 of the last season4 ,the two girls     
slackened their steps yet more1 and     
seemed not to know very well how to go  
on4  ,i don't like it1 ,tilly1 ,maria   
said4 ,i have a mind to give it up4     
,oh1 ,i wouldn't1 ,maria1 the little one
 replied2 but she looked puzzled and    
doubtful4  ,well1 suppose they don't    
want to see us in here8 it don't look as
 if they did4  ,we can try1 ,maria2 it  
will do no harm to try4  ,i don't know  
that1 said ,maria4 ,i'll never come such
 an errand again1 ,matilda2 never6 ,i   
give you notice of that4 ,what shall ,i 
do8 ,knock8  ,i suppose so4  ,maria     
knocked4 ,the next minute the upper half
 of the door was opened1 and an oldish  
woman looked out4 ,a dirty woman1 with  
her hair all in fly-away order1 and her 
dress very slatternly as well as soiled4
  ,what do you want8  ,are there some   
children here8 ,maria began4  ,children8
 yes1 there's children here4 ,there's my

 children4  ,do they go to school8  ,has
 somebody been stealin' something1 and  
you want to know if it's my children    
have done it8 said the woman4 ',cos they
 don't go to no school that you ever    
see4  ,i did not mean any such thing1   
said ,maria1 quite taken aback4  ,well1 
what did you mean8 the woman asked      
sharply4  ,we want to see the children1 
,matilda put in4 ,may we come in and get
 warm1 if you please8  ,the woman still 
held the door in her hand1 and looked at
 the last speaker from head to foot2    
then half reluctantly opened the door4  
,i don't know as it'll hurt you to come 
in1 she said2 but it won't do you much  
good2 the place is all in a clutter1 and
 it always is4 ,come along in1 if you   
want to6 and shut the door2 'tain't so  
warm here you'll need the wind in to    
help you4 ,want the children1 did you   
say8 what do you want of 'em8  ,matilda 
thought privately that the wind would   
have been a good companion after all2 no
 sooner was the door shut1 than all     

remembrance of fresh air faded away4 ,an
 inexpressible atmosphere filled the    
house1 in which frying fat1 smoke1      
soapsuds1 and the odour of old garments1
 mingled and combined in proportions    
known to none but such dwelling-places4 
,yet it was not as bad as it might have 
been1 by many degrees2 the house was a  
little frame house1 open at the joints2 
and it stood in the midst of heaven's   
free air2 all the winds that came from  
the mountains and the river swept over  
and around it1 came down the chimney    
sometimes1 and breathed blessed breaths 
through every opening door and shackling
 window-frame4 ,but to ,matilda it      
seemed as bad as could be4 ,so it seemed
 to her eyes too4 ,nothing clean2       
nothing comfortable2 nothing in order2  
scraps of dinner on the floor2 scraps of
 work under the table2 a dirty cat in   
the corner by the stove2 a wash tub     
occupying the other corner4 ,the woman  
had her sleeves rolled up1 and now      
plunged her arms into the tub again4    

,you can put in a stick of wood1 if you 
want to1 she said2 ,i guess the fire's  
got down4 ,what did you come here for1  
hey8 ,i hain't heard that yet1 and ,i'm 
in a takin' to find out4  ,we thought   
maybe your children might like to go to 
,sunday-,school1 said ,maria1 with a    
great deal of trepidation2 and we just  
came to ask them4 ,that's all4  ,how did
 ye know but they went already8 the     
woman asked1 looking at ,maria from the 
corner of her eye4  ,i didn't know4 ,i  
just came to ask them4  ,well1 ,i just  
advise you not to mix yourself with     
people's affairs till you do know a     
little about 'em4 ,what business is it  
o' yourn1 eh1 whether my children goes  
to ,sunday-,school8 ,sunday-,school6    
what a poke it is6  ,they did not come  
to our ,sunday-,school1 said ,matilda1  
for her sister was nonplussed2 and we   
would like to have them come2 unless    
they were going somewhere else4  ,they  
may speak for themselves1 said ,mrs4    
,dow2 and she opened an inner door1 and 

called in a shrill                      
voice--,araminty6--,jemimy6--,alexander6
--come right along down1 and if ye don't
 ,i'll whip ye4  ,she went back to her  
washing-tub1 and ,maria and ,matilda    
looked to see three depressed specimens 
of young human life appear at that inner
 door2 but first tumbled down and burst 
in a sturdy1 rugged young rascal of some
 eight or nine years2 and after him a   
girl a little older1 with the blackest  
of black eyes and hair1 the latter      
hanging straight over her face and ears4
 ,the eyes of both fastened upon their  
strange visitors1 and seemed as if they 
would move no more4  ,them girls is come
 to get you to their ,sunday-,school1   
said the mother4 ,don't you want for to 
go8  ,no answer1 and no move of the     
black eyes4 ,matilda certainly thought  
they looked as if they feared the       
lifting of no mortal hand1 their        
mother's or any other4  ,would you like 
to go to ,sunday-,school8 inquired      
,maria politely1 driven to speak by the 

necessities of the silence4 ,but she    
might as well have asked ,mrs4 ,dow's   
wash-tub4 ,the mother laughed a little  
to herself4  ,guess you might as well go
 along back the road ye come6 she said4 
,you won't get my ,araminty ,jemimy into
 no ,sunday-,school o' yourn this time4 
,maybe when she's growed older and      
wiser-like1 she'll come and see you4    
,she don' know what a ,sunday-,school's 
like4 ,she thinks it's some sort of a   
trap4  ,i ain't afraid6 spoke out black 
eyes4  ,i didn't say you was1 said her  
mother4 ,i might ha' said you was       
cunnin' enough to keep your foot out of 
it4  ,it is not a trap1 said ,matilda1  
boldly4 ,it is a pleasant place1 where  
we sing1 and learn nice things4  ,my    
children don't want to learn none o'    
your nice things1 said the woman4 ,i can
 teach 'em to home4  ,but you don't6    
said black eyes4 ,you don't never learn 
us nothing6  ,there was not the         
slightest sweet desire of learning      
evidenced in this speech4 ,it breathed  

nothing but defiance4  ,alexander1 won't
 you come8 said ,matilda1 timidly1 as   
her sister moved to the door4 ,for      
,maria's courage gave out4 ,but at that 
question the young urchin addressed set 
up a roar of hoarse laughter1 throwing  
himself down and rolling over on the    
floor4 ,his mother shoved him out of her
 way with a push that was very like a   
kick1 and his sister1 seizing a wringing
 wet piece of clothes from the wash-tub1
 dropped it spitefully on his head4     
,there was promise of a fight2 and      
,matilda and ,maria hurried out4 ,they  
hastened their steps through the garden1
 and even out in the high road they ran 
a little to get away from ,mrs4 ,dow's  
neighbourhood4  ,well6 said ,maria1 what
 do you think now1 ,tilly8 ,i hope you  
have got enough for once of this kind of
 thing4 ,i promise you ,i have4  ,hush6 
said ,matilda4 ,some one is calling4    
,they stopped and turned4 ,a shout was  
certainly sent after them from the gate 
they had quitted--,girls1               

hollo6--,sunday-,school girls1 hollo6   
,do you hear8 said ,matilda4            
,sunday-,school girls6--come back6      
,what can they want8 said ,maria4  ,we  
must go see1 said ,matilda4  ,so they   
went towards the gate again4 ,by the    
gate they could soon see the shock head 
of ,alexander2 he had got rid of the    
wash-tub and his mother and his         
sister--all three2 and he was waiting   
there to speak to them4 ,the girls      
hurried up again till they confronted   
his grinning face on the other side of  
the gate4  ,what do you want8 said      
,maria4 ,what do you call us back for8  
,i didn't call you1 said the boy4  ,yes1
 you did2 you called us back2 and we    
have come back all this way4 ,what do   
you want to say8  ,alexander's face was 
dull1 even in his triumph4 ,no sparkle  
or gleam of mischief prepared the girls 
for his next speech4  ,i say--ain't you 
green6  ,but another shout of rude      
laughter followed it2 and another roll  
and tumble1 though these last were on   

the snow4 ,maria and her sister turned  
and walked away till out of hearing4  ,i
 never heard of such horrible people6   
said ,maria2 never6 ,and this is what   
you get1 ,matilda1 by your dreadful     
going after ,sunday-scholars and such   
things4 ,i do hope you have got enough  
of it4  ,but ,matilda only drew deep    
sighs1 one after another1 at intervals1 
and made no reply4  ,don't you see what 
a goose you are8 persisted ,maria4      
,don't you see8  ,no1 said ,matilda4 ,i 
don't see that4  ,well1 you might4 ,just
 look at what a time we have had1 only  
because you fancied there were two      
children at that house4  ,well1 there   
are two children4  ,such children6 said 
,maria1  ,i wish ,mr4 ,richmond would go
 to see them1 said ,matilda4  ,it would 
be no use for ,mr4 ,richmond or anybody 
to go and see them1 said ,maria4 ,they  
are too wicked4  ,but you cannot tell   
beforehand1 said ,matilda4  ,and so ,i  
say1 ,tilly1 the only way is to keep out
 of such places4 ,i hope you'll be      

content now4  ,matilda was hardly       
content2 for the sighs kept coming every
 now and then4 ,so they went down the   
hill again1 and over the bridge1 past   
the glen and the burnt mill1 and began  
to go up on the other side4 ,now across 
the way1 at the top of the bank that    
overhung the dell1 there stood a house  
of more than common size and elegance1  
in the midst of grounds that seemed to  
be carefully planted4 ,a fine brick wall
 enclosed these grounds on the roadside1
 and at the top of the hill an iron gate
 gave entrance to them4  ,o ,tilly1     
exclaimed ,maria1 the ,lardners' gate is
 open4 ,look6 ,suppose we go in4  ,i    
should not like to go in1 said the      
little one4  ,why not8 ,there's nobody  
at home2 they haven't come yet2 and it's
 such a good chance4 ,you know1         
,clarissa says that people have leave to
 go into people's great places and see  
them1 in ,england1 where she has been4  
,but this is not a great place1 and we  
have not leave1 urged ,matilda4  ,oh    

well1 ,i'm going in4 ,come6 we'll just  
go in for a minute4 ,it's no harm4 ,come
 just for a minute4  ,matilda1 however1 
stopped at the gate1 and stood there    
waiting for her sister2 while ,maria    
stepped in cautiously and made her way  
as far as the front of the house4 ,here 
she turned and beckoned to ,matilda to  
join her2 but the little one stood fast4
  ,what does she want of you8 a voice   
asked at her elbow4 ,matilda started4   
,two ladies were there4  ,she beckoned  
for me to go in where she is1 said      
,matilda4  ,well1 why don't you go in8  
,the voice was kindly2 the face of the  
lady was bending towards her graciously2
 but who it was ,matilda did not know4  
,we have no leave to go in1 she said4 ,i
 do not like to be there4  ,i dare say  
the people would let you come in1 if    
they knew you wished it4  ,they do not  
know1 said ,matilda4  ,what a charming  
child6 said the lady apart to her       
companion4 ,my dear1 she went on to     
,matilda1 will you come in on my        

invitation8 ,this is my house1 and you  
are welcome4 ,i shall be as glad to see 
you as you to see the place4 ,come6     
,and she took ,matilda's hand and led   
her in4  ,just at the crown of the bank 
the house stood1 and from here the view 
was very lovely1 even now in winter4    
,over the wide river1 which lay full in 
view with its ice covering1 to the      
opposite shores and the magnificent     
range of mountains1 which1 from         
,matilda's window at home1 she could    
just see in a little bit4 ,the full     
range lay here before the eye1 white    
with snow1 coloured and brightened by   
the sinking sun1 which threw wonderful  
lights across them1 and revealed        
beautiful depths and shadows4 ,still1   
cold1 high1 far-off2 their calm majesty 
held ,matilda's eye4  ,are you looking  
at the mountains8 said the lady4 ,yes1  
now come in and you shall look at my    
flowers4 ,your sister may come too1 she 
added1 nodding kindly to ,maria2 but she
 kept ,matilda's hand1 and so led her   

first upon the piazza1 which was a      
single step above the ground1 then into 
the hall4 ,an octagon hall1 paved with  
marble1 and with large white statues    
holding post around its walls1 and a    
vase of flowers on the balustrade at the
 foot of the staircase4 ,but those were 
not the flowers the lady had meant2 she 
passed on to one of the inner rooms1 and
 from that to another1 and finally into 
a pretty greenhouse1 with glass windows 
looking out to the mountains and the    
river1 filled on this side of the       
windows with tropical bloom4 ,while the 
girls gazed in wonder1 the lady stepped 
back into the room they had left1 and   
threw off her wrappings4 ,when she came 
again to the girls in the greenhouse1   
they hardly knew which to look at1 her  
or the flowers2 her dress and whole     
appearance were so unlike anything they 
had ever seen4  ,which do you like best8
 she said4 ,the roses1 you know1 of     
course2 these are camellias1--and       
these--and these red ones too2 all      

camellias4 ,these are myrtle2 these are 
heath2 these are geraniums--all those   
are geraniums4 ,this is                 
,eupatorium--those1 yes1 those are      
azaleas1 and those1--and all those4     
,yes1 all azaleas4 ,you like them8 ,this
 is bigonia4 ,what do you like best8    
,it was a long while before ,matilda    
could divide and define her admiration  
enough to tell what she liked best4     
,carnations and heath were found at last
 to have her best favour4 ,the lady cut 
a bouquet for her with plenty of        
carnations and heath1 but a variety of  
other beauty too2 then led the girls    
into the other room and offered them    
some rich cake and a glass of what      
,matilda supposed to be wine4 ,she took 
the cake and refused the cordial4  ,it  
is very sweet1 said the lady4 ,you will 
not dislike it2 and it will warm you1   
this cold afternoon4  ,i may not drink  
wine1 ma'am1 thank you1 ,matilda        
answered4  ,it is not wine4 ,does it    
make you sick1 my dear8 ,are you afraid 

to try it8 ,your sister is not afraid4  
,i think it will do you good4  ,being   
thus reassured1 ,matilda put the glass  
to her lips1 but immediately set it down
 again4  ,you do not like it8 said the  
lady4  ,i like it2 but--it is strong8   
said ,matilda1 inquiringly4  ,why1 yes1 
it would not be good for anything if it 
were not strong4 ,never mind that--if   
you like it4 ,the glass does not hold   
but a thimbleful1 and a thimbleful will 
not hurt you4 ,why1 why not1 my dear8   
,matilda looked up1 and coloured and    
hesitated4  ,i have promised not1 she   
said4  ,so solemnly8 said the lady1     
laughing4 ,is it your mother you have   
promised8  ,no1 ma'am4  ,not your       
mother8 ,you have a mother8  ,oh yes1   
ma'am4  ,would she have any objection8  
,no1 ma'am--,i believe not4  ,then whom 
have you made your promise to8 ,is it a 
religious scruple that some one has     
taught you8  ,i have promised to do all 
,i could for helping temperance work1   
,matilda said at last4  ,she was        

answered with a little ringing laugh1   
not unkindly but amused2 and then her   
friend said gravely--  ,your taking a   
glass of cordial in this house would not
 affect anything or anybody1 little one4
 ,it would do me no harm4 ,i drink a    
glass of wine every day with my dinner4 
,i shall go on doing it just the same4  
,it will not make a bit of difference to
 me1 whether you take your cordial or   
not4  ,but ,matilda looked at the lady1 
and did not look at her glass4  ,do you 
think it will8 said the lady1 laughing4 
,no1 ma'am4  ,then your promise to help 
temperance work does not touch the      
cordial4  ,no ma'am1 but----            
,but8--what 'but'8  ,it touches me4     
,does it8 said the lady4 ,that is odd4  
,you think a promise is a promise4 ,here
 is your sister taking her cordial2 she 
has not made the same promise1 ,i       
suppose8  ,maria and ,matilda glanced at
 each other4  ,she has8 cried the lady4 
,yet you see she does not think as you  
do about it4  ,the sisters did not look 

into each other's eyes again4 ,their    
friend watched them both4  ,i should    
like to know whom you have made such a  
promise to1 she said coaxingly to       
,matilda4 ,somebody that you love well  
enough to make you keep it4 ,won't you  
tell me8 ,it is not your mother1 you    
said4 ,to whom did you make that        
promise1 dear8  ,matilda hesitated and  
looked up into the lady's face again4   
,i promised--the ,lord ,jesus1 she said4
  ,good patience6 she's religious6 the  
lady exclaimed1 with a change coming    
over her face2 ,matilda could not tell  
what it was1 only it did not look like  
displeasure4 ,but she was graver than   
before1 and she pressed the cordial no  
more2 and at parting she told ,matilda  
she must certainly come and see her     
again1 and she should always have a     
bunch of flowers to pay her4 ,so the    
girls went home1 saying nothing at all  
to each other by the way4     ,,chapter 
,,vii4   ,it was tea-time at home by the
 time they got there4 ,all during the   

meal1 ,maria held forth upon the        
adventures of the afternoon1 especially 
the last4  ,mamma1 those people are     
somebody1 she concluded4  ,i hope ,i am 
somebody1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield4  ,oh  
but you know what ,i mean1 mamma4  ,i am
 not clear that ,i do4  ,and ,i1        
,maria1--am ,i not somebody8 her aunt   
asked4  ,well1 we're all somebody1 of   
course1 in one sense4 ,of course we're  
not nobody4  ,i am not so sure what you 
think about it1 said ,mrs4 ,candy4 ,i   
think that in your language1 who isn't  
somebody is nobody4  ,oh1 well1 we're   
somebody1 said ,maria4 ,but if you could
 see the splendid bunch of jewels that  
hung at ,mrs4 ,laval's breast1 you would
 know ,i say the truth4  ,now we are    
getting at ,maria's meaning1 observed   
,clarissa4  ,i have no bunch of jewels  
hanging at my breast1 said ,mrs4        
,englefield2 if that is what she means  
by 'somebody4'  ,how large a bunch was  
it1 ,maria8 her aunt asked4  ,and is it 
certain that ,maria's eyes could tell   

the true from the false1 in such a      
matter as a bunch of jewellery8         
suggested ,clarissa4 ,they have not had 
a great deal of experience4  ,maria     
fired up4 ,i just wish you could see    
them for yourself6 she said4 ,false     
jewels1 indeed6 ,they sparkle like      
flashes of lightning4 ,all glittering   
and flashing1 red and white4 ,i never   
saw anything so beautiful in all my     
life4 ,and if you saw the rest of the   
dress1 you would know that they couldn't
 be false jewels4  ,what sort of a face 
had she8  ,i don't know1--handsome4     
,the bunch of jewels dazzled ,maria's   
eyes1 said ,clarissa1 sipping her tea4  
,no1 not handsome1 ,maria1 ,matilda     
said4  ,well1 not handsome exactly1 but 
pleasant4 ,she had curls1 and lightish  
hair2 but her dress was so handsome1 it 
made her look handsome4 ,she took a     
terrible fancy to ,matilda4  ,matilda is
 the youngest1 said her mother4  ,it was
 thanks to ,matilda we got into the     
house at all2 and ,matilda had the      

flowers4 ,nobody spoke of giving me any 
flowers4  ,well1 you know you do not    
care for them1 interposed ,matilda4     
,mamma1 those people are somebody--,i   
can tell you6  ,you speak as if there   
were nobody else in ,shadywalk1 ,maria1 
that is anybody4  ,well1 ,aunt ,candy1  
,i don't know any people like these4    
,maria1 you talk nonsense1 said her     
mother4  ,mamma1 it is just what ,aunt  
,erminia would say herself1 if she knew 
the people4  ,what makes anybody        
'somebody1' ,i should like to know8 and 
what do you mean by it8 ,am ,i nobody1  
because ,i cannot wear red and white    
jewels at my throat8  ,it wasn't at her 
throat at all1 mamma2 it was just       
here--on her waist4  ,a bouquet de      
corsage1 said ,clarissa4 ,the waist1 as 
you call it1 is at the belt4  ,well1 ,i 
am not a mantua-maker1 said ,maria4  ,no
 more than we are somebody1 said ,mrs4  
,candy4  ,well1 you know what ,i mean1  
said ,maria2 and you all think exactly  
the same4 ,there is nobody else in      

,shadywalk that dresses so1 or that has 
such flowers1 or that has such a house4 
,who are they1 these people that she    
talks of8 ,mrs4 ,candy asked4  ,they    
have lately bought the place4 ,i know   
nothing about them4 ,they were here for 
a little while in the summer2 but only  
to turn everything upside down in the   
house and grounds1 and make changes4 ,i 
cannot imagine what has brought them    
here1 to the country1 in the depth of   
winter4 ,they had nothing to do with    
anybody in ,shadywalk1 that ,i know of4 
,perhaps they will1 now they have got in
 order4 ,i believe they have lived out  
of ,america a good deal4  ,is that what 
you mean by 'somebody1' ,maria8 her aunt
 asked4 ,perhaps ,i am 'somebody1'      
according to that4  ,maria's thoughts   
would not bear to be spoken1 it seemed1 
for she did not speak them2 and it must 
be a strong reason that kept ,maria's   
opinions to herself4 ,however1 the      
family found something else to talk     
about1 and ,mrs4 ,laval was not         

mentioned again till ,maria and ,matilda
 went up to bed4 ,then ,matilda had     
something to say4  ,maria1 she began    
with judicial gravity1 what was that    
,mrs4 ,laval gave us to drink8  ,i don't
 know1 said ,maria2 but it was the best 
thing ,i ever tasted in all my life4 ,it
 was some sort of wine1 ,i guess2 it was
 strong enough4 ,but it was sweet2 oh1  
it was nice6  ,and you drank it6  ,i    
guess ,i did6 ,i only wished there was  
more of it4  ,but1 ,maria6----  ,well1  
what1 ',maria'8  ,you promised1 ,maria1 
that you would do all you could for     
temperance work4  ,what then8 ,i could  
not do anything for temperance there1   
child4 ,as ,mrs4 ,laval said4  ,you     
needn't have drunk the wine4  ,why      
shouldn't ,i8 ,mrs4 ,laval gave it to   
me2 ,i couldn't be rude4  ,but that is  
not keeping your promise4  ,i made no   
promise about it4 ,i could do nothing in
 the world for temperance there1 ,tilly4
 ,what would ,mrs4 ,laval care for      
anything ,i should say8  ,but1 ,maria6  

said her little sister1 looking puzzled 
and troubled at once--you cannot drink  
wine in one place1 and try to hinder    
people from drinking it in another      
place4  ,why can't ,i8 ,it all depends  
on the place1 ,tilly1 and the people4   
,and the wine1 ,i suppose1 said         
,matilda1 severely4  ,yes6 said ,maria1 
boldly1 ,i dare say1 if all wine was    
like that1 ,mr4 ,richmond would have no 
objection to it4  ,i don't see1 ,maria1 
said her sister1 what you made those    
promises for the other night4 ,i think  
you ought not to have got up at all2 it 
was the same as speaking2 and if you do 
not mean to keep promises1 you should   
not make them4  ,and what have you got  
to do with it8 said ,maria in her turn4 
,you did not stand up with the rest of  
us2 you have no business to lecture     
other people that are better than       
yourself4 ,i am going to keep all the   
promises ,i ever made2 but ,i did not   
engage to go poking into ,mrs4 ,dow's   
wash kitchen1 nor to be rude to ,mrs4   

,laval2 and ,i don't mean to do the one 
or the other1 ,i give you notice4       
,matilda drew another of the long       
breaths that had come so many times that
 afternoon1 and presently remarked that 
she was glad the next meeting of the    
,band would come in a few days4  ,maria 
sharply inquired1 ,why8  ,because1 said 
,matilda1 ,i hope ,mr4 ,richmond will   
talk to us4 ,i don't understand about   
things4  ,of course you don't6 said     
,maria2 and if ,i were you ,i would not 
be so wise1 till ,i did 'understand4'   
,matilda got into bed1 and ,maria sat   
down to finish putting the braid on her 
dress4  ,tilly1 what are you going to   
get with your twenty-five dollars8  ,i  
don't know yet4  ,i don't know whether  
,i shall get a watch1 or a dress1 like  
,anne2 or something else4 ,what would   
you8  ,i don't know4  ,what are you     
going to get with your money1 ,matilda8 
,i can't tell1 ,maria4 ,i know what ,i  
am going to do with part2 but ,i don't  
know what ,i am going to do with the    

other part4  ,maria could get no more   
from her4  ,nothing new happened in the 
family before the evening came for what 
,maria called the ,band meeting4        
,matilda went about between home and the
 school extremely quiet and demure1 and 
reserved rather more than ordinary2 but 
reserve was ,matilda's way4 ,only ,maria
 knew1 and it irritated her1 that her   
little sister was careful to lock       
herself up alone with her ,bible1 or    
rather with somebody else's ,bible1 for 
,matilda had none of her own1 for a good
 long time every morning and evening4   
,maria thought sometimes she knew of her
 doing the same thing at the noon       
recess4 ,she said nothing1 but she      
watched4 ,and her watching made her     
certain of it4 ,matilda unlocked her    
door and came out always with a face of 
quiet seriousness and a spirit in       
armour4 ,maria could not provoke her    
7and she tried72 nor could any other    
temptations or difficulties1 that she   
could see1 shake a certain steady       

gentleness with which ,matilda went     
through them4 ,matilda was never a      
passionate child1 but she had been      
pleasure-loving and wayward4 ,that was  
changing now2 and ,matilda was giving   
earnest care to her school-work4  ,the  
desired evening for the ,band meeting   
came1 and the young people all went duly
 to the lecture-room2 though ,maria     
reminded her sisters that they did not  
belong there4 ,letitia and ,anne chose  
to go in spite of that fact4 ,the room1 
though not full1 was filled towards the 
upper end2 so the party were divided1   
and it happened that ,matilda placed    
herself apart from her sisters1 in the  
front1 at the end of a seat near to ,mr4
 ,richmond4 ,he was there already1      
standing by the little desk4  ,after the
 prayer and singing1 ,mr4 ,richmond     
declared that they were come together   
for a talk2 and he meant to make it a   
talk4 ,he should ask questions when he  
chose1 and everybody else might exercise
 the same liberty4  ,we are going to try

 to understand things1 he said2 and by  
that somewhat vague expression ,i mean  
things connected with our covenant that 
we have made1 and the work we have      
undertaken4 ,our covenant begins with   
the words1 ',we are the servants of     
,christ4' ,let us know exactly what we  
mean4 ,what is it to be a servant of    
,christ8 ,what is a servant1 in the     
first place8  ,there was hesitation2    
then an answer from somewhere1--,he is  
somebody who does what he is told4      
,that would be a good servant1 said ,mr4
 ,richmond1 smiling2 but it will do4 ,he
 is one who acts under the will of      
another1 doing the work of another4 ,a  
servant of ,christ--what does he        
do8--and how does he do it8  ,there was 
no answer this time4  ,let us look1 said
 ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,in the first verse of 
the first chapter of his ,epistle to the
 ,romans1 ,paul calls himself a servant 
of ,jesus ,christ2 and in the ninth     
verse he says that he serves 'with his  
spirit4' ,here is a mark4 ,the service  

of ,christ1 you see1 is in the first    
instance1 not outward but inward4 ,not  
hand work1 nor lip work1 nor money      
giving2 but service in the spirit4 ,what
 is that8  ,it is having your will the  
same with ,god's will4  ,so now look and
 see4 ,we all pledged ourselves the     
other night to do a great many sorts of 
outward service2 good in themselves1 and
 right and needful to do4 ,but the first
 question is1 ,are we ourselves the     
servants of ,christ8 ,do we in heart    
love and obey and agree to ,his will8   
,if we are not doing that1 or trying to 
do it1 our other service is no service  
at all4 ,it is a lie1 and no service at 
all4 ,or it is service of ourselves4    
,mr4 ,richmond paused a little4  ,i have
 no reason to think that any of you did 
not mean true service1 when the pledge  
was given the other night4 ,so now let  
us see how this true service shows      
itself4  ,jesus said1 you remember1 ',if
 any man serve me1 let him follow me4'  
,all we have to ask is1 ,how did the    

,lord himself walk1 that we should      
follow ,him8 ,i recommend you to study  
the story of ,his life very carefully   
and very constantly1 and be continually 
getting new lessons from it4 ,but now   
let us look just at one or two points4  
,jesus said1 ',as long as ,i am in the  
world1 ,i am the ,light of the world4'  
,has he commanded us to be anything like
 that8  ,one of the boys answered1 ,let 
your light so shine before men1 that    
they may see your good works1 and       
glorify your ,father which is in heaven4
  ,how can our light shine8  ,doing     
good1 another boy answered4  ,being     
good1 said one of the girls4  ,very     
well2 but what is there in doing and    
being good which has any resemblance to 
light8 ,what does light do8  ,it shows  
things1 a boy said4  ,there's no        
darkness where the light comes1 said a  
little girl4  ,quite true2 but how does 
our doing good and being good1 'show    
things'8 ,what does it show8  ,after a  
little hesitation a voice replied1 ,it  

shows what is right4  ,it shows what    
people ought to do1 a boy said4  ,it    
shows what is the will of ,god about us1
 said ,mr4 ,richmond2 and the more      
exactly we are obedient to that will and
 conformed to it1 the more brightly do  
we give light4 ,and do you see8 our     
light-giving depends on what we are4 ,we
 give no light1 except just so far as we
 are ourselves what ,god wills us to be4
 ,and then it shines out in all sorts of
 ways4 ,i knew a little girl whose eyes 
were like two pure lamps1 always2 they  
were so loving and clear and true4 ,i   
have known several people whose voices  
gave light as much as harmony2 they were
 so sweet with the tones of a glad heart
 and a conscience at peace4 ,i have seen
 faces that shone1 almost like angel    
faces1 with the love of ,god and the joy
 of heaven and the love of their        
fellow-men4 ,now this is the first thing
 the ,lord calls us to be in ,his       
service--,his light-bearers4 ,the light 
comes from ,him2 we must get it from    

,him2 and then we must shine6 ,and of   
course our actions give light too1 if   
they are obedient to the will of ,god4  
,a boy who keeps the ,sabbath holy is   
almost as good as a sermon to a boy who 
doesn't4 ,one who refuses to touch the  
offered glass of wine1 shows the light  
to another who drinks it4 ,a loving     
answer shames a harsh spirit2 and a     
child faithful to her duties at school  
is a beacon of truth to her fellows4    
,there is one thing more2 and then ,i   
will talk to you no longer this evening4
 ,jesus said1 ',the ,son of man is come 
to seek and to save that which is lost4'
 ,his servants must follow ,him4 ,now1  
how much are you willing to do1--how far
 are you willing to go1--to accomplish  
what ,he came1 and lived1 and died for8 
and how will you set about it8  ,there  
was a long silence here2 until ,mr4     
,richmond urged that an answer should be
 given4 ,then at last somebody          
suggested--  ,bringing new scholars to  
school8  ,that is one thing to be done1 

certainly2 and a very good thing4 ,what 
else can we attempt8 ,remember1--it is  
to seek and to save the lost6  ,we might
 carry tracts1 another suggested4  ,you 
might2 and if they are good tracts1 and 
given with a kind word1 and followed    
with a loving prayer1 they will not be  
carried in vain4 ,but to whom will you  
take them1 ,frank8  ,might take them to 
the boys in the school1 ,frank thought4 
,where else8  ,might drop 'era around   
the corner1 ,mrs4 ,rice said4  ,don't   
drop them anywhere1 where it is possible
 to give them1 ,mr4 ,richmond replied4  
,do not ever be1 or seem1 ashamed of    
your wares4 ,give lovingly to almost    
anybody1 and the gift will not be       
refused1 if you choose the time and     
place wisely4 ,take people when they are
 alone1 as much as you can4 ,but the    
lost1 remember4 ,who are the lost8      
,silence2 then a voice spoke--  ,people 
who don't come to church4  ,it is a bad 
sign when people do not come to church1 
said ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,still we may not  

make that an absolute test4 ,some people
 are sick and unable to come2 some are  
deaf and unable to hear if they did     
come2 some are so poor they have not    
decent clothes4 ,some live where there  
are no churches4 ,who are the lost8     
,people who are not going to heaven1 one
 little girl answered4  ,people who are 
not good1 another said4  ,people who    
swear1 said a boy4  ,those people who do
 not love ,jesus ,christ1 was the answer
 of the fourth4  ,that sums it all up1  
said ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,those who do not  
know the ,lord ,jesus4 ,they are out of 
the way to heaven2 they have never      
trusted in ,his blood for forgiveness2  
they are not good1 for they have not got
 ,his help to make them good2 and if    
they do not swear and do other dreadful 
things1 it is only because the          
temptation is wanting4 ,they are the    
lost4 ,now1 does not every one of you   
know some friend or acquaintance who is 
a lost one8 some brother or sister      
perhaps2 or mother or father1 or cousin 

or neighbour1 who does not love ,jesus  
the ,lord8 ,those are the very first    
people for us to seek4 ,then1 outside of
 those nearest ones1 there is a whole   
world lost4 ,let us go after all1 but   
especially those who have few to look   
after them4  ,it is harder to speak to  
those you know1 than to those you don't 
know1 ,mrs4 ,trembleton said4  ,no      
matter4 ,jesus said1 ',he that taketh   
not his cross and followeth after me1   
cannot be my disciple4' ,let us go to   
the hardest cases4  ,are not tracts best
 to use with them8 ,mrs4 ,swan asked4   
,use tracts or not1 according to        
circumstances4 ,your own voice is often 
better than a tract1 if it has the right
 ring to it4 ,when    '',tis joy1 not   
duty1   ,to speak ,his beauty4'  ,speak 
that as often and wherever you can4 ,and
 'whatsoever thy hand findeth to do1 do 
it with thy might4' ,now ,i have done   
asking questions1 and you may ask me    
whatever you like4 ,it is your turn4    
,mr4 ,richmond sat down4  ,but the      

silence was unbroken4  ,i am here to    
answer questions1 remember4 ,has no one 
anything to ask8 ,has no one found any  
difficulty to be met1 and he does not   
know just how to meet it8 ,has no one   
found something to be done1 and he does 
not know just who is to do it8 ,speak1  
and tell everything4 ,now is the time4  
,silence again1 and then a little boy   
said--  ,i have found a feller that     
would like1 ,i guess1 to come to        
,sunday-,school2 but his toes is out o' 
his shoes4  ,cannot he get another pair8
 ,mr4 ,richmond asked gravely4  ,i guess
 not1 sir4  ,then it is a case for the  
',aid and ,comfort' committee1 said ,mr4
 ,richmond4 ,who is the head of your    
department8 ,who is chief of those who  
are looking up new scholars8  ,john     
,depeyster4  ,very well4 ,tell ,john    
,depeyster all about your little boy and
 his toes1 and ,john will go to the head
 of the relief committee--that is1 ,miss
 ,forshew--and she will see about it4   
,very well1 ,everett2 you have made a   

good beginning4 ,who is next8  ,i would 
like to know1 said ,miss ,forshew1 in a 
small voice1 where the relief committee 
are to get supplies from8 ,if new shoes 
are to be bought1 there must be funds4  
,that is the very thing the relief      
committee undertook1 ,i thought1 said   
,mr4 ,richmond4 ,must there be some     
scheme to relieve them first8 ,your     
business abilities can manage that1     
,miss ,forshew1 or ,i am mistaken in    
them4 ,but1 dear friends1 we are not    
going to serve ,christ with that which  
costs us nothing--are we8  ,mr4         
,richmond1 said ,ailie ,swan1 may       
temperance people drink cider8  ,the    
laughter was universal now4  ,because1  
said ,ailie1 unabashed1 ,i was talking  
to a boy about drinking it2 and he said 
cider was nothing4  ,i have seen some   
cider which was more than negative in   
its effects1 said ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,i    
think you were right ,ailie4 ,cider is  
only the juice of apples1 to be sure2   
but it gets so unlike itself once in a  

while1 that it is quite safe to have    
nothing to do with it4  ,mr4 ,richmond1 
said another girl1 what are you to do if
 people are rude8  ,the ,bible says1 ',a
 soft answer turneth away wrath1' ,mary4
  ,but suppose they will not listen to  
you8  ,be patient4 ,people did not      
always listen to the ,master1 you       
remember4  ,but would you try again8    
,if ,i had the least chance4 ,we must   
not be afraid of 'taking the wind on our
 face1' as an old writer says4 ,i would 
try again2 and ,i would pray more for   
them4 ,did you try that1 ,mary8  ,no1   
sir4  ,don't ever hope to do anything   
without prayer4 ,indeed1 we must look to
 ,god to do all4 ,we are nothing4 ,if   
anything is to be accomplished for the  
service of ,christ by our hands1 it must
 be by ,god's grace working through us  
and with us2 no other way4 ,the power is
 ,his1 always4 ,so whatever you do1     
pray1 and hope in ,god1 not in yourself4
  ,mr4 ,richmond1 said ,frances ,barth1 
,i do not understand about 'carrying the

 message4' ,what does it mean8  ,you    
know what the message is8 ,we are       
commanded to preach the gospel to every 
creature4  ,but how can we do           
it8--people who are not ministers8  ,it 
is not necessary to get up into a pulpit
 to preach the gospel4  ,no1 sir2       
but--any way1 how is one to 'carry the  
message'8  ,first1 ,i would say1 be sure
 that you have a message to carry4  ,i  
thought you just said1 ,mr4 ,richmond1  
that the gospel is the message8 said    
,mrs4 ,trembleton4  ,it is the material 
of the message2 but you know it must be 
very differently presented to different 
people4  ,i know2 but how can you tell8 
,as ,i said1 be sure that you have a    
message to carry4 ,let your heart be    
full of some thought1 or some truth1    
which you long to tell to another       
person1 or long that another person     
should know4 ,then ask the ,lord to give
 you the right word for that person2 and
 ask ,him to let ,his power go along    
with it4  ,then one's own heart must be 

full first1 said another lady1 ,mrs4    
,barth1 thoughtfully4  ,it should be4   
,and it may be4  ,one has so little time
 to give to these things1 said ,mrs4    
,trembleton4  ,shall we serve the ,lord 
with that which costs us nothing8 again 
said ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,but he did not    
prolong the conversation after that4 ,he
 gave out a hymn and dismissed the      
assembly4  ,matilda being quite in the  
front1 was some distance behind her     
sisters in coming out4 ,as she passed   
slowly down the aisle1 she came near two
 of her little acquaintances in one of  
the seats1 who were busily talking4  ,it
 would be so nice6 she heard the one say
 to the other4  ,where shall we do it8  
,there's no place at our house4  ,no    
more there isn't at mine4 ,there are so 
many people about all over4 ,where can  
we go8  ,i'll tell you4 ,mr4 ,ulshoeffer
 has this place nice and warm long      
before ,sunday-,school time1 on         
,sundays2 let us come here4 ,we could   
come awhile before the time1 you know2  

and it would be so nice4 ,nobody would  
interrupt us4 ,oh1 there's ,matilda     
,englefield--,matilda1 won't you come   
too8 ,oh1 ,i forgot2 you are not one of 
the ,band4  ,yes1 ,i am1 said ,matilda4 
,why1 you didn't rise the other night   
when we all rose4 ,i looked over at you 
to see4  ,i gave ,mr4 ,richmond my name 
afterwards4  ,oh1 did you6 oh1 that's   
good4 ,now1 ,matilda1 wouldn't you like 
to come with ,mary and me8  ,what are   
you going to do8  ,why1 ,mary said she  
would like to begin and read the ,life  
of ,jesus1 you know1 to see how ,he did 
live2 if we are to follow ,him1 you     
know2 and ,i said ,i would like it too2 
and we're going to do it together4 ,and 
we're coming here ,sundays1 before time 
for ,sunday-,school1 to have a good     
quiet place where nobody can trouble us4
 ,don't you want to come too1 ,matilda8 
,yes4 ,but other people will find it out
 and come too4  ,we'll lock the door2   
till it is time for the people to come  
to ,sunday-,school1 you know4  ,but ,i  

don't believe we can get in1 ,ailie1    
said ,mary ,edwards4 ,i guess ,mr4      
,ulshoeffer keeps the door locked       
himself4  ,i know he does2 but ,i know  
,regina ,ulshoeffer1 and she'll get     
leave for us and get the key4 ,i know   
she will4 ,then we'll come1 won't we8   
,good-night6 ,bring your ,testament1    
,tilly6  ,the little group scattered at 
the lecture-room door1 and ,matilda ran 
after her party4 ,they were far ahead2  
and when she caught up with them they   
were deep in eager talk1 which was      
almost altercation4 ,matilda fell behind
 and kept out of it and out of hearing  
of it1 till they got home4  ,well6 said 
,mrs4 ,candy1 as they entered the       
parlour1 what now8 ,you do not look     
harmonious1 considering4 ,what have you 
had to-night8  ,an impossible sort of   
enthusiasm1 mamma1 said ,clarissa1 as   
she drew off her handsome furs4         
,impossible enthusiasm6 repeated ,mrs4  
,candy4  ,what has ,mr4 ,richmond been  
talking about8 asked ,mrs4 ,englefield4 

,why1 mamma1 said ,letitia1 we are all  
to spend our lives in feeding sick      
people1 and clothing lazy people1 and   
running after the society of wicked     
people1 as far as ,i can make out2 and  
our money of course goes on the same    
plan4 ,i advise you to look after ,maria
 and ,matilda1 for they are just wise   
enough to think it's all right2 and they
 will be carrying it into practice      
before you know where you are4  ,it is  
not so at all6 began ,maria1            
indignantly4 ,it is nothing like that1  
mamma4 ,you know ,mr4 ,richmond better4 
,i think ,i know you better1 too4 ,look 
where your study books were thrown down 
to-day when you came from school4 ,take 
them away1 before you do anything else  
or say anything more4  ,maria obeyed    
with a gloomy face4  ,do you approve of 
,mr4 ,richmond1 ,aunt ,marianne8        
,clarissa asked4 ,if so1 ,i will say no 
more2 but ,i was astonished to-night4 ,i
 thought he was a man of sense4  ,he is 
a man of sense1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield2 

but ,i always thought he carried his    
notions rather far4  ,why1 aunt1 he     
would make missionaries and colporteurs 
and sisters of charity of us all4       
,sisters of charity are a magnificent   
institution1 of course2 but what would  
become of the world if we were all      
sisters of charity8 ,and the idea6 that 
everybody is to spend his whole time and
 all his means in looking up vagrants   
and nursing fever cases6 ,i never heard 
anything like it in my life4 ,that1 and 
doing the work of travelling            
,methodists6  ,i wonder what the        
ministry is good for1 said ,mrs4 ,candy1
 if everybody is to do the same work4   
,i do not understand it1 said ,mrs4     
,englefield4 ,i was not brought up to   
these extreme theories myself2 and ,i do
 not intend that my children shall be4  
,but1 mamma1 said ,maria1 re-entering1  
,mr4 ,richmond does not go into extreme 
theories4  ,did you eat an apple after  
dinner8 said her mother4  ,yes1 ma'am4  
,you ate it up here1 instead of in the  

dining-room8  ,why1 mamma1 you know we  
often----  ,answer me4 ,you ate it up   
here8  ,yes4  ,what did you do with the 
core and the peel8  ,mamma1 ,i--you know
 ,i had no knife----  ,what did you do  
with it8  ,no answer1 except that       
,maria's cheeks grew bright4  ,you know 
what you did with it1 ,i suppose4 ,now  
bring it to me1 ,maria4  ,colouring     
angrily as well as confusedly1 ,maria   
went to the mantelpiece where stood two 
little china vases1 and took down one of
 them4  ,carry it to your ,aunt ,candy1 
said her mother4 ,look at it1 ,erminia4 
,now bring it here4 ,take this vase     
away1 and empty it1 and wash it1 and put
 it in its place again2 and never use it
 to put apple peels in1 as long as you  
live4  ,maria burst into tears and went 
away with the vase4  ,just a little     
careless1 said her aunt4                
,heedless--always was1 said her mother4 
,now ,matilda is not so2 and ,anne and  
,letitia were neither of them so4 ,it is
 a mystery to me1 what makes one child  

so different from another child8        
,matilda is a little piece of           
thoughtfulness1 said her aunt1 drawing  
the child to her side and kissing her4  
,don't you think a little too much1     
,tilly8  ,matilda wondered whether her  
aunt thought quite enough4  ,now1       
,maria1 ,mrs4 ,englefield went on as her
 other daughter came in1 are you        
purposing to enter into all ,mr4        
,richmond's plans that ,clarissa has    
been talking about8  ,yes1 ma'am1 of    
course1 ,maria said4  ,well1 ,i want you
 to take notice1 that ,i expect in the  
first place that all your home and      
school duties shall be perfectly        
performed4 ,religion1 if it is good for 
anything1 makes people do their duties4 
,your lessons must be perfect2 your     
drawers kept in order2 your clothes     
mended2 you must be punctual at school  
and orderly at home2 do you hear8 ,and  
if all this is not done1 ,i shall take  
all your pretended religion for nothing 
but a sham1 and shall pay no respect to 

it at all4 ,now go to bed and act       
religion for a month before ,i hear you 
talk another word about it4  ,maria went
 silently up-stairs1 accompanied by her 
little sister2 but once in their room1  
she broke out--  ,mamma is real cross   
to-night6 ,it is just ,clarissa's doing4
  ,i'll tell you what it is1 ,maria1 her
 sister said2 she is not cross2 she is  
worried4 ,i know she is worried4  ,about
 ,mr4 ,richmond8 said ,maria4  ,i don't 
know about what4 ,no1 ,i guess she was  
worried before we came back4  ,she was  
cross anyhow6 said ,maria4 ,how can one 
do everything perfectly8  ,but that is  
just what ,mr4 ,richmond said1 ,matilda 
urged gently4  ,what8  ,that we should  
be light-bearers1 you know4 ,that is the
 way to be a light-bearer2 to do        
everything perfectly4  ,well1 you may1  
if you can1 said ,maria4 ,i can't4      
,,chapter ,,viii4   ,tilly1 that money  
burns my pocket1 ,maria said the next   
morning4  ,then you had better put it   
somewhere else4  ,i suppose you think   

that is smart1 said ,maria1 but it      
isn't2 for that is just what ,i mean to 
do4 ,i mean to spend it1 somehow4  ,what
 for8  ,that's just what ,i don't know4 
,there are so many things ,i want2 and  
,i do not know what ,i want most4 ,i    
have a good mind to buy a writing-desk1 
for one thing4  ,why1 you have got one  
already4  ,i mean a handsome one--a real
 beauty1 large1 you know1 and with      
everything in it4 ,that lock of mine    
isn't good4 ,anybody could open it4     
,but there is nobody to do that1 said   
,matilda4 ,nobody comes here but you and
 me4  ,that don't make any difference6  
said ,maria1 impatiently4 ,don't be so  
stupid4 ,i would like to have a nice    
thing1 anyhow4 ,then sometimes ,i think 
,i would rather have a gold chain--like 
,clarissa's4  ,you could not get that   
for twenty-five dollars1 said ,matilda4 
,how do you know8  ,hers cost three or  
four times as much as that4  ,did       
it8--,well1 then ,i guess ,i will have  
the desk1 or a whole lot of handsome    

summer dresses4 ,i guess ,i will have   
that4  ,maria1 said her little sister1  
facing round upon her1 how much are you 
going to give to the ,missionary ,fund8 
,the ,missionary ,fund8 said ,maria4    
,yes4 ,you promised to help that1 you   
know4  ,not with my twenty-five dollars6
 said ,maria1 energetically4 ,i think   
you are crazy1 ,matilda4  ,why8         
,because6 ,to ask me such a question as 
that4 ,aunt ,candy's present6  ,didn't  
you promise8  ,i did not promise to give
 my money any more than ,i usually give4
 ,i put a penny in every ,sunday4  ,then
 ,i don't see how you are going to help 
the ,fund1 said ,matilda4 ,i don't see  
why you promised1 either4  ,i promised1 
because ,i wanted to join the ,band2 and
 ,i am going to do everything ,i ought  
to do4 ,i think ,i am just as good as   
you1 ,matilda4  ,matilda let the matter 
drop4  ,it did not appear what she was  
going to do with her money4 ,she always 
said she had not decided4 ,only1 one day
 soon after the last meeting recorded1  

,matilda was seen in one of the small   
bookstores of ,shadywalk4 ,there was not
 reading enough in the village to       
support a bookstore proper2 so the books
 crept into one corner of the           
apothecaries' shops1 with supplies of   
stationery to form a connecting link    
between them and the toilet articles on 
the opposite counter4 ,to one of these  
modest retreats of literature1 ,matilda 
came this day and requested to look at  
,bibles4 ,she chose one and paid for it2
 but she took a long time to make her   
choice2 was excessively particular about
 the goodness of the binding and the    
clearness of the type2 detecting an     
incipient loose leaf in one that was    
given her to examine2 and finally going 
away perfectly satisfied4 ,she said     
nothing about it at home2 but of course 
,maria saw the new purchase immediately4
  ,so you have been to get a ,bible6 she
 said4 ,did you get it with part of your
 twenty-five dollars8  ,yes4 ,i had no  
other money1 ,maria1 to get it with4  ,i

 think you are very foolish4 ,what do   
you want a ,bible for8  ,i had none4    
,you could always read mine4  ,not      
always4 ,and ,maria1 you know1 if we are
 to follow ,jesus1 we want to know very 
well1 indeed1 how ,he went and what ,he 
did and what ,he wants us to do2 and we 
cannot know all that without a great    
deal of study4  ,i have studying enough 
to do already1 for my part1 said ,maria4
  ,but you must study this4  ,i haven't 
a minute of time1 ,matilda--not a       
minute4  ,then how will you know what to
 do8  ,just as well as you will1        
perhaps4 ,i've got my map of ,south     
,america to do all over1 from the       
beginning4  ,and all the rest of the    
class8  ,yes4  ,then you are no worse   
off than the others4 ,and ,ailie ,swan  
reads her ,bible1 ,i know4  ,i think ,i 
am just as good as ,ailie ,swan1 said   
,maria1 with a toss of her head4  ,but1 
,maria1 said ,maria's little sister1    
leaning her elbows on the table and     
looking earnestly up at her4  ,well1    

what8  ,is that the right way to talk8  
,why not8  ,i don't see what ,ailie has 
to do with your being good4  ,nor ,i1 ,i
 am sure1 said ,maria4 ,it was you      
brought her up4  ,because1 if she has   
time1 ,i thought you might have time4   
,well1 ,i haven't time1 said ,maria4 ,it
 is as much as ,i can do1 to study my   
lesson for ,sunday-,school4  ,then1     
,maria1 how can you know how to be good8
  ,it is no part of goodness to go      
preaching to other people1 ,i would have
 you know1 said ,maria4  ,matilda turned
 over the leaves of her new ,bible      
lovingly1 and said no more4 ,but her    
sister failing her1 she was all the more
 driven to seek the little meetings in  
the corner of the ,sunday-,school-room2 
and they grew to be more and more       
pleasant4 ,at home nothing seemed to be 
right4 ,mrs4 ,englefield was not like   
herself4 ,anne and ,letitia were gloomy 
and silent4 ,the air was heavy4 ,even   
,clarissa's beautiful eyes1 when they   
were slowly lifted up to look at        

somebody1 according to her custom1      
seemed cold and distant as they were not
 at first4 ,clarissa visited several    
sick people and carried them nourishing 
things2 but she looked calm disapproval 
when ,maria proclaimed that ,tilly had  
been all up ,lilac ,lane to look for a  
stray ,sunday-,school scholar4 ,mrs4    
,englefield laughed and did not         
interfere4  ,i would never let a child  
of mine go there alone1 said ,mrs4      
,candy4  ,there is no danger in         
,shadywalk1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield4     
,you will be sorry for it1 sister4      
,well2 ,i am sorry for most things1     
sooner or later1 said ,mrs4 ,englefield4
  ,so weeks went by2 until it came to be
 the end of winter1 and something of    
spring was already stealing into the    
sunlight and softening the air2 that    
wonderful nameless something1 which is  
nothing but a far-off kiss from         
,spring's fingers4 ,one ,sunday ,mrs4   
,englefield had gone to bed with a      
headache2 and hastening away from the   

dinner-table1 ,matilda went off to her  
appointment4 ,mr4 ,ulshoeffer had been  
propitious2 he let the little girls have
 the key on the inside of the schoolroom
 door2 and an hour before it was time   
for the classes of the school to be     
gathering1 the three friends met at the 
gate and went in4 ,they always sat in a 
far-off corner of one of the transepts1 
to be as cozy as possible4 ,they were   
all punctual to-day1 ,ailie having the  
key of the door4  ,girls1 don't you get 
confused sometimes1 with the things you 
hear people say8 she asked1 as she      
unlocked the door4 ,i do2 and then      
sometimes ,i get real worried4  ,so do  
,i get worried6 ,mary ,edwards assented4
 ,and ,i don't know what to say--that's 
the worst of it4  ,now only to-day1     
,ailie went on1 as they walked up the   
matted aisle with a delicious sense of  
being free and alone and confidential1  
,i heard some one say it was no use for 
children to be ,christians2 he said they
 didn't know their own minds1 and don't 

know what they want1 and by and by it   
will all be smoke4 ,and when ,i hear    
such things1 it affects me differently4 
,sometimes ,i get mad2 and then         
sometimes it takes the strength all out 
of me4  ,but if we have the right sort  
of strength1 said ,matilda1 people can't
 take it from us1 ,ailie4  ,well1 mine  
seems to go1 said ,ailie4 ,and then ,i  
feel bad4  ,we know what we want1 said  
,mary1 if we are children4  ,we know our
 own minds1 said ,matilda4 ,we know we  
do4 ,it is no matter what people say4   
,i wish they wouldn't say it1 said      
,ailie4 ,or ,i wish ,i needn't hear it4 
,but it is good to come here and read1  
isn't it8 ,and ,i think our talk helps  
us2 don't you8  ,it helps me1 said ,mary
 ,edwards4 ,i've got nobody at home to  
talk to4  ,let us begin1 girls1 or we   
shall not have time1 said ,matilda4     
,it's the fourteenth chapter4  ,of      
,luke8 said ,ailie4 ,here it is4 ,but ,i
 don't like ,luke so well as ,matthew2  
do you8 ,well1 begin4  ,they began and  

read on1 verse by verse1 until fourteen 
verses were read4 ,there they paused4   
,what does this mean8 said ,matilda1    
knitting her small brows4  ,isn't it    
right to ask our friends to tea or      
anything8 ,why1 ,jesus went to dine with
 this ,pharisee1 said ,mary1 looking up4
  ,yes2 but that is another thing1 said 
,matilda4 ,you see1 we must ask the     
people who have no friends4  ,but why   
not our friends too8  ,perhaps it would 
cost too much to ask everybody1 said    
,ailie4 ,one would be giving parties all
 the time2 and they cost1 ,i can tell   
you4  ,but some people are rich enough1 
said ,mary4  ,those people don't make   
parties for the poor1 though1 said      
,ailie4 ,catch them6  ,but then1 can it 
mean that it is wrong to have our       
friends come and see us8 said ,matilda4 
,it cannot be wrong4 ,don't you         
remember1 ,martha and ,mary used to have
 ,jesus come to their house8 and they   
used to make suppers for ,him4  ,but ,he
 was poor1 said ,matilda4  ,that is     

different1 too1 from having a party1 and
 making a great fuss1 said ,ailie4  ,and
 that is done just to pay one's debts1  
said ,matilda1 for ,i have heard mother 
say so4 ,people ask her1 and so she must
 ask people4 ,and that is what it means1
 girls1 ,i guess4 ,see1 'lest they also 
bid thee again1 and a recompense be made
 thee4' ,that isn't making a feast for  
people that you love4  ,then it is      
wicked to ask people just that they may 
ask you1 said ,mary ,edwards4  ,instead 
of that1 we must ask people who cannot  
ask us1 said ,matilda4  ,but how queer  
we should be6 said ,ailie ,swan4 ,just  
think2 we should not be like anybody    
else4 ,and what should we do if people  
asked us8  ,i don't care1 said ,matilda4
 ,see1 girls2--'thou shalt be           
recompensed at the resurrection of the  
just4'  ,and is that what it means in   
the next verse8 said ,mary ,edwards4    
,but ,i don't understand that4 ',blessed
 is he that shall eat bread in the      
kingdom of ,god4' ,do they eat bread    

there8 ,i thought they didn't4  ,it is  
like what we read a little way back1    
said ,matilda1 flirting over one or two 
leaves1 yes1 here in the #abth          
chapter--',blessed are those servants   
whom the ,lord when ,he cometh shall    
find watching2 verily ,i say unto you1  
that ,he shall gird ,himself1 and make  
them to sit down to meat1 and will come 
forth and serve them4'  ,that means     
,jesus1 said ,mary ,edwards4 ,he will   
make them to sit down to meat6--and will
 serve them4 ,what does it mean1 ,i     
wonder8  ,it means1 that ,jesus will    
give them good things1 said ,ailie4  ,i 
guess they will be blessed1 then1 that  
eat when ,he feeds them1 said the other 
little girl4 ,i would like to be there4 
,there is a verse or two that my ,bible 
turns to1 said ,matilda4 ,in the        
,revelation4 ',and he saith unto me1    
,write1 ,blessed are they which are     
called unto the marriage supper of the  
,lamb4' ,oh1 don't you like to read in  
the ,revelation8 ,but we are all called2

 aren't we8  ,and here1 in our chapter1 
said ,mary1 it goes on to tell of the   
people who were called and wouldn't     
come4 ,so ,i suppose everybody is       
called2 and some won't come4  ,some     
don't get the invitation1 said ,matilda1
 looking up4  ,a good many don't1 ,i    
guess1 said ,ailie4 ,who do you think   
gets it in ,lilac ,lane8  ,nobody1      
hardly1 ,i guess1 said ,mary ,edwards2  
there don't many people come to church  
out of ,lilac ,lane4  ,but then1 girls1 
said ,matilda1 don't you think we ought 
to take it there8 the invitation1 ,i    
mean8  ,how can we8 ,why1 there are lots
 of people in ,lilac ,lane that ,i would
 be afraid to speak to4  ,i wouldn't be 
afraid1 said ,matilda4 ,they wouldn't do
 us any harm4  ,but what would you say  
to them1 ,tilly8  ,i would just ask them
 to come1 ,ailie4 ,i would take the     
message to them4 ,just think1 ,ailie1 of
 that time1 of that supper--when ,jesus 
will give good things with ,his own     
hand2--and how many people would come if

 they knew4 ,i would tell everybody4    
,don't you think we ought to8  ,i don't 
like to speak to people much1 said      
,ailie4 ,they would think ,i was setting
 myself up4  ,it is only carrying the   
message1 said ,matilda4 ,and that is    
what ,jesus was doing all the time1 you 
know2 and ,he has told us to follow     
,him4  ,then must we be telling it all  
the time too8 asked ,ailie4 ,we should  
do nothing else4  ,oh yes1 we should4   
,that would not hinder1 said ,matilda4  
,it doesn't take so very long to say a  
word4 ,here is another verse1 girls2    
this is in the ,revelation too2 listen4 
,this must be what those other verses   
mean3 ',they shall hunger no more1      
neither thirst any more2 neither shall  
the sun light on them1 nor any heat4    
,for the ,lamb which is in the midst of 
the throne shall feed them1 and shall   
lead them unto living fountains of      
waters2 and ,god shall wipe away all    
tears from their eyes4'  ,as if a thrill
 from some chord of an angel's harp had 

reached them1 the children were still   
for a moment4  ,i don't believe the     
people are happy in ,lilac ,lane1 said  
,matilda4  ,maybe they are1 said ,ailie4
 ,but ,i guess they can't be4 ,people   
that are not good can't be happy4  ,and 
,jesus has given us the message to take 
to everybody1 said ,matilda2 and when we
 come up there to that supper1 and ,he  
asks us if we took the message to the   
people in the lane1 what shall we say8  
,i know what ,i would like to say4  ,but
 there are other people1 besides in the 
lane1 said ,ailie4  ,we must take it to 
them too1 said ,mary ,edwards4  ,we     
can't take it to everybody4  ,no2 only  
to everybody that we can1 said ,matilda4
 ,just think how glad some of those     
people will be1 when they hear it4 ,what
 should we do if ,mr4 ,richmond had     
never told it to us8  ,ailie bit her    
lip4 ,whether by design or not1 ,mary   
,edwards turned to her ,testament and   
read the next words that followed in    
course4  ,and there went great          

multitudes with ,him3 and ,he turned1   
and said unto them1 ,if any man come    
unto me1 and hate not his father1 and   
mother1 and wife1 and children1 and     
brethren1 and sisters1 yea1 and his own 
life also1 he cannot be my disciple4    
,and seeing ,mr4 ,ulshoeffer coming to  
open the door1 the little conclave broke
 up4 ,the children and teachers came    
pouring in for the ,sunday-,school4     
,going out after it was over1 ,matilda  
noticed a face she had not seen2 a boy  
older than herself1 but not very old1   
standing near the door1 looking at the  
small crowd that trooped along the      
aisle4 ,the thought came to ,matilda    
that he was a new scholar1 and if so1   
somebody ought to welcome him2 but      
nobody did1 that she could see4 ,he     
stood alone1 looking at the people as if
 they were strange to him2 with a good1 
bright1 wide-awake face1 handsome and   
bold4 ,matilda did not want to take the 
welcoming upon herself1 but she thought 
somebody should do it2 and the next     

minute she had paused in front of the   
stranger4  ,is this the first time you  
have been here8 she asked1 with a kind  
of shy grace4 ,the boy's bright eyes    
came down to her with a look of surprise
 as he assented4  ,i am very glad to see
 you in our ,sunday-,school1 she went   
on4 ,i hope it was pleasant4  ,it was   
pleasant enough1 said the stranger4     
,there is a jolly fellow over there     
asked me to come--,ben ,barth2 are you  
his sister8  ,oh no1 said ,matilda4 ,ben
 has his own sisters4 ,i am not one of  
them4  ,i thought maybe he told you to  
speak to me4  ,nobody told me1 said     
,matilda4 ,by this time they had        
followed the crowd out at the door1 and 
were taking their way down the street4  
,what did you speak to me then1 for8    
said the boy1 with a roguish look at    
her4  ,i thought you were a stranger4   
,and what if ,i was8  ,i think1 if you  
are a stranger anywhere1 it is pleasant 
to have somebody speak to you4  ,you're 
a brick6 was the stranger's conclusion4 

,am ,i8 said ,matilda4 ,why am ,i8      
,you're a girl1 ,i suppose1 and don't   
understand things1 said her companion4  
,boys know what a brick is--when they   
see it4  ,why1 so do ,i1 said ,matilda1 
don't ,i8  ,but the boy only laughed2   
and then asked ,matilda where she lived1
 and if she had any brothers1 and where 
she went to school4  ,i go to the other 
school1 you see1 said he2 that's how    
,i've never seen you before4 ,i wish you
 went to my school2 and ,i'd give you a 
ride on my sled4  ,but you'll come to   
our ,sunday-,school1 won't you8 ,matilda
 asked4  ,to be sure ,i will2 but you   
see1 ,i can't take you on my sled on    
,sunday4 ,they'd have all the ministers 
out after me4  ,oh no6 said ,matilda4 ,i
 was not thinking of the sled2 but you  
are very kind4  ,i should like it1 said 
the boy4 ,yes1 ,i am coming to the      
school2 though ,i guess ,i've got an old
 fogy of a teacher4 ,but the minister's 
a brick2 isn't he8  ,he isn't much like 
me1 said ,matilda1 laughing4 ,and the   

sort of bricks that ,i know1 one is very
 much like another4  ,the boy laughed   
too1 and asked if she didn't want to    
know his name8 ,matilda glanced again at
 the frank face and nice dress1 and said
 yes4  ,my name's ,norton ,laval4       
,what's yours8  ,matilda ,englefield4 ,i
 am going this way4  ,yes1 you go that  
way and ,i go this way1 but we shall see
 each other again4 ,good-bye4  ,so at   
the corner they parted2 and ,matilda    
went home1 thinking that in this        
instance at least the welcoming of      
strangers had paid well4 ,for this was a
 pleasant new acquaintance1 she was     
sure4 ,she mounted the stairs with happy
 feet to her room2 and there found      
,maria in a flood of tears4 ,maria had  
stayed at home from ,sunday-,school     
to-day4  ,what is the matter1 ,maria8   
her little sister inquired4 ,how's      
mamma8  ,i don't know6 ,oh1 nothing will
 ever be well again4 ,o ,tilly1 what    
will become of us6  ,and here a storm of
 sobs and tears came on1 in the midst of

 which ,matilda's questions could get no
 attention4 ,matilda knew her sister1   
however1 and waited4  ,o ,tilly6--it's  
so dreadful6  ,what8 said ,matilda      
calmly4  ,we haven't got anything to    
live upon4 ,anne and ,letty have been   
telling me4 ,we haven't4 ,we are going  
to be as poor as--as poor as anybody4   
,we have got nothing to buy anything    
with--nothing at all6 ,anne says so4    
,did mamma say so8  ,mother's sick4 ,no1
 ,aunt ,candy told the girls4 ,it's     
true4 ,somebody or something that had   
mamma's money--to take care of--has gone
 off1 or been ruined1 or something2 and 
we are ruined6 ,there is nothing left at
 all for us to live upon4 ,and that is  
what has been troubling mamma all these 
weeks2 and now it is certain1 and she   
knows all about it2 and ,i guess it is  
that has made her sick4 ,oh1 what shall 
we do8  ,the turn of ,matilda's head was
 inimitable and indescribable4 ,it was  
not arrogance or affectation2 it was    
perfectly natural to the child2 but to a

 bystander it would have signified that 
she was aware ,maria's views and        
statements were not to be relied upon   
and could not be made the basis of      
either opinion or action4 ,she took off 
her things1 and without another word    
made her way to the room of her elder   
sisters4 ,they were both sitting there  
gloomily4  ,how is mamma8  ,i don't     
know4 ,i haven't seen her since dinner4 
,it was with a little of the same       
half-graceful1 half-competent gesture of
 the head that ,matilda applied herself 
to ,letitia4  ,what is all this story1  
,letty1 that ,maria has been telling me8
  ,how should ,i know8 ,maria tells a   
great many stories4  ,i mean1 about what
 has been troubling mamma4  ,maria had  
no business to tell you1 and so trouble 
you with it4  ,but is it true1 ,letty8  
,anne1 is it true8  ,i suppose it is    
true--if you mean what she heard from me
 a little while ago4 ,that is true4     
,and mamma has lost all her money8      
,every cent4  ,when did you know it1    

,anne and ,letty8  ,we have known it a  
day or two4 ,it is true4 ,it is all     
true1 ,tilly4  ,what is mamma going to  
do1 then8  ,get well1 ,i hope4 ,that is 
the first thing4 ,aunt ,candy says she  
will pay for her board and ,clarissa's1 
and mamma and you can live on that4     
,letty and ,i must go get our           
living--somehow4  ,and here ,anne broke 
down4 ,matilda wanted to ask about      
,maria's fate in the general falling to 
pieces of the family2 but her throat    
felt so full1 she was afraid she could  
not4 ,so she did not try2 she turned and
 went down-stairs to her mother4  ,mrs4 
,englefield was dozing1 flushed and     
uneasy2 she hardly noticed who was with 
her2 but asked for water1 and then for  
,cologne water4 ,matilda brought the one
 and the other1 and sat by the bedside  
wiping her mother's brow and cheeks with
 the ,cologne4 ,nobody came to interrupt
 or relieve her for some time4 ,the     
light of the afternoon began to fade1   
and the sunbeams came aslant from the   

western sky2 and still the child sat    
there passing the handkerchief gently   
over her mother's face4 ,and while she  
sat so1 ,matilda was thinking what      
possible ways there might be by which   
she could make money4  ,tilly1 is that  
you8 said ,mrs4 ,englefield1 faintly1 as
 the sunbeams were just quitting the    
room4  ,yes1 mamma4 ,are you better8    
,is there no one else here8  ,no1 mamma4
 ,aunt ,candy is out2 and ,i suppose the
 girls thought you were sleeping4 ,are  
you better1 mamma8 ,you have had a nice 
long nap4  ,it's been horrid6 said ,mrs4
 ,englefield4 ,i have dreamed of every  
possible dreadful thing4  ,but you feel 
better now8  ,my head aches--no--oh1 my 
head6 ,tilly----  ,what1 mamma8  ,i am  
going to be sick4 ,i shan't be about    
again for a while1 ,i know4 ,i want you 
to do just what ,i tell you4  ,yes1     
mamma4 ,what8  ,anne and ,letty are     
going away4  ,yes1 mamma4 ,i know4  ,do 
you know why1 dear8  ,the tone of       
tender1 sorrowful sympathy in which this

 was said1 overcame the child4 ,as her  
mother's eyes with the question         
languidly sought her face1 ,matilda     
burst into tears and threw herself upon 
her neck4  ,no1 don't1 said ,mrs4       
,englefield1 faintly1--,i can't bear it4
 ,don't1 ,matilda6 ,rise up and listen  
to me4  ,matilda did as she was told4   
,she forced back her tears2 stopped her 
sobs2 dashed away the drops from the    
corners of her eyes2 and sat up again to
 hear what her mother had to say to her4
  ,give me some more water first4 ,anne 
and ,letty are going away1 ,tilly2 and  
,i cannot be up and see to anything2 and
 ,i can't hire a woman to do what's to  
be done4 ,you tell ,maria1 from me1 she 
must stay home from school and take care
 of the house4 ,you will do what you    
can1 ,tilly--oh1 my head6--you can put  
rooms in order and such things2 and     
,maria must go down into the kitchen and
 get the breakfast----  ,must ,maria get
 the dinner too1 mamma8  ,yes1 the      
dinner----  ,but can she1 mamma8  ,she  

must2 or else your aunt ,candy will hire
 somebody to do it2 and that will come  
out of what she pays me1 and we shall   
not have enough left4 ,she must1 ,tilly4
  ,but aunt ,candy wouldn't mind1 just  
while you are sick1 mamma1 would she8   
,yes6 ,i know4 ,just you do as ,i tell  
you2 promise me that you will4  ,i will1
 mamma4  ,promise me that ,maria will4  
,i guess she will1 mamma4 ,i'll try and 
make her4 ,shall ,i bring her here1 and 
you tell her yourself8  ,no1 indeed4    
,don't bring ,maria here4 ,she would    
make such a row she would kill me4 ,anne
 and ,letty will see to things1 till    
they go--oh1 ,i can't talk any longer4  
,give me some more water4  ,she was     
presently dozing again2 and ,matilda1   
clasping her small hands1 sat and       
thought over what was before her4 ,it   
began to feel like a weight on her      
somewhere--on her shoulders1 she        
thought1 and lying on her heart too2 and
 the longer she thought about it1 the   
heavier and harder it pressed4 ,the     

family to be broken up2 her mother to be
 straitened for money--,matilda did not 
know very well what that meant1 but it  
sounded disagreeable2 her aunt suddenly 
presented in new and not pleasant       
colours2 a general threatening cloud    
overshadowing all the future4 ,matilda  
began to get1 what her strong little    
heart was not accustomed to1 a feeling  
of real discouragement4 ,what could she 
do8 ,and then a word of the afternoon's 
lesson in the ,sunday-,school came      
freshly to mind4 ,it had been quite new 
to ,matilda1 and had seemed to her very 
beautiful2 but it took on quite another 
sort of beauty now1--,cast thy burden   
upon the ,lord2 ,he shall sustain thee4 
,will ,he8 thought ,matilda4 ,can ,he8  
,may ,i tell ,him about all this8 and   
will ,he help me to bear it1 and help me
 to do all that work1 and to make ,maria
 do hers8 ,but ,he will1 for ,he has    
said so4  ,it was getting dusk in the   
room4 ,matilda knelt down by her chair1 
and poured out all her troubles into the

 ,ear that would heed and could help    
her4  ,who's here8 said the voice of    
,mrs4 ,candy1 coming in4 ,who is that8  
,matilda8 ,how did you come here1       
,tilly8  ,i have been taking care of my 
mother4  ,have you8 ,how is she8 ,well1 
you run down-stairs2 ,i'll take care of 
her now4 ,it is better for you not to be
 here4 ,don't come in again1 unless ,i  
give you leave4 ,now you may go4  ,i    
wonder1 must ,i mind her8 said ,matilda 
to herself4 ,i do not see why4 ,she is  
not mother2 and if mother is sick1 that 
does not give everybody else a right to 
say what ,i shall do4 ,i think it is    
very queer of ,aunt ,candy to take that 
way with me4  ,and ,i am afraid         
,matilda's head was carried a little    
with the air which was1 to be sure1     
natural to her1 and not unpretty1 and   
yet which spoke of a good deal of       
conscious competency4 ,it is no more    
than justice to ,matilda to say that she
 did not ever put the feeling into any  
ill-mannerly form4 ,it hardly appeared  

at all1 except in this turn of her head1
 which all her own family knew1 laughed 
at1 admired1 and even loved4 ,so she    
went down-stairs to the parlour4  ,how  
is ,aunt ,marianne8 was the question    
from ,clarissa4 ,letty told me where you
 were4 ,but1 little one1 it is not good 
for you to go into your mother's        
sick-room2 you can do nothing1 and you  
are better out4 ,so mamma wishes you not
 to go in there till ,aunt ,marianne is 
better--you understand8  ,clarissa too6 
thought ,matilda to herself4 ,but she   
made no answer4 ,she came by the fire to
 warm herself2 for her mother's room had
 been cold4  ,you shouldn't go so near  
the fire2 you'll burn your dress1       
,clarissa remarked4  ,no1 said ,matilda2
 and she said but that one word4  ,you  
will take the colour out1 if you do not 
set it on fire2 and that is what ,i     
meant4 ,that is your best dress1 ,tilly4
  ,it was true2 and1 sorely against her 
will1 ,matilda stepped a little back4   
,you were a great while at              

,sunday-,school to-day1 ,clarissa went  
on4  ,no1 said ,matilda2 not longer than
 usual4  ,what do you learn there8      
,why1 cousin ,issa1 what do you teach at
 your ,sunday-,school8 said ,matilda4   
,for ,clarissa had sheered off from ,mr4
 ,richmond's church1 and gone into a    
neighbouring one which belonged to the  
denomination in which she had been      
brought up4  ,that is not good manners  
to answer one question with another1    
little one4  ,i thought one answer might
 serve for both1 said ,matilda4  ,i am  
afraid it would not4 ,for in my         
,sunday-,school ,i teach the ,catechism4
  ,don't the ,catechism tell about      
,jesus8  ,some things1--of course4  ,our
 lessons tell all things about ,him1    
said ,matilda2 and that is what ,i      
learn4  ,do you learn about yourself8   
,what about myself8  ,how you ought to  
behave1 and how you ought not to behave4
  ,why1 ,i think learning about ,jesus  
teaches one that1 said ,matilda4  ,i    
think there is nothing so good as coming

 home to learn about home1 said         
,clarissa4  ,the talk did not run in a  
way to please ,matilda1 and she was     
silent4 ,presently they were called down
 to tea4 ,everybody suffering from a fit
 of taciturnity4  ,maria1 sit up        
straight1 said ,mrs4 ,candy4  ,i always 
sit so1 was the answer4  ,so1 is not    
very graceful4 ,matilda does not sit so4
  ,matilda was always straight2 it's her
 way1 said ,maria4  ,well1 make it your 
way too4 ,come6 straighten up4 ,what    
shoulders6 ,one would think you were a  
boy playing at leap-frog4  ,i don't know
 what 'leap-frog' is1 said ,maria1      
colouring2 and ,i don't think anybody   
would think ,i was anything but a girl  
anyhow4 ,i get tired sitting up         
straight4  ,when8 asked ,clarissa4      
,matilda's head was quite indescribable 
in the turn it gave at this moment4 ,her
 supper was done2 she was leaving the   
table4  ,you are not going into your    
mother's room8 said her aunt1 catching  
her hand as she passed4  ,you said you  

wished ,i would not4  ,yes1 my dear1 ,i 
am going up there immediately4 ,don't go
 out either1 ,matilda4  ,i am going to  
church1 ,aunt ,candy4  ,i think not4    
,not to-night4 ,i do not approve of so  
much church-going for little girls4 ,you
 can study your lesson1 you know1 for   
next ,sunday4 ,i do not want to have    
anybody else sick on my hands till your 
mother is well4  ,matilda's face        
expressed none of her disappointment2   
her head was even carried a little      
higher than usual as she left the room4 
,but outside the door her steps flagged2
 and she went slowly up the stairs1     
asking herself if she was bound to mind 
what her aunt said4 ,she was not clear  
about it4 ,in the abstract1 ,matilda was
 well enough disposed to obey all lawful
 authority2 just now a spirit of        
opposition had risen4 ,was this lawful  
authority8 ,mrs4 ,englefield was sick1  
to be sure2 but did that give ,mrs4     
,candy any right to interfere with what 
was known to be ,mrs4 ,englefield's will

 when she was not sick8 ,matilda thought
 not4 ,then1 on the other hand1 she did 
not wish to do anything to displease her
 aunt1 who had always been kind to her2 
she did not wish to change the relations
 between them4 ,slowly ,matilda mounted 
stair after stair till she got to her   
room4 ,there she stood by the window a  
moment1 thinking and sorrowing2 for if  
she did not wish to anger her aunt1     
neither did she wish to lose her evening
 in church1 her sight of ,mr4 ,richmond1
 and his sermon4 ,and just then1 the    
clear1 sweet sound of the church bell   
came1 with its first note1 to tell that 
the service would begin in a quarter of 
an hour4 ,it sounded like a friend's    
voice calling her4 ,her ,aunt ,candy's  
church bell joined in1 and ,mr4         
,everett's church1 and ,mr4             
,schnflocker's church2 but that one     
which ,mr4 ,ulshoeffer rang was the     
loudest of all to ,matilda's ear4 ,she  
could hardly stand it4 ,then ,maria     
burst in4  ,what are you going to do8   

said ,matilda4  ,do8 ,why1 ,i am going  
to church1 of course2 and in a hurry4   
,and ,anne and ,letty8  ,certainly2 and 
,issa too4  ,matilda said no more1 but  
hastily made herself ready1 and went    
down with the rest4     ,,chapter ,,ix4 
,anne and ,letitia were to leave home in
 the afternoon of ,monday2 and ,maria   
and ,matilda went to school that morning
 as usual4 ,but when the noon hour came1
 ,matilda called her sister into a      
corner of the emptied schoolroom1 and   
sat down with a face of business4  ,what
 is the matter8 said ,maria4 ,we must go
 home to dinner4  ,i should like to     
speak to you here first4  ,about what8  
,say it and be quick2 for ,i am ever so 
hungry4 ,aunt ,candy cut my breakfast   
short this morning4  ,i wanted to say to
 you that we had better take home our   
books4  ,what for8 said ,maria1 with    
opening eyes4  ,because1 ,maria1 mamma  
was talking to me last night about it4  
,you know there will be no one at home  
now1 after to-day1 but you and me4      

,aunt ,erminia and ,clarissa8  ,nobody  
to do anything1 ,i mean4  ,can't they do
 anything8 ,i don't know what you are   
talking of1 ,matilda2 but ,i know ,i    
want my dinner4  ,who do you think will 
get dinner to-morrow8  ,well--mother's  
sick of course2 and ,anne and ,letty are
 going4 ,i should think ,aunt ,candy    
might4  ,no1 she won't4  ,how do you    
know8  ,because mother said so4 ,she    
won't do anything4  ,then she'll have to
 get a girl to do things1 ,i suppose4   
,but ,maria1 that is just what mother   
wants she shouldn't do2 because she'd   
have to pay for it4  ,who would have to 
pay for it8  ,mamma4  ,why would she8   
,she said so4  ,i don't see why she     
would1 ,i am sure4 ,if ,aunt ,erminia   
hires a girl1 she'll pay for her4  ,but 
that will come out of what ,aunt        
,erminia pays to mamma2 and what ,aunt  
,erminia pays to mamma is what we have  
got to live upon4  ,who said so8  ,mamma
 said so4 ,matilda answered with her lip
 trembling2 for the bringing facts all  

down to hard detail was difficult to    
bear4  ,well1 ,i do think1 exclaimed    
,maria1 if ,i had a sister sick and not 
able to help herself1 ,i would not be so
 mean6  ,matilda sat still and cried and
 said nothing4  ,who is going to do all 
the work then1 ,tilly8  ,there would    
have been something comical1 if it had  
not been sad1 in the way the little girl
 looked up and said1 ,you and ,i4  ,i   
guess we will6 said ,maria1 with opening
 eyes4 ,you and ,i6 ,take care of the   
house1 and wash the dishes1 and cook the
 dinner1 and everything6 ,you know we   
couldn't1 ,matilda2 and what's more1 ,i 
know we won't4  ,yes1 mamma wishes it4  
,we must2 and so we can1 ,maria4  ,i    
can't1 said ,maria1 taking down her     
school cloak4  ,but1 ,maria6 we must4   
,mamma will be more sick if we do not2  
you heard what ,aunt ,candy said at     
breakfast1 that she is fearfully        
nervous2 and if she hears that there is 
a hired girl in the house1 it will worry
 her dreadfully4  ,it will be ,aunt     

,candy's fault then1 said ,maria1       
fastening her cloak4 ,i never heard of  
anybody so mean in all my life6--never4 
,but that don't help anything1 ,maria4  
,and you and ,i must do what mamma said4
 ,you know we shall have little enough  
to live on1 as it is1 and if you take   
the pay of a hired girl out of it1 there
 will be so little left4  ,i've got my  
twenty-five dollars1 that ,i can get    
summer dresses with2 ,i am glad ,i      
haven't spent it1 said ,maria4 ,come1   
,tilly2 ,i'm going home4  ,but1 ,maria1 
you have not said what you ought to say 
yet4  ,what ought ,i to say8  ,i will   
help and do my part4 ,we can manage it4 
,come1 ,maria1 say that you will4  ,your
 part1 said ,maria4 ,what do you suppose
 your part would come to8 ,what can such
 a child as you do8  ,maria1 now is the 
time to show whether you are really one 
of the ,band of workers4  ,i am1 of     
course4 ,i joined it4  ,that would not  
make you one of them1 if you don't do   
what they promised to do4  ,when did ,i 

ever promise to be ,aunt ,candy's       
servant girl8 said ,maria1 fiercely4 ,i 
should like to know4  ,but 'we are the  
servants of ,christ1' said ,matilda1    
softly1 her eyes glistening through4    
,what then8  ,we promised to try to do  
whatever would honour ,him4  ,i don't   
know what all this affair has to do with
 it1 said ,maria4 ,you say we           
promised2--you didn't8  ,yes1 ,i did4   
,you didn't join the ,band8  ,yes1 ,i   
did4  ,when8  ,a few days after you did4
  ,why didn't you tell me8 ,did you tell
 ,mr4 ,richmond8  ,yes4  ,i think it is 
mean1 that you did not tell me4  ,i am  
telling you now4 ,but now1 ,maria1 you  
know what you promised4  ,i did not     
promise this sort of thing at all1      
,tilly4  ,yes1 don't you know8 'we stand
 ready to do ,his will4' ,that's in the 
covenant4  ,but this is not ,his will1  
insisted ,maria4 ,this is ,aunt         
,erminia's meanness4  ,but it certainly 
is ,his will that we should do what     
mamma says1 and please her2 and this is 

the work ,he has given us to do4        
,maria's answer this time was to sit    
down and cry for her part4 ,matilda did 
not join her1 but stood by1 patiently   
waiting4 ,maria cried and sobbed for    
several minutes2 then she started up and
 set off homewards at a furious rate4   
,matilda gathered together her books and
 followed her sister2 trying to comfort 
herself with the thought that this was  
certainly the work given them to do1 and
 that she would try and make the best of
 it4  ,the dinner was sorrowful enough4 
,maria1 indeed1 ate it as if remembering
 it was the last dinner for some time to
 come that she would find ready prepared
 for her4 ,but ,anne and ,letty were    
broken down with grief2 and ,mrs4       
,candy's endeavours to comfort them were
 either not the right sort1 or fell upon
 unready ears4 ,clarissa was composed as
 usual4  ,you were late from school1    
,maria and ,matilda1 their aunt         
remarked1 finding ,anne and ,letty      
unmanageable4 ,what was the reason8     

,tilly was talking to me1 ,maria said4  
,you could talk on the way home1 ,i     
should think4 ,i dislike to have dinner 
eaten by stages2 first one set coming1  
and then another4 ,i am going to ask you
 to be punctual for the future4 ,do not 
be in a hurry1 ,maria2 there is time    
enough1 now you are here1 to eat        
moderately4  ,i am hungry4 ,i don't want
 to eat moderately1 ,aunt ,erminia4  ,as
 much as you wish2 but you can be       
moderate in manner1 cannot you1 even if 
not in quantity8  ,nobody ever told me  
,i eat too much1 before1 said ,maria4   
,there are a great many things that you 
have never been told1 ,i suppose8 said  
,clarissa1 lifting her handsome eyes    
quietly4  ,i don't care about your      
telling me either1 said ,maria4  ,my    
dear1 that is not polite1 interposed her
 aunt4 ,i am sorry to hear you speak so4
 ,would you not like to have ,issa1 or  
any one1 tell you things that you would 
be the better for4 ,you would not wish  
to remain just as you are1 to the end of

 your days8  ,it don't hurt anybody but 
me1 said ,maria4  ,i beg your pardon4   
,everything that is not graceful and    
well-mannered1 on the part of people in 
whose company we are1 hurts me and      
,clarissa4 ,it hurts me to have you bolt
 down your food as you were doing just  
now--if ,i am sitting at the same table 
with you4 ,and it hurts me to have you  
speak rudely4 ,i hope you will mend in  
all these things4  ,it will not hurt you
 to have us say good-bye1 said ,anne1   
rising4 ,i will do that now1 if you     
please4 ,letty1 ,i will leave you to    
take care of these things1 and ,i will  
finish the packing4 ,we must be quick1  
too4  ,the farewell greetings with her  
aunt and cousin were soon spoken2 and   
,maria and ,matilda tore up-stairs after
 their sister1 to pour out tears and    
complaints together during the remaining
 moments of her being at home4          
,matilda's tears1 however1 were quiet   
and her words very few4  ,ain't she too 
bad6 exclaimed ,maria4  ,you must try   

and hold your own the best you can1 said
 ,anne1 until mamma gets up again4 ,poor
 children6 ,i am afraid she will be too 
much for you4  ,but1 ,anne1 did you     
think ,aunt ,candy was like that8 said  
,maria4 ,she wasn't like that at first4 
,i guess she was4 ,all she wanted was a 
chance4 ,now she's got it4 ,try and bear
 it the best you can till mamma is well4
 ,she cannot be worried now4  ,is mamma 
very sick1 ,anne8 ,matilda ventured4    
,n-o1 said ,anne1 but she might be1     
,tilly1 if she was worried4 ,the doctor 
says she is very nervous1 and must be   
kept quiet4 ,she has been worrying so   
long1 you see4 ,so you must try and not 
do anything to fret her4  ,the prospect 
was sad4 ,when the omnibus came to take 
,anne and ,letty to the station1 and    
when the last kisses and hugs were over1
 and the omnibus bounced away1 carrying 
with it all they had at the moment1 the 
two girls left at home felt forlorn     
enough4 ,the only thing to be done was  
to rush up-stairs to their room and cry 

their hearts out4 ,and that was done    
thoroughly4  ,but by and by1 ,matilda's 
thoughts1 in their very extreme need of 
comfort1 began to take up the words     
again which she had once found so good3 
,cast thy burden upon the ,lord2 ,he    
shall sustain thee4 ,she left her       
sobbing1 dried her eyes1 sat down by the
 window1 and found the place in her     
,bible1 that her eyes might have the    
comfort of seeing and reading the words 
there4 ,the ,lord's words3 ,tilly knew  
they were true4 ,but ,maria sobbed on4  
,at last her little sister called her4  
,what is it8 said she4  ,come here1--and
 ,i will show you something good4       
,good8--what8 said ,maria1 approaching  
the window4 ,oh1 words in the ,bible6   
,read1 ,maria4  ,i have read them       
before1 said the other1 sullenly1 after 
she had glanced at the place4  ,but they
 are true1 ,maria4  ,well2 they don't   
help me4  ,but they help me1 said       
,matilda4 ,it's ,jesus' promise to help4
  ,i don't believe it is for such things

 as this4  ,why not8 said ,matilda1 a   
sudden chill coming over her heart4 ,it 
says just1 ',cast thy burden'--it might 
be any burden2 it does not signify what 
it is1 ,maria4  ,yes1 it does2 it is not
 for such little things1 said ,maria4   
,it is for great religious people and   
their affairs4 ,oh dear6 oh dear6       
,sorely troubled now at having her      
supports knocked away from under her1   
,matilda eagerly sought further1 if     
perchance she might find something that 
,maria could not question4 ,her ,bible  
had a few references in the margin2     
consulting these1 she presently found   
what she had need of2 but a feeling of  
want of sympathy between them forbade   
her to show the new words to her sister4
 ,matilda pored over them with great    
rest of heart2 gave thanks for them2 and
 might have used with truth ,david's    
language--,thy words were found1 and ,i 
did eat them4 ,the words were these3--  
,be careful for nothing2 but in         
everything1 by prayer and supplication  

with thanksgiving1 let your requests be 
made known unto ,god4 ,and the peace of 
,god that passeth understanding shall   
keep your hearts and minds through      
,christ ,jesus4  ,matilda's eyes were   
dry and her voice was clear1 when she   
reminded her sister that it was time to 
get tea4 ,maria was accustomed to do    
this frequently1 and made no objection  
now4 ,so the two went down together4    
,passing the parlour door1 however1 it  
opened1 and ,mrs4 ,candy called ,matilda
 in4  ,i want to speak a word to you1   
,tilly1 she said4 ,did you go out last  
evening8  ,yes2 ,i did1 aunt ,erminia4  
,you went to church8  ,matilda assented2
 but though she had bowed her head1 it  
seemed to be more erect than before4    
,and ,i had told you not to go1 had ,i  
not8 ,you understood that8  ,a silent   
assent was again all that the child     
gave4  ,i am accustomed to be obeyed1   
said ,mrs4 ,candy4 ,that is my way4 ,it 
may not be your mother's way2 but all   
the same1 ,i am mistress here while she 

is sick2 mistress over you as well as   
the rest4 ,you must obey me like all the
 rest4 ,will you8  ,what was meant by   
all the rest ,matilda marvelled1 seeing 
that nobody else but ,maria and her own 
daughter were left in the house4 ,this  
time she gave no sign of answering2 she 
only stood and listened4  ,will you obey
 me1 ,tilly8  ,matilda was not sure     
whether she would4 ,in her mind it      
depended on circumstances4 ,she would   
obey1 conditionally4 ,but she would not 
compromise her dignity by words about   
it4 ,she was silent4  ,i must be obeyed1
 ,mrs4 ,candy went on1 with mild tones1 
although a displeased face4 ,if not     
willingly1 then unwillingly4 ,i shall   
punish you1 ,matilda1 if you disobey me2
 and so severely that you will find it  
best not to do it again4 ,but ,i should 
be very sorry to have you drive me to   
such disagreeable doings4 ,we should    
both be sorry together4 ,it is much best
 not to let things come to such         
extremity4  ,matilda coloured high1 but 

except that and the slight gesture of   
her head1 she yet gave no reply4  ,that 
is enough upon that subject1 the lady   
went on4 ,only1 ,i should be glad to    
have you tell me that you will try to   
please me4  ,i wish to please           
everybody--as far as ,i can1 ,matilda   
said at last4  ,then you will please me8
  ,i hope so4  ,she hopes so1 ,issa1    
said ,mrs4 ,candy1 turning her head     
round towards where her daughter sat4   
,american children1 mamma1 was          
,clarissa's comment4  ,there is another 
thing1 ,matilda1 ,mrs4 ,candy resumed   
after a slight pause4 ,your mother has  
told me that ,maria is competent to do  
the work of the house until she gets    
well4 ,is she8 and will ,maria1 do you  
think1 try to please me as much as you  
do8  ,yes1 ma'am4 ,i think she can--she 
and ,i4 ,we will do it1 ,matilda        
answered more readily4  ,she and you6   
,what can you do8  ,i can help a little4
  ,well then1 that is settled2 and ,i   
need not look out for a girl8  ,oh no1  

aunt ,candy4 ,she and ,i can do it4     
,but mind1 ,i must have things in order1
 and well done4 ,it is my sister's      
choice1 that ,maria should do it4 ,but  
it is not mine unless ,i can have       
everything in good order4 ,you may tell 
,maria so1 and let her understand what  
it is she is undertaking4 ,i am to have 
no dusty stairs1 and no half-set tables4
 ,if she wants instruction in anything1 
,i am willing to give it2 but ,i cannot 
have disorder4 ,now you may go and tell 
her2 and tell her to have tea ready in  
half an hour4  ,what did she want of    
you8 ,maria asked1 when ,matilda        
rejoined her down-stairs4  ,she wanted  
to talk to me about my going out last   
evening4  ,oh6 was she in a great fuss  
about it8  ,and ,maria1 she wants tea to
 be ready in half an hour4  ,i'll have  
it ready sooner than that1 said ,maria1 
bustling about4  ,but you must not4 ,she
 wants it in half an hour2 you must not 
have it ready before4  ,why not8 said   
,maria1 stopping short4  ,why1 she wants

 it then4 ,she has a right to have tea  
when she likes4  ,but ,matilda sighed as
 she spoke1 for her aunt's likings were 
becoming a heavy burden to her1 in the  
present and in the future4 ,the two     
girls went gently round1 setting the    
table1 cutting the bread1 putting out   
the sweetmeat1 getting the teapot ready 
for the tea2 then they stood together   
over the stove1 waiting for the time to 
make it4  ,there's one comfort1 ,matilda
 said with another sigh2--we can do it  
all for ,christ4  ,what8 said ,maria1   
starting4  ,it is work ,he has given us 
to do1 you know1 ,maria2 and we have    
promised to do everything we can to     
please ,him4 ,so we can do this to      
please ,him4  ,i don't see how1 said    
,maria4 ,this isn't ,band work2--do you 
think it is8  ,it isn't ,sunday-,school 
work2 but1 ,maria1 you know1 'we are the
 servants of ,christ4' ,now ,he has     
given us this work to do4  ,that's just 
talking nonsense1 said ,maria4 ,there is
 no religion in pots and kettles4       

,matilda had to think her way out of    
that statement4  ,maria1 in the         
covenant1 you know1 we say 'we stand    
ready to do ,his will2' and you know it 
is ,his will that we should have these  
things to do4  ,i don't6 said ,maria2   
that's a fact4  ,then how comes it that 
we have them8  ,just because mamma is   
sick1 and ,aunt ,erminia is too mean to 
live6  ,you should not speak so1 said   
,matilda4 ,how comes mamma to be sick8  
and how comes it that we have got no    
money to hire a girl8  ,because that man
 in ,new ,york was wicked1 and ran away 
with mamma's money4  ,maria1 said       
,matilda1 solemnly1 ,i don't see what   
you meant by joining the ,band4  ,i     
meant more than you did6 said ,maria1   
flaming out4 ,such children as you are  
too young to join it4  ,we are not too  
young to be ,christians4  ,you are too  
young to join the ,church and be        
baptized4  ,why8 said ,matilda4  ,oh1   
you are too young to understand4        
,anybody that knows will tell you so4   

,and if you are not fit to be baptized  
and join the ,church1 you are not fit to
 join the ,band4 ,now ,i can make the   
tea4  ,matilda looked hard at the       
teapot1 as it stood on the stove while  
the tea was brewing2 but she let her    
sister alone after that4 ,when the meal 
was over1 and the dishes washed and     
everything done1 she and ,maria went up 
to their own room1 and ,maria at once   
went to bed4 ,her little sister opened  
her ,bible1 and read1 over and over1 the
 words that had comforted her4 ,they    
were words from ,god2 promises and      
commands straight from heaven4 ,matilda 
took them so1 and studied earnestly how 
she might do what they bade her4 ,cast  
her burden on the ,lord--how was she to 
do that8 ,clearly1 she was not to keep  
it on her own heart1 she thought2 she   
must trust that the ,lord would take    
care of anything put into ,his hands4   
,the words were very good4 ,and the     
other words8 ,be careful for            
nothing--that was the same thing        

differently expressed2 and ,matilda felt
 very glad it had been written for her  
in both places and in both ways2 and    
that she was ordered in everything to   
make her requests known to ,god4 ,she   
might not have dared1 perhaps1 in some  
little troubles that only concerned a   
child and were not important to anybody 
else2 but now there could be no         
doubt--she might1 and she must4 ,she was
 very glad4 ,but1 with                  
thanksgiving8--how could that be always8
 ,now1 for instance8 ,things were more  
disagreeable and sorrowful than in all  
her life she had ever known them2 give  
thanks8 must she8 now8 ,and how could   
she8 ,matilda studied over it a good    
while4 ,finally took to praying over it4
 ,asked to be taught how she could give 
thanks when she was sorry4 ,and getting 
quite tired1 at last went to bed1 where 
,maria was already fast asleep4  ,there 
is no denying that ,matilda was sorry to
 wake up the next morning4 ,but awake   
she found herself1 and broad awake too2 

and the light outside the window        
admonished her she had no time then to  
lie and think4 ,she roused ,maria       
immediately1 and herself began dressing 
without a moment's delay4  ,oh1 what's  
the hurry6 said ,maria1 yawning and     
stretching herself4 ,i'm sleepy4  ,but  
it isn't early1 ,maria4  ,well2 ,i don't
 want it to be early4  ,yes1 you do1    
,maria2 you forget4 ,we have a great    
deal on our hands4 ,make haste1 please1 
and get up4 ,do1 ,maria6  ,what have we 
got to do so much8 said ,maria1 with    
yawn the second4  ,everything4 ,you are 
so sleepy1 you have forgotten4  ,yes4 ,i
 have forgotten1 said ,maria1 closing   
her eyes4  ,o ,maria1 please do get up6 
,i'm almost dressed2 and ,i can't do the
 whole1 you know4 ,won't you get up8    
,what's the matter1 ,tilly8 said her    
sister1 rolling over1 and opening her   
eyes quietly at ,matilda4  ,i am going  
down1 ,maria1 in two minutes2 and ,i    
cannot do everything1 you know4         
,clarissa'll help4  ,if you expect that1

 ,maria1 you will be disappointed4 ,i   
wish you would come right down and make 
the fire4  ,maria lay still4 ,matilda   
finished her dressing1 and then knelt   
down by the window4  ,the burden upon   
her seemed rather heavy1 and she went to
 her only source of help4 ,maria lay and
 looked at the little kneeling figure1  
so still there by the window2 glanced at
 the growing light outside the window1  
then at her scattered articles of       
clothing1 lying where she had thrown    
them or dropped them last night2 and at 
last rolled herself out of bed and was  
dressing in earnest when ,matilda rose  
up to go down-stairs4  ,oh now1 you'll  
soon be ready6 she exclaimed4 ,make     
haste1 ,maria2 and come down to the     
kitchen4 ,the fire is the first thing4  
,then the little feet went with a light 
tread down the stairs1 that she might   
disturb nobody1 and paused in the hall4 
,the light struggling in through the    
fanlights over the door2 the air close2 
a smell of kerosene in the parlour2     

chairs and table in a state of          
disarrangement2 the litter of           
,clarissa's work on the carpet2 the     
parlour stove cold4 ,little ,matilda    
wished to herself that some other hands 
were there1 not hers1 to do all that    
must be done4 ,but clearly ,maria would 
never get through with it4 ,she stood   
looking a minute2 then plunged into the 
work4 ,she opened the shutters and the  
curtains1 and threw up the windows4     
,then picked up the litter4 ,then she   
saw that the services of a broom were   
needed2 and ,matilda fetched the broom1 
and brushed out the parlour and the     
hall4 ,it tired her arms2 she was not   
used to it4 ,dusting the furniture was  
more in her line2 and then ,matilda came
 to the conclusion that if a fire was to
 be kindled in time this morning1 it    
must be done by herself2 ,maria would be
 fully occupied in the kitchen4 ,so     
down-stairs she went for billets of wood
 for kindling4 ,there was ,maria1 in    
trouble4  ,this stove won't draw1       

,tilly4  ,what is the matter8  ,why     
that4 ,it won't draw4 ,it just smokes4  
,it always does draw1 ,maria4  ,well1 it
 won't to-day4  ,did you put kindling   
enough in8  ,there's nothing but        
kindling6--and smoke4  ,why1 you've got 
the damper turned1 said ,matilda1 coming
 up to look2 see1 that's the matter4 ,it
 won't light with the damper turned4    
,stupid6 ,maria muttered2 and ,matilda  
went off to make her own fire4 ,happily 
that did not smoke4 ,the parlour and    
hall were all in nice order2 the books  
put in place1 and everything ready for  
the comfort of people when they should  
come to enjoy it2 and ,matilda went to  
join her sister in the kitchen4 ,the    
fire was going there too1 and the       
kitchen warm1 and ,maria stood with her 
hands folded1 in front of the stove4  ,i
 don't know what to get for breakfast1  
she said4  ,is the other room ready8  ,i
 set the table1 said ,maria2 but what is
 to go on it1 ,i don't know4  ,matilda  
went in to look at the state of things2 

presently called her sister4  ,maria1   
you didn't sweep the carpet4  ,no4 ,of  
course ,i didn't4 ,rooms don't want to  
be swept every day4  ,this one does4    
,look at the muss under the table4      
,only some crumbs1 said ,maria4  ,and a 
bone4 ,letty was in a hurry yesterday1  
,i guess4 ,aunt ,candy won't like it1   
,maria2 it won't do4  ,i don't care     
whether she likes it4  ,but don't you   
care whether she scolds8 because ,i do4 
,and the room is not nice1 ,maria4      
,mother wouldn't have it so4  ,well1 you
 may sweep it if you like4  ,i cannot4  
,i am tired4 ,you must make it nice1    
,maria1 won't you8 and ,i'll see about  
the breakfast4  ,the table's all set6   
,maria remonstrated4  ,it won't take    
long to do it over1 ,maria4 ,but what   
have we got for breakfast8              
,nothing--that ,i know4  ,did you look  
in the cellar8  ,no4  ,why1 where did   
you look8 said ,matilda1 laughing4      
,come2 let us go down and see what is   
there4  ,in the large1 clean1 light     

cellar there were hanging shelves which 
served the purposes of a larder4 ,the   
girls peered into the various stores    
collected on them4  ,here's a dish of   
cold potatoes1 said ,maria4  ,that will 
do for one thing1 said ,matilda4  ,cold8
  ,why1 no6 fried1 ,maria4  ,i can't fry
 potatoes4  ,why1 yes1 you can1 ,maria2 
you have seen mamma do it hundreds of   
times4  ,here's the cold beefsteak that 
was left yesterday4  ,cold beefsteak    
isn't good1 said ,matilda4  ,can't we   
warm it8  ,how8  ,i don't know2 might   
put it in the oven2 it would get hot    
there4 ,there's a good oven4  ,i don't  
think mamma ever warms cold beefsteak1  
said ,matilda1 looking puzzled4  ,what  
does she do with it8 she don't throw it 
away4 ,how do you know she doesn't warm 
it8 you wouldn't know1 when you saw it  
on the table1 whether it was just fresh 
cooked1 or only warmed up4 ,how could   
you tell8  ,well1 said ,matilda1        
dubiously1 you can try4 ,i wish ,i could
 ask somebody4  ,i shall not ask anybody

 up-stairs1 said ,maria4 ,come--you take
 the potatoes and ,i will carry the     
beefsteak4 ,then we will make 'the      
coffee and have breakfast4 ,i'm as      
hungry as ,i can be4  ,so am ,i1 said   
,matilda4 ,and she sighed a little1 for 
she was tired as well as hungry4 ,maria 
set the dish of beefsteak in the oven to
 get hot1 and ,matilda made the coffee4 
,she knew quite well how to do that4    
,then she came to the table where ,maria
 was preparing the potatoes to fry4     
,maria's knife was going chop1 chop1    
very fast4  ,o ,maria6 you should have  
peeled them1 ,matilda exclaimed1 in     
dismay4  ,peeled6 said ,maria1 stopping 
short4  ,certainly4 ,why1 you knew that1
 ,maria4 ,potatoe parings are not good  
to eat4  ,it takes ages to peel such    
little potatoes1 said ,maria4  ,but you 
cannot eat them without being peeled1   
said ,matilda4  ,yes1 you can2 it won't 
make any difference4 ,i will fry them so
 brown1 nobody will know whether they   
have skins on or not4  ,matilda doubted 

very much the feasibility of this plan2 
but she left ,maria and went off to make
 sure that the fires in the other rooms 
were burning right and everything in    
proper trim4 ,then she sat down in a    
rocking-chair in the eating-room to     
rest2 wishing very earnestly that there 
was somebody to help who knew more about
 business than either she or ,maria4    
,how were they to get along8 ,and she   
had promised her mother4 ,and yet more1 
,matilda felt sure that just this work  
had been given to her and ,maria to do  
by the ,lord himself4 ,therefore they   
could do it for ,him4 ,therefore1 all   
the more1 ,matilda wanted to do it in   
the very nicest and best way possible4  
,she wished she had attended when she   
had seen her mother cooking different   
things2 now she might have known exactly
 how to manage4 ,and that reminded her1 
,maria's beef and potatoes must be done4
 ,she ran into the kitchen4  ,there6    
said ,maria4 ,can you see the skins now8
  ,they are brown enough1 said ,matilda4

 ,but1 ,maria1 they'll be very hard6    
,never you mind6 said ,maria1           
complacently4  ,have you looked at your 
beefsteak8  ,no2 but it must be hot     
before now4  ,maria opened the oven     
door2 and then1 with an exclamation1    
seized a cloth and drew out the dish of 
meat4 ,the dish took their attention    
first4 ,it was as brown as ,maria's     
potatoes4 ,it had gone into the oven    
white4  ,it is spoiled1 said ,matilda4  
,who would have thought the oven was so 
hot6 said ,maria4 ,won't it come all    
right with washing8  ,you might as well 
wash your beefsteak1 said ,matilda1     
turning away4  ,if the dish had gone in 
white1 the meat had also gone in juicy2 
and if the one was brown the other was a
 chip4  ,this will not do for breakfast1
 said ,maria1 lugubriously4  ,it is like
 your potatoes1 said ,matilda1 with the 
ineffable little turn of her head4      
,don't1 ,matilda6 ,what shall we do8 the
 coffee is ready4  ,we shall have a     
brown breakfast1 said ,matilda4 ,the    

coffee will be the lightest coloured    
thing on the table4 ,and the two girls  
relieved themselves with laughing4      
,but1 ,matilda6 what shall we do8 ,we   
must have something to eat4  ,we can    
boil some eggs1 said ,matilda4 ,aunt    
,erminia likes eggs2 and the coffee will
 be good1 and the bread4 ,and the       
potatoes will do to look at4  ,so it was
 arranged2 and the bell was rung for    
breakfast only five minutes after the   
time4 ,and all was in order4  ,even     
,mrs4 ,candy's good eyes found no fault4
 ,and breakfast went forward better than
 ,matilda had dared to hope4  ,you have 
done your potatoes too much1 ,maria1    
,mrs4 ,candy remarked4  ,yes1 ma'am1    
,maria said1 meekly4  ,they want no more
 but a light colouring4 ,and they should
 be cut thinner4 ,these are so hard you 
can't eat them4 ,and1 ,maria1 in future 
,i will tell you what to get for        
breakfast4 ,i did not know when you went
 to bed last night1 or ,i should have   
told you then4 ,you are not old enough  

to arrange things4 ,now there was some  
beef left from dinner yesterday1 that   
would have made a nice hash4  ,maria ate
 bread and butter1 and spoke not4  ,it  
will keep very well1 and you can make it
 into hash for to-morrow morning4 ,chop 
it as fine as you can1 and twice as much
 potato2 and warm it with a little      
butter and milk and pepper and salt1    
till it is nice and hot2 and poach a few
 eggs1 to lay round it4 ,can you poach  
eggs1 ,maria8  ,yes1 ma'am4 ,but there  
is no beef1 ,aunt ,erminia4  ,no beef8  
,you are mistaken4 ,there was a large   
piece that we did not eat yesterday4    
,there is none now1 said ,maria4  ,it   
must be down-stairs in the cellar4  ,i  
am sure it is not1 aunt ,erminia4 ,i    
have been poking into every corner      
there2 and there is no beef1 ,i know4   
,maria1 that is a very inelegant way of 
speaking4 ,where did you get it8  ,i    
don't know1 ma'am1 ,i'm sure4 ,out of   
the truth1 ,i suppose4 ,that's what ,i  
did4  ,it is a very inelegant way of    

doing1 as well as of speaking4 ,poking  
into every thing6 ,what did you poke8   
your finger8 or your hand8  ,my nose1 ,i
 suppose1 said ,maria1 hardily4  ,i     
think ,i need not tell you that that is 
a very vulgar expression1 said ,mrs4    
,candy1 with a lofty air2 while         
,clarissa's shoulders gave a little     
shrug1 as much as to say her mother was 
wasting time4 ,don't you know any       
better1 ,maria8  ,yes1 ma'am4  ,then ,i 
hope you will speak properly next time4 
,one gets so tired of speaking properly6
 said ,maria4  ,you8 said ,clarissa1    
with a gentle intonation4  ,i don't     
care6 said ,maria1 desperately4 ,people 
are as they are brought up4 ,my mother  
don't care for such fidgety notions4 ,i 
speak to please her1 and that is enough4
  ,no1 ,maria1 it is not enough1 resumed
  ,mrs4 ,candy4 ,your mother loves you1 
and so she is willing to overlook little
 things in you that she can overlook    
because you are her child2 but when you 
are grown up1 you would wish to be liked

 by other nice people1 wouldn't you8    
people of education1 and taste1 and     
elegant habits2 and they do not like to 
have anything to do with people who     
'poke their noses' into things1 or who  
say that they do4  ,i'll keep in the    
kitchen then1 said ,maria1 hastily4     
,the breakfast may be said to have ended
 here2 for though a few more mouthfuls  
were eaten1 no more words were said4    
,mrs4 ,candy and her daughter left the  
room and went up-stairs4 ,maria and     
,matilda began the work of clearing the 
table4  ,ain't she too much6 ,maria     
exclaimed4  ,but1 ,maria1 said her      
little sister1 ,i wish you wouldn't say 
such things4  ,if ,i am going to be a   
kitchen maid1 said ,maria1 ,i may as    
well talk kitchen maid4  ,oh1 ,i don't  
think so1 ,maria6  ,i don't care6 said  
,maria4 ,i would rather vex aunt ,candy 
than not2 and she was vexed this        
morning4 ,she kept it in pretty well2   
but she was vexed4  ,but1 ,maria1 that  
isn't right1 is it8  ,nothing is right1 

said ,maria2 and nothing is going to be1
 ,i guess1 while they are here4  ,then  
think1 what would mamma do if they went 
away8  ,i wish ,i could go away1 then6  
said ,maria1 beginning to cry4 ,i can't 
bear to live so6 ',why do you do so1'   
and 'why do you do so2' and ,clarissa   
sitting by with that little smile on her
 mouth1 and lifting up her eyes to look 
at you--it just makes me mad4 ,there6   
,it is a pity ,aunt ,candy wasn't here  
to be shocked at ,american children4    
,but1 ,maria1 said ,matilda with her    
eyes swimming too1 you know the ,lord   
,jesus has given us this work4  ,no1 ,i 
don't6 said ,maria2 and what if ,he did8
  ,why1 then1 it would please ,him--you 
know1 ,maria1 it would please ,him--to  
have us do it just nicely and           
beautifully1 and not like kitchen maids1
 but like ,his children4 ,you know we   
said we were ready to do any work that  
he would give us4  ,i didn't1 said      
,maria1 half crying1 half pouting4 ,i   
didn't promise to do this sort of thing4

  ,but we mustn't choose1 said ,matilda4
  ,but we did choose1 said ,maria4 ,i   
said what ,i would do1 and other people 
said what they would do2 and nobody said
 anything about washing dishes and      
peeling potatoes4 ,we were not talking  
of that4  ,the covenant says1 'we stand 
ready to do ,his will4' ,don't you know8
  ,i believe you know that covenant by  
heart1 said ,maria4 ,i don't4 ,and ,i   
don't care4 ,matilda1 ,i wish you would 
run down cellar with the butter1 and the
 cream1 and the bread--will you8        
,matilda did not run1 but she made      
journey after journey down the cellar   
stairs1 with feet that grew weary2 and  
then she dried the china while her      
sister washed it4 ,then they brushed up 
the kitchen and made up the fires4 ,then
 ,maria seated herself on the kitchen   
table and looked at ,matilda4  ,i'm     
tired now1 ,tilly4  ,so am ,i4  ,is     
there anything else to be done8  ,why1  
there is the dinner1 ,maria4  ,it isn't 
near dinner time4 ,it is only ten       

o'clock4  ,how long will it take the    
potatoes to boil8  ,oh1 not long4 ,it is
 not time to put them on for a great    
while4  ,but they are not ready1 are    
they8  ,no4  ,and what else1 ,maria8    
,here came a call from the stair head4  
,maria went to the foot of the stairs to
 hear what the business was1 and came   
back with her mood nowise sweetened2 to 
judge by the way she went about2 filled 
an iron pot with water and set it on the
 stove1 and dashed things round         
generally4 ,matilda looked on without   
saying a word4  ,i've got my day's work 
cut out for me now1 said ,maria at last4
 ,there's that leg of mutton to boil1   
and turnips to be mashed2 besides the   
potatoes4 ,and the turnips have got to  
be peeled4 ,come and help me1 ,tilly1 or
 ,i shall never get through4 ,won't you8
    ,now ,matilda had her own notions   
about things she liked and things she   
did not like to do2 and one of the      
things she did not like to do was to    
roughen or soil her hands4 ,to put her  

little hands into the pan of water1 and 
handle and pare the coarse roots with   
the soil hanging to them1 was very      
distasteful to her nicety4 ,she looked a
 little dismayed4 ,but there were the   
roots all to be pared and washed1 and   
,maria would have her hands full2 and   
was not this also work given to ,matilda
 to do8 ,at any rate1 she felt that she 
could not refuse without losing         
influence over ,maria1 and that she     
could not afford4 ,so ,matilda's hands  
and her knife went into the pan4 ,she   
thought it was very disagreeable1 but   
she did it4 ,after the potatoes and     
turnips were ready for the pot1 ,maria  
demanded her help about other things2   
she must clean the knives1 and set the  
table1 and prepare the celery and rub   
the apples2 while ,maria kept up the    
fire1 and attended to the cookery4      
,matilda did one thing after another2   
her weary little feet travelled out and 
in1 from one room to the other room1 and
 got things in order for dinner in both 

places4  ,it was a pretty satisfactory  
dinner1 on the whole4 ,the mutton was   
well cooked and the vegetables were not 
bad1 ,mrs4 ,candy said2 but ,matilda    
thought with dismay of the after dinner 
dishes4 ,however1 dinner gives courage  
sometimes2 and both she and ,maria were 
stronger-hearted when they rose from    
table than when they had sat down4      
,dishes1 and pots1 and kettles1 and     
knives1 and endless details beside1 were
 in course of time got rid of2 and then 
,matilda put on her hat and cloak1 and  
set forth on an errand she had been     
meditating4     ,,chapter ,x4   ,it was 
a soft pleasant day late in ,march4 ,the
 snow had all gone for the present4     
,doubtless it might come back again2 no 
one could tell2 in ,shadywalk snow was  
not an unknown visitor even in ,april2  
but for the present no such reminder of 
winter was anywhere to be seen4 ,the air
 was still and gentle2 even the brown   
tree stems looked softer and less bare  
than a few weeks ago1 though no bursting

 buds yet were there to make any real   
change4 ,the note of a bird might be    
heard now and then2 ,matilda had twice  
seen the glorious colour of a blue      
bird's wings as they spread themselves  
in the light4 ,it was quite refreshing  
to get out of the house and the kitchen 
work1 and smell the fresh1 pure air1 and
 see the sky1 and feel that all the     
world was not between four walls        
anywhere4 ,matilda went softly along1   
enjoying4 ,at the corner she turned1 and
 walked up ,butternut street--so called1
 probably1 in honour of some former tree
 of that family1 for not a shoot of one 
was known in the street now4 ,on and on 
she went till her church was passed1 and
 then turned down the little lane which 
led to the parsonage4 ,the snow all     
gone1 it was looking pretty here4 ,on   
one side the old church1 the new        
lecture-room on the other1 and between  
them the avenue of elms1 arching their  
branches over the way and making a      
vista1 at the end of which was the brown

 door of the parsonage4 ,always that was
 a pleasant view to ,matilda1 for she   
associated the brown door with a great  
many things2 however1 this day she did  
not seek the old knocker which hung     
temptingly overhead1 but sheered off and
 went round to the back of the house2   
and there entered at once1 and without  
knocking1 upon ,miss ,redwood's         
premises4 ,they were in order2 nobody   
ever saw the parsonage kitchen          
otherwise2 and ,miss ,redwood was       
sitting in front of the stove1 knitting4
  ,well1 if there ain't ,tilly          
,englefield6 was her salutation4  ,may  
,i come in1 ,miss ,redwood8--if you are 
not busy4  ,suppos'n ,i was busy1 ,i    
guess you wouldn't do me no harm1 child4
 ,come right in and sit down1 and tell  
me how's all goin' on at your house4    
,how's your mother1 fust thing8  ,aunt  
,candy says she's not any better4  ,what
 does your mother say herself8  ,i have 
not seen her to-day4 ,aunt ,candy says  
she is nervous2 and she wants me not to 

go into her room4  ,who wants you not to
 go in8 ,not your mother8  ,no2 ,aunt   
,candy4  ,i thought so4 ,well2 how do   
you get along without your sisters1 eh8 
,have you got a girl1 or are you goin'  
to do without8  ,we are going to do     
without4  ,i don't see how you kin1 with
 your mother sick and wantin' somebody  
to tend her4  ,maria and ,i do what's to
 be done4 ,mamma doesn't want us to get 
a girl4  ,maria and you6 said ,miss     
,redwood1 straightening up4 ,i want to  
know6 ,you and ,maria4 ,why1 ,i didn't  
reckon ,maria was a hand at them kind o'
 things4 ,what can she do1 eh8 ,i want  
to know6 ,things is curious in this     
world4  ,maria can do a good deal1 said 
,matilda4  ,and you can1 too1 can't ye8 
said ,miss ,redwood1 with a benevolent  
smile at her little visitor1 which meant
 all love and no criticism4  ,i wish ,i 
knew how to do more1 said ,matilda4 ,i  
could1 if ,i knew how4 ,that's what ,i  
came to ask you1 ,miss ,redwood2 won't  
you tell me8  ,tell you anything on     

arth1 said the housekeeper4 ,what do you
 want to know1 child8  ,i don't know1   
said ,matilda1 knitting her brow4 ,i    
want to know how to manage4  ,miss      
,redwood's lips twitched1 and her       
knitting needles flew4  ,so there ain't 
no one but you to manage8 she said1 at  
length4  ,aunt ,candy tells what is to  
be for breakfast and dinner4 ,but ,i    
want to know how to do things4 ,what can
 one do with cold beefsteak1 ,miss      
,redwood8  ',tain't good for much1 said 
the housekeeper4 ,have you got some on  
hand8  ,no4 ,we had1 though4  ,and what 
did you do with it8  ,maria and ,i put  
it in the oven to warm2 and it spoiled  
the dish1 and the meat was all dried up2
 and then ,i thought ,i would come and  
ask you4 ,and we tried to fry some      
potatoes this morning1 and we didn't    
know how1 ,i think4 ,they were not good4
  ,and so your breakfast all fell       
through2 and there was a muss1 ,i       
expect8  ,no2 we had eggs2 nobody knew  
anything about the beefsteak and the    

dish4 ,but ,i want to know how to do4   
,what ailed your potatoes8  ,they were  
too hard and too brown4  ,i shouldn't   
wonder6 ,i declare1 ,i 'most think ,i've
 got into the middle of a fairy story   
somewhere4 ,did you ever hear about     
,cinderella1 ,tilly1 and her little     
glass slipper8  ,oh yes4  ,some people's
 chariots and horses will find          
themselves turned into pun'kins some    
day2 that is what ,i believe4  ,but     
about the potatoes8 said ,matilda1 who  
could not catch the connection of this  
speech4  ,well2 she let 'em be in too   
long4 ,that was the trouble4 ,if you    
want to have things right1 you must take
 'em out when they are done1 honey4     
,but how can we tell when they are done8
  ,why1 you know by just lookin at 'em4 
,there ain't no great trouble about it2 
anyhow1 there ain't about potatoes4 ,you
 just put some fat in a pan1 and chop up
 your potatoes1 and when the fat is hot 
clap 'em in1 and let 'em frizzle round a
 spell2 and then when they're done you  

take 'em up4 ,did you sprinkle salt in8 
,no4  ,you must mind and sprinkle salt  
in1 while they're in the pan2 without   
that they'll taste kind o' flat4  ,aunt 
,erminia don't like them chopped up4    
,she wants them cut in thin slices and  
browned on both sides4  ,laws a massy6  
why don't she do 'em so1 then8 what     
hinders her8 said the housekeeper1      
looking at ,matilda4 ,i thought she was 
one o' them kind o' folks as don't know 
nothing handy4 ,why don't she do her own
 potatoes1 and as brown as she likes1   
,tilly8  ,mamma wants us to take care of
 things1 ,miss ,redwood4  ,won't let    
your aunt learn you1 nother8 said ,miss 
,redwood1 sticking one end of her       
knitting-needle behind her ear1 and     
slowly scratching with it1 while she    
looked at ,matilda4  ,aunt ,candy does  
not like to do anything in the kitchen2 
and ,i would rather you would teach me1 
,miss ,redwood--if you would4  ,and can 
you learn ,maria8  ,oh yes4  ,well1 come
 along2 what do you want to know next8  

,i wish you'd teach me some time how to 
make gingerbread4 ,and pies4  ,the      
housekeeper glanced at the clock1 and   
then bade ,matilda take oft' her things4
  ,now8 said ,matilda1 hesitating4  ,you
 can't do nothing any time but now1 said
 ,miss ,redwood1 as she put away her    
work in its basket4 ,you can think of   
doing it2 but if you ever come to doing 
it1 you will find it is now4  ,but is it
 convenient8  ,la1 child1 ,i don't know 
what people mean by convenient4 ,you    
look at it one way1 and there is nothing
 convenient2 and you look at it another 
way1 and there is nothing but what is4  
,hang your things over that chair2 and  
,i'll put an apron on you4  ,but which  
way does it look this afternoon1 ,miss  
,redwood8  ,the housekeeper laughed1 and
 kissed ,tilly1 whom she was arraying in
 a great check apron1 big enough to     
cover her4  ,it is just how you choose  
to take it1 she said4 ,i declare ,i'm   
sorry for the folks as is tied to       
convenience2 they don't get the right   

good of their life4 ,why1 honey1 what   
isn't my convenience is somebody else's 
convenience1 maybe4 ,i want it to be    
sunshine very often1 so as ,i kin dry my
 clothes1 when the farmers want it to be
 rain to make their corn and cabbages   
grow4 ,it is sure to be convenient for  
somebody4  ,but ,i want it to be        
convenient for you1 this afternoon1 said
 ,matilda1 wistfully4  ,well1 'tis1 said
 the housekeeper4 ,there--wash your     
hands in that bowl1 dear2 and here's a  
clean towel for you4 ,a body as wants to
 have things convenient1 had better not 
be a minister's housekeeper4 ,no1 the   
place is nice enough1 she went on1 as   
she saw ,matilda's eye glance around the
 kitchen2 'tain't that2 but ,i always   
think convenient means having your own  
way2 and that nobody need expect to do  
at the parsonage4 ,just so sure as ,i   
make pot pie1 ,mr4 ,richmond'll hev to  
go to a funeral1 and it's spiled or     
lost1 for he's no time to eat it2 and ,i
 never cleaned up that hall and steps   

yet1 but an army of boots and shoes came
 tramping over it out of the dirt2 when 
if it wants cleaning1 it'll get leave to
 be without a foot crossing it all the  
afternoon4 ,and if it's bakin' day1 ,i  
have visitors1 and have to run between  
them and the oven1 till ,i don't know   
which end is the parlour2 and that's the
 way1 ,tilly2 and ,i don't know no      
better way but to conclude that somebody
 else's convenience is yourn--and then  
you'll live in clover4 ,the minister had
 to preach to me a good while before ,i 
could see it1 though4 ,now1 honey1 sift 
your flour2--here it is4 ,kin you do it8
  ,matilda essayed to do it1 and the    
housekeeper looked on4  ,the damper is  
turned1 she said2 we'll have the oven   
hot by the time the cake is ready4 ,now1
 dear1 what's going into it8  ,will that
 be enough8 said ,matilda1 lifting her  
floury hand out of the pan4  ,i want a  
piece1 said the housekeeper2 so there   
had better go another bowlful4 ,and the 
minister--he likes a bite of hot        

gingerbread1 when he can get it4 ,so    
shake it in1 dear4 ,that will do4 ,now1 
what are you going to put in it1 ,tilly1
 besides flour8  ,why1 ,i don't know1   
said ,matilda4  ,well1 guess4 ,what do  
you think goes into gingerbread8        
,molasses8  ,yes2 but that goes one of  
the last things4 ,ain't you going to put
 no shortening in8  ,shortening8 what is
 that8 said ,matilda4  ,well1 it's      
whatever you've got4 ,butter'll do1 if  
it's nice and sweet--like this is--or   
sweet drippings'll do1 or a little sweet
 lard1 maybe4 ,we'll take the butter    
to-day1 for this is going to do you and 
me credit4 ,now think--what else8 ,put  
the butter right there1 in the middle1  
and rub it into the flour with the flat 
of your hand1 so4 ,rub hard1 dear2 get  
the butter all in the flour1 so you     
can't see it4 ,what is to go in next8   
,spice8 ,i think mamma puts spice4  ,if 
you like it4 ,what spice will you       
choose8  ,i don't know1 ,miss ,redwood4 
,well1 it'd be queer gingerbread without

 ginger1 wouldn't it8  ,oh yes4 ,i      
forgot the ginger1 to be sure4 ,how     
much8  ,that's 'cordin' as you like it4 
,that won't hardly taste1 dear2 'tain't 
just like red pepper2 take a good       
cupful4 ,now just a little bit of       
cloves6  ,and cinnamon8  ,it'll be spice
 gingerbread1 sure enough1 said the     
housekeeper4 ,and salt1 ,tilly4  ,salt8 
,must salt go in8 said ,matilda1 who had
 got very eager now in her work4        
,salt's univarsal1 said ,miss ,redwood4 
',cept sweetmeats1 it goes into         
everything4 ,that's what makes all the  
rest good4 ,i never could see what was  
the use o' salt1 till one day the       
minister1 he preached a sermon on ',ye  
are the salt of the earth1' and ever    
since that it seems to kind o' put me in
 mind4 ,and then ,i asked ,mr4 ,richmond
 if everything meant something4  ,but   
what does that mean1 that you said8 said
 ,matilda4 ,good people don't make the  
rest of the world good4  ,they give all 
the taste there is to it1 though1 said  

the housekeeper4 ,and ,i asked that very
 question myself of the minister2 and   
what do you think he told me4  ,what8   
,he said it was because the salt warn't 
of as good quality as it had ought to   
be4 ,and that makes me think1 too4 ,but 
la6 look at your gingerbread standing   
still4 ,now see1 dear here's a bowl o'  
buttermilk for you2 it's as rich as     
cream1 a'most2 and ,i take and put in a 
spoonful of--you know what this is8     
,salaeratus8  ,that's it4  ,we use soda 
at our house4  ,salaeratus is good      
enough for me1 said ,miss ,redwood2 and 
,i know what it'll do2 so ,i'm never put
 out in my calculations4 ,now when it   
foams up--see1--now mix your cake1 dear1
 as quick as you like4                  
,stop--wait--let's get the molasses in4 
,now1 go on4 ,i declare1 having two pair
 o' hands kind o' puts one out4 ,stir it
 up2 don't be afraid4  ,matilda was not 
afraid1 and was very much in earnest4   
,the gingerbread was quickly mixed1 and 
for a few minutes there was busy work1  

buttering the pans and putting the      
mixture in them1 and setting the pans in
 the oven4 ,then ,matilda washed her    
hands2 the housekeeper put the flour and
 spices away2 and the two sat down to   
watch the baking4  ,it'll be good1 said 
the housekeeper4  ,i hope it will1 said 
,matilda4  ,i know 'twill1 said ,miss   
,redwood4 ,you do your part right2 and  
these sort o' things--flour1 and butter1
 and meat1 and potatoes1 and that--don't
 never disapint you4 ,that's one thing  
that is satisfactory in this world4     
,but mamma has her cake spoiled in the  
oven sometimes4  ',twarn't the oven's   
fault1 said ,miss ,redwood4 ,did ye     
think it was8 ,ovens don't do that for  
me1 never4  ,but sometimes the oven was 
too hot1 said ,matilda2 and other times 
she said it was not hot enough4  ,of    
course6 said the housekeeper2 and then  
again other times she forgot to look at 
it1 maybe1 and left her cake in too     
long4 ,the cake couldn't knock at the   
door of the oven to be let out2 that'd  

be too much to ask4 ,now look at yourn1 
dear4  ,matilda opened the oven door and
 shut it again4  ,what's the appearance 
of it8  ,it is coming up beautifully4   
,but it isn't up in the middle yet4     
,the fire's just right1 said the        
housekeeper4  ,but how can you tell1    
,miss ,redwood8 said ,matilda1 standing 
by the stove with a most careful set of 
wrinkles on her little brow4  ,tell8    
said the housekeeper2 just as you tell  
anything else2 after you've seen it     
fifty times1 you know4  ,matilda began a
 painful calculation of how often she   
could make something to bake1 and how   
long it would be till fifty times had   
made her wise in the matter2 when an    
inner door opened1 and the minister     
himself came upon the scene4 ,matilda   
coloured1 and looked a little abashed2  
the housekeeper smiled4  ,i am very glad
 to see you here1 ,tilly1 ,mr4 ,richmond
 said1 heartily4 ,what are you and ,miss
 ,redwood doing here8  ,we are getting  
ready for the business of life1 said the

 housekeeper4 ,the minister knows there 
are different ways of doin' that4  ,just
 what way are you taking now8 said ,mr4 
,richmond1 laughing4 ,it seems to me1   
you think the business of life is       
eating--if ,i may judge by the smell of 
the preparation4  ,it is time you looked
 at your cake1 ,tilly1 said ,miss       
,redwood2 and she did not offer to help 
her2 so1 blushing more and more1        
,matilda was obliged to open the oven   
door again1 and show that she was acting
 baker4 ,the eyes of the two older      
persons met in a way that was pleasant  
to see4  ,what's here1 ,tilly8 said the 
minister1 coming nearer and stooping to 
look in himself4  ,miss ,redwood has    
been teaching me how to make            
gingerbread4 ,o ,miss ,redwood1 it is   
beginning to get brown at the end4      
,turn the pans round then4 ,it ain't    
done yet4  ,no1 it isn't done1 for it is
 not quite up in the middle4 ,there is a
 sort of hollow place4  ,shut up your   
oven1 child1 and it will be all right in

 a few minutes4  ,then ,i think this is 
the night when you are going to stay and
 take tea with me1 said ,mr4 ,richmond4 
,i promised you a roast apple1 ,i       
remember4 ,are there any more apples    
that will do for roasting1 ,miss        
,redwood8  ,o ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,i do not 
care for the apple6 ,matilda cried4     
,but if ,i don't have it1 you will stay 
and take tea with me8  ,matilda looked  
wistful1 and hesitated4 ,her mother     
would not miss her2 but could ,maria get
 the tea without her8--  ,and ,i dare   
say you want to talk to me about        
something2 isn't it so8 the minister    
continued4  ,yes1 ,mr4 ,richmond2 ,i do4
  ,that settles it4 ,she will stay1     
,miss ,redwood4 ,i shall have some      
gingerbread1 ,i hope4 ,and when you are 
ready1 ,tilly1 you can come to me in my 
room4  ,the minister quitted the kitchen
 in good time1 for now the cakes were   
almost done and needed care4 ,a little  
watchful waiting1 and then the plumped  
up1 brown1 glossy loaves of gingerbread 

said to even an inexperienced eye that  
it was time for them to come out of the 
oven4 ,miss ,redwood showed ,matilda how
 to arrange them on a sieve1 where they 
would not get steamy and moist2 and     
,matilda's eye surveyed them there with 
very great satisfaction4  ,that's as    
nice as if ,i had made it myself1 said  
the housekeeper4 ,now don't you want to 
get the minister's tea8  ,what shall ,i 
do1 ,miss ,redwood8  ,i thought maybe   
you'd like to learn how to manage       
something else4 ,he's had no dinner     
to-day--to speak of2 and if eatin' ain't
 the business of life--which it ain't1  
,i guess1 with him--yet stoppin' eatin' 
would stop business1 he'd find2 and ,i'm
 goin' to frizzle some beef for his     
supper1 and put an egg in4 ,now ,i'll   
cut the beef1 and you can stir it1 if   
you like4  ,matilda liked very much4    
,she watched the careful shaving of the 
beef in paper-like fragments2 then at   
the housekeeper's direction she put some
 butter in a pan on the fire1 and when  

it was hot threw the beef in and stirred
 it back and forward with a knife1 so as
 not to let it burn1 and so as to bring 
all the shavings of beef in contact with
 the hot pan bottom1 and into the       
influence of the boiling butter4 ,at the
 moment of its being done1 the          
housekeeper broke an egg or two into the
 pan2 and then in another moment bade   
,matilda take it from the fire and turn 
it out4 ,meanwhile ,miss ,redwood had   
cut bread and made the tea4  ,now you   
can go and call the minister1 she said4 
,matilda thought she was having the     
rarest of pleasant times1 as she crossed
 the little dining-room and the square  
yard of hall that came next1 and went   
into the study4 ,fire ,was burning in   
the wide chimney there as usual2 the    
room was very sweet and still2 ,mr      
,richmond sat before the fire with a    
book4  ,i thought you were coming to    
talk to me1 ,tilly8 he said1 stretching 
out his hand to draw her up to him4     
,miss ,redwood was showing me how to do 

things1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,then you do   
want to talk to me8  ,oh yes1 sir4 ,but1
 ,mr4 ,richmond1 tea is ready4  ,we'll  
eat first then1 and talk afterward4     
,what is the talk to be about1 ,tilly8  
just to give me an idea4  ,it is        
about--,i do not know what is right     
about something1 ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,i do  
not know what ,i ought to do4  ,have you
 looked in the ,bible to find out8  ,no1
 sir4 ,i didn't know where to look1 ,mr4
 ,richmond4  ,have you prayed about it8 
,matilda hesitated1 but finally said    
again1 ,no4  ,that is another thing you 
can always do4 ,the ,lord understands   
your difficulties better than any one   
else can1 and knows just what answer to 
give you4  ,but--an answer8 will ,he    
give it always8  ,always provided you   
are perfectly willing to take it1       
whatever it may be2 and provided you do 
your part4  ,what is my part8  ,if ,i   
sent you to find your way along a road  
you did not know1 where there were guide
 posts set up2 what would be your part  

to do8  ,to mind the guide posts8  ,yes1
 and go on as they bade you4 ,that is   
not to prevent your asking somebody you 
meet on the road1 if you are going      
right8 ,now ,miss ,redwood has rung her 
bell1 and you and ,i must obey it4      
,but1 what are the guide posts1 ,mr4    
,richmond8  ,we will see about that     
after tea4 ,come4  ,matilda gave one    
wondering thought to the question how   
,maria and tea would get along without  
her at home2 and then she let all that  
go1 and resolved to enjoy the present   
while she had it4 ,certainly it was very
 pleasant to take tea with ,mr4         
,richmond4 ,he was so very kind1 and    
attentive to her wants2 and so amusing  
in his talk2 and the new gingerbread    
looked so very handsome1 piled up in the
 cake basket2 and ,miss ,redwood was    
such a variety after ,mrs4 ,candy4      
,matilda let care go4 ,and when it came 
to eating the gingerbread1 it was found 
to be excellent4 ,mr4 ,richmond said he 
wished she would come often and make    

some for him4  ,do you know there is a  
meeting of the ,band this evening8  ,i  
had forgotten about it1 ,mr4 ,richmond2 
,i have been so busy4  ,it is lucky you 
came to take tea with me1 then1 said he4
 ,perhaps you would have forgotten it   
altogether4 ,what is ,maria doing8  ,she
 is busy at home1 ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,i am
 sorry for that4 ,to-night is the night 
for questions2 ,i am prepared to receive
 questions from everybody4 ,have you got
 yours ready8  ,about ,band work1 ,mr4  
,richmond8  ,yes1 about ,band work4     
,though you know that is only another   
name for the ,lord's work1 whatever it  
may be that ,he gives us to do4 ,now we 
will go to my study and attend to the   
business we were talking about4  ,so    
they left ,miss ,redwood to her         
tea-table2 and the minister and his     
little guest found themselves alone     
again4  ,now1 ,tilly1 what is it8 he    
said1 as he shut the door4  ,mr4        
,richmond1 said ,matilda1 anxiously1 ,i 
want to know if ,i must mind what ,aunt 

,erminia says8  ,mrs4 ,candy8 said ,mr4 
,richmond1 looking surprised4  ,yes1    
sir4  ,the question is1 whether you must
 obey her8  ,yes1 sir4  ,i should say1  
if you doubt about any of her commands1 
you had better ask your mother1 ,tilly4 
,but ,i cannot see my mother1 ,mr4      
,richmond2 that is one of the things4   
,mamma is sick1 and aunt ,candy has     
forbidden me to go into her room4 ,must 
,i stay out8  ,is your mother so ill8   
,no1 sir1 ,i do not think she is2 ,i    
don't know2 but ,aunt ,candy says she is
 nervous2 and ,i must not go in there   
without leave4 ,and ,matilda raised     
appealing eyes to the minister4  ,that  
is hard1 ,tilly4 ,i am very sorry to    
hear it4 ,but ,i am of opinion that the 
authority of nurses must not be         
disputed4 ,i think if ,mrs4 ,candy says 
stay out1 you had better stay out4  ,and
 everything else8 said ,matilda4 ,must  
,i mind what she says in everything     
else8  ,are you under her orders1       
,matilda8  ,that is what ,i want to     

know1 ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,she says so4 ,she
 told me not to go out to church last   
,sunday night2 and all the others were  
going1 and ,i went too2 and she scolded 
about it and said ,i must mind her4     
,must ,i8 in everything8 ,i can't ask   
mamma4  ,mr4 ,richmond turned a         
paper-weight over and over two or three 
times without speaking4  ,you know what 
the fifth commandment is1 ,tilly4  ,yes1
 ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,but she is not my     
mother4  ,don't you think she is in your
 mother's place just now8 ,would not    
your mother wish that your obedience    
should be given to your aunt for the    
present8  ,matilda looked grave1 not to 
say gloomy4  ,i can tell you what will  
make it easy1 said ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,do  
it for the sake of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,he
 set us an example of obedience to all  
lawful authorities2 ,he has commanded us
 to live in peace with everybody as far 
as we possibly can2 and to submit       
ourselves to one another in the fear of 
,god4 ,besides that1 ,i must think1     

,tilly1 the command to obey our parents 
means also that we should obey whoever  
happens to stand in our parents' place  
to us4 ,will it not make it easy to obey
 your aunt1 if you think that you are   
doing it to please ,god8  ,yes1 ,mr4    
,richmond1 ,matilda said1 thoughtfully4 
,i always feel that ,god's command      
sweetens anything1 the minister went on4
 ,do you feel so8  ,i think ,i do1 the  
little girl answered4  ,so if you stay  
at home for ,mrs4 ,candy's command1 you 
may reflect that it is for ,jesus' sake2
 and that will please ,him a great deal 
better than your going to church to     
please yourself4  ,yes1 ,mr4 ,richmond1 
,matilda said1 cheerfully4  ,was that   
all you had to talk to me about8  ,yes1 
sir2 all except about ,band work4  ,we  
will talk about that in the meeting4 ,if
 you have a question to ask1 write it   
here2 and ,i will take it in and answer 
it4  ,he gave ,matilda paper and pen1   
and himself put on his overcoat4 ,then  
taking her little slip of a question1   

the two went together into the          
lecture-room4     ,,chapter ,,xi4       
,three was a good little gathering of   
the workers1 many of whom were quite    
young persons4 ,among them ,matilda was 
not a little surprised to see ,maria4   
,but she warily sheered off from        
comments and questions1 and took a seat 
in another part of the room4  ,we are   
here for a good talk to-night1 said the 
minister1 after they had sung and       
prayed4 ,i stand ready to meet          
difficulties and answer questions4 ,all 
who have any more little notes to lay on
 the desk1 please bring or send them up1
 or ask their questions by word of      
mouth4 ,i will take the first of these  
that comes to hand4  ,mr4 ,richmond     
unfolded a paper and read it over to    
himself1 in the midst of a hush of      
expectation4 ,then he read it aloud4    
,if a member of the ,relief ,committee  
visits a sick person in want of help1   
and finds another member of some other  
committee giving the help and doing the 

work of the ,relief ,committee1 which of
 them should take care of the case8  ,it
 is almost as puzzling1 said ,mr4       
,richmond1 as that other question1 what 
husband the woman should have in the    
other world who had had seven in this4  
,but as we are not just like the angels 
in heaven yet1 ,i should say in this and
 similar cases1 that the one who first  
found and undertook the case should     
continue her care--or his care--if he or
 she be so minded4 ,the old rule of     
'first come1 first served1' is a good   
one1 ,i think4 ,the ,relief ,committee  
has no monopoly of the joy of helping   
others4 ,let us see what comes next4    
',there are four people1 ,i know1 who go
 to read the ,bible to one blind        
person--and ,i know of at least two who 
are sick and unable to read1 that nobody
 goes to4'  ,want of system1 said ,mr4  
,richmond1 looking up4 ,the head of the 
,bible-reading ,committee should be told
 of these facts4  ,she has been told1   
said a lady in the company4  ,then      

doubtless the irregularity will be set  
to rights4  ,no1 it is not so certain2  
for the blind person lives where it is  
easy to attend her2 and the sick people 
are in ,lilac ,lane--out of the way1 and
 in a disagreeable place4  ,does the    
head of the ,bible-reading ,committee   
decline these cases1 having nobody that 
she can send to them8  ,she says she    
does not know whom to send4  ,i will    
thank you for the names of those two    
cases by and by1 ,mrs4 ,norris2 ,i think
 ,i can get them supplied4 ,the question
 of theory ,i will handle presently1    
before we separate4  ,here is another   
request1 said ,mr4 ,richmond1 who knew  
,matilda's handwriting1--from a dear    
child1 who asks to know 'what we shall  
do1 when people will not hear the       
message we carry8' ,why1 try again4 ,go 
and tell them again2 and never mind     
rebuffs if you get them4 ,people did not
 listen to our ,master2 it is no matter 
of wonder if they refuse to hear us4    
,but ,he did not stop ,his labours for  

that2 neither must we4 ',let us not be  
weary in well-doing2 for in due season  
we shall reap1 if we faint not4' ,i give
 her that for her watchword2--' ,if we  
faint not1 remember4  ,the next question
 in my hand is1 'what we are to do about
 welcoming strangers8' ,the writer      
states1 that six new scholars have      
lately come to the school1 and1 to her  
certain knowledge1 only two of them have
 received any welcome4  ,well1 said ,mr4
 ,richmond1 thoughtfully1 ,i must come  
to the words ,i had chosen to talk to   
you about4 ,they answer a great many    
things4 ,you all remember a verse in the
 ,epistle to the ,ephesians which speaks
 of 'redeeming the time1 because the    
days are evil4'  ,i dare say it has     
puzzled some of you1 as it used once to 
puzzle me4 ,how are we to 'redeem the   
time'8 ,another translation of the      
passage will perhaps be clearer and help
 us to understand4 ',buying' up         
opportunities4' ,the words are so       
rendered by a late great authority4 ,i  

don't know but you will at first think  
it just as hard to comprehend4 ,how are 
we to 'buy up opportunities'8  ,i am    
sure ,i don't know1 said ,mrs4 ,swan1   
,ailie's mother4 ,i always thought      
opportunities were given4  ,so they are4
 ,but the privilege of using them1 we   
often must buy4  ,i don't see how4  ,let
 us come to facts1 ,mrs4 ,swan4 ,here   
are four opportunities in the school1 in
 the shape of new members added to it4  
,how comes it these opportunities have  
not been used8 ,there are two other     
grand opportunities in ,lilac ,lane4    
,are we to buy them8 said ,mrs4         
,trembleton4  ,i do not see how else the
 difficulty can be met4 ,they are worth 
buying4 ,but the next question is1 ,what
 will you pay8  ,there was a long       
silence1 which nobody seemed inclined to
 break4  ,i think you see1 my dear      
friends1 what ,i mean4 ,for welcoming   
those four strangers1 somebody must give
 up his ease for a moment--must make a  
little sacrifice of comfort4 ,it will be

 very little indeed1 for these things   
pay as we go2 we get our return         
promptly4 ,the opportunities in ,lilac  
,lane must be bought1 perhaps1 with some
 giving up of time2 of pleasure1        
perhaps2 perhaps we must pay some       
annoyance4 ,it is so with most of our   
opportunities1 dear friends4 ,he who    
serves ,god with what costs him nothing1
 will do very little service1 you may   
depend on it4 ,christ did not so2 who1  
'though ,he was rich1 yet for our sakes 
,he became poor1 that we through ,his   
poverty might be rich4' ,he 'pleased not
 ,himself4' ,and we1 if we are ,his     
servants1 must be ready to give         
everything1 if need be1 even our lives  
also1 to the work ,he calls us to do4   
,we must buy up opportunities with all  
our might1 paying not only time and     
money1 but love1 and patience1 and      
self-denial1 and self-abasement1 and    
labour1 and pains-taking4 ,we cannot be 
right servants of ,god or happy         
servants1 and keep back anything4 ',let 

a man so account of us1 as ministers of 
,christ1 and stewards of the mysteries  
of ,god2' and let us see that all the   
grace ,he gives us we use to the very   
uttermost for ,his glory1 in 'works1 and
 love1 and service1 and faith1 and      
patience1 and works4' ,my dear friends1 
if we have only love in our hearts1 love
 will buy up opportunities as fast as   
they come2 and always have the right    
money4  ,mr4 ,richmond said no more1 but
 after another hymn and a prayer        
dismissed the assembly4 ,maria and      
,matilda presently found themselves side
 by side in the street4  ,maria1 said   
the younger one1 don't you think you and
 ,i will go and read to those two poor  
people in the lane8  ,i guess ,i will6  
said ,maria1 when ,i get done being     
chief cook and bottle-washer to ,mrs4   
,minny ,candy4  ,but before that1       
,maria8  ,when shall ,i go8 said ,maria1
 sharply4 ,when it is time to get       
breakfast8 or when the potatoes are on  
for dinner8 or when ,i am taking the    

orders for tea8 ,don't be a goose1      
,matilda1 if you can help it4  ,we      
haven't much time1 said ,matilda1       
sighing4  ,and ,i am not going to ,lilac
 ,lane1 if ,i had it4 ,there are enough 
other people to do that4  ,o ,maria6    
,well1 ',o ,maria1'--there are4  ,but   
they do not go4  ,that's their look out4
  ,and1 ,maria1 you see what ,mr4       
,richmond thinks about the ,dows4  ,i   
don't see any such thing4  ,you heard   
him to-night4  ,he didn't say a word    
about the ,dows4  ,but about trying     
again1 he did4 ,o ,maria1 ,i've thought 
a great many times of that ,dows' house4
  ,so have ,i1 said ,maria2 what fools  
we were4  ,why8  ,why1 because it was no
 use4  ,mr4 ,richmond doesn't think so4 
,he's welcome to go and try for himself4
 ,i am not going again4  ,what is the   
matter1 ,maria8  ,nothing is the matter4
  ,but1 ,maria1 ever since you joined   
the ,band1 ,i cannot remember once      
seeing you 'buy up opportunities4' ,if  
you loved ,jesus1 ,i think you would4   

,i wouldn't preach1 said ,maria4 ,that  
is one thing ,i wouldn't do4 ,if ,i was 
better than my neighbours1 ,i'd let them
 be the ones to find it out4  ,matilda  
was silent till they reached home4      
,where have you been1 ,matilda8 said her
 aunt1 opening the parlour door4  ,to   
see ,miss ,redwood1 aunt ,candy4  ,ask  
me1 next time1 before going anywhere4   
,here has ,maria had everything to do   
since five hours ago1--all alone4       
,matilda shut her lips firmly1--if her  
head took a more upright set on her     
shoulders she did not know it1--and went
 up-stairs after her sister4  ,how is   
mamma1 ,maria8 she asked1 when she got  
there4  ,i don't know4 ,just the same4  
,the little girl sighed4  ,what is to be
 for breakfast8  ,fish balls4  ,you do  
not know how to make them4  ,aunt       
,erminia told me4 ,but ,i shall want    
your help1 ,tilly1 for the fish has to  
be carefully picked all to pieces2 and  
if we leave a bit as big as a sixpence1 
there'll be a row4  ,but the fish isn't 

soaked1 ,maria4  ,it is in hot water on 
the stove now4 ,it will be done by      
morning4  ,matilda sighed again deeply1 
and knelt down before the table where   
her ,bible was open4 ,buying up         
opportunities floated through her head2 
with works1 and love1 and service1 and  
faith1 and patience1 and works99        
99,alford's translation4--,christ       
pleased not ,himself--and the little    
girl's head went down upon the open     
page4 ,how much love she must have1 to  
meet all the needs for it6 to do all the
 works1 have all the patience1 buy up   
all the opportunities6 ,tilly's one     
prayer was that she might be full of    
love1 first to ,god and then to         
everybody4  ,such prayers are apt to be 
answered2 and the next morning saw her  
go through all the details of its       
affairs with a quiet patience and       
readiness which must have had a deep    
spring somewhere4 ,she helped ,maria in 
the tedious picking out of the fish2 she
 roasted her cheeks in frying the balls1

 while her sister was making porridge2  
she attended to the coffee2 and she met 
her aunt and cousin at breakfast with an
 unruffled quiet sweetness of temper4   
,it was just the drop of oil needed to  
keep things going smoothly2 for ,maria  
was tired and out of humour1 and ,mrs4  
,candy disposed to be ill-pleased with  
both the girls for their being out at   
the ,band meeting4 ,she did not approve 
of the whole thing1 she said4 ,however1 
the sunshine scattered the clouds away4 
,and when1 after a busy morning and a   
pretty well got-up dinner1 ,matilda     
asked leave to go out and take a walk1  
she had her reward4 ,mrs4 ,candy gave   
permission4  ,won't you come too1       
,maria8 she asked1 when they went to    
their own room4  ,there's no fun in     
walking1 ,maria answered1               
disconsolately4  ,i am going to ,lilac  
,lane4  ,i hope you don't think there is
 any fun in that4  ,but1 ,maria6----    
,well1 what8  ,i think there is         
something a great deal better than fun4 

,you may have it all then1 for me4      
,maria1 said her little sister1 gently1 
,i wish you wouldn't mind4 ,mamma will  
get well by and by1 and this will be all
 over2 and we are getting along so      
nicely4 ,aunt ,candy was quite pleased  
with the dinner4  ,there's another      
dinner to get to-morrow1 said ,maria2   
and ,i don't know what you mean by this 
being 'all over' when mamma gets well4  
,what difference will her getting well  
make8 ,she will help1 to be sure2 but we
 should have the same things to do--just
 the same4  ,matilda had not reckoned on
 that1 for she looked sober a minute or 
two4  ,well1 ,maria1 she said then1     
clearing up1 ,i don't care4 ,if ,jesus  
has given us this to do1 you know1 ,i   
like to do it2 because ,he has given it 
to us to do4  ,maria turned away        
impatiently4  ,maria1 said her little   
sister1 drawing nearer and speaking     
solemnly1 do you intend to ask ,mr4     
,richmond to baptize you the next time  
he has the baptismal service8  ,if ,i   

do1 said ,maria1 you need not trouble   
yourself about it4  ,and ,matilda       
thought she had better let the subject  
and her sister both alone for the       
present4 ,she had got herself ready1 and
 now taking her ,bible she went out4 ,it
 was but a little way to the corner4    
,there she turned in the opposite       
direction from the one which would have 
taken her to church1 and crossed the    
main street4 ,in that direction1 farther
 on1 lay the way to ,lilac ,lane2 but at
 the other corner of the street ,matilda
 found an interruption4 ,somebody       
stopped her1 whom she knew the next     
instant to be ,norton ,laval4  ,why1 it 
is ,matilda ,englefield6 he said4 ,you  
are just the one ,i want to see4  ,am   
,i8 said ,matilda4  ,i should think so4 
,come along2 our house lies that way2   
don't you recollect8  ,oh1 but ,i am not
 going that way now1 said ,matilda4  ,oh
 yes1 but you are6 ,mamma says          
contradicting is very rude1 but ,i can't
 help it sometimes4 ,can you help it1   

,matilda8  ,people ought to be          
contradicted sometimes1 ,matilda said1  
with an arch bridling of her head1      
which1 to be sure1 the child was quite  
unconscious of4  ,not ,i1 said ,norton4 
,come6  ,oh1 but ,i cannot1 ,norton4 ,i 
wish ,i could4 ,not this time4  ,where  
are you going8  ,up that way4  ,nobody  
lives up that way4  ,nobody8 ,just look 
at the houses4  ,nobody lives in those  
houses1 said ,norton4  ,oh1 very well2  
then ,i am going to see nobody4  ,no1   
,matilda2 you are coming to see mamma4  
,and ,i have something to show you2 a   
new beautiful game1 which mamma has got 
for me2 we are going to play it on the  
lawn1 when the grass is in order1 by and
 by2 and ,i want you to come and see it 
now1 and learn how to play4 ,come1      
,matilda1 ,i want to show it to you4    
,matilda hesitated4 ,it did not seem    
very easy to get rid of ,norton2 but    
what would become of the poor people in 
,lilac ,lane8 ,would another time do for
 them8 ,here was ,norton waiting for    

her2 and a little play would be so      
pleasant4 ,as she stood irresolute1     
,norton1 putting his arm round her      
affectionately1 and applying a little   
good-humoured force1 gave her shoulders 
without much difficulty the turn he     
wished them to take4 ,the two began to  
move down the street towards ,norton's  
home4 ,but as soon as this was done1    
,matilda began to have qualms about her 
dress4 ,norton was in a brown suit that 
fitted him1 fresh and handsome2 his cap 
sat jauntily on his thick1 wavy hair2 he
 was nice from head to foot4 ,and       
,matilda had come out in the home dress 
she had worn while she and ,maria had   
been washing up the dinner dittoes4     
,looking down she could see a little wet
 spot on the skirt now4 ,that would dry4
 ,but then her boots were her everyday  
boots1 and they were a little rusty2 and
 she had on her common school hat4 ,the 
only thing new and bright about her was 
her ,bible under her arm4 ,as her eye   
fell upon it1 so did her companion's    

eye4  ,what book have you got there8 he 
asked1 and then put out his hand to take
 it4 ,a ,bible6 ,where were you going   
with this1 ,matilda8  ,it is my ,bible1 
said the little girl4  ,yes2 but you do 
not take your ,bible out to walk with   
you1 do you1 as babies do their dolls8  
,of course not4  ,then what for1        
,matilda8  ,business4  ,what sort of    
business8  ,why do you want to know1    
,norton8 ,it was private business4  ,i  
like that1 said ,norton4 ,why do ,i want
 to know8 ,because you are ,matilda     
,englefield1 and ,i like to know all    
about you4  ,you do not know much yet1  
said ,matilda1 looking with a pleased   
look1 however1 up into her companion's  
face4 ,it was smiling at her1 with a    
complacent look to match4  ,i shan't    
know much when ,i know all1 he said4    
,how old are you8 ,you can't make much  
history in ten years4  ,no1 not much1   
said ,matilda4 ,but still--it may not be
 history to other people1 but ,i think  
it is to one's self4  ,what8  ,oh1 one's

 life1 you know4  ,but ten years is not 
a life1 said ,norton4  ,it is1 if one   
hasn't lived any longer4  ,i would like 
my life to be history to other people1  
said ,norton4 ,something worth while4   
,i wouldn't like other people to know my
 life1 though1 said ,matilda4  ,then    
could not help it1 if it was something  
worth while1 said ,norton4  ,why1 yes1  
,norton2 one's life is what one thinks  
and feels2 what nobody knows4 ,not the  
things that everybody knows4  ,it is    
what one does1 said ,norton2 and if you 
do anything worth while1 people will    
know it4 ,i wonder what there will be to
 tell of you and me fifty years from    
now8  ,fifty years6 ,why1 then ,i should
 be sixty-one1 said ,matilda2 and you   
would be a good deal more than that4    
,but perhaps we shall not live to be so 
old4  ,yes1 we shall1 said ,norton4 ,i  
shall2 and you must1 too4  ,why1        
,norton1 we can't make ourselves live1  
said ,matilda1 in great astonishment at 
this language4  ,we shall live to be    

old1 though1 said ,norton4 ,i know it4  
,and ,i wish there may be something to  
be said of me4 ,i don't think women     
ought to be talked of4  ,i do not see   
what good it would do anybody to be     
talked of1 after he has gone away out of
 the world1 said ,matilda4 ,except to be
 talked of in heaven4 ,that would be    
good4  ,in heaven6 said ,norton4 ,talked
 of in heaven6 ,where did you get that8 
,i don't mean that exactly1 said        
,matilda4 ,but some people will4  ,who8 
,why1 a great many people1 ,norton4     
,abraham and ,noah1 and ,david1 and     
,daniel1 and the woman that put all she 
had into the ,lord's treasury1 and the  
woman that anointed the head of         
,jesus--the woman who1 ,he said1 had    
done what she could4 ,i would like to   
have that said of me1 if it was ,jesus  
that said it4  ,norton took hold of     
,matilda and gave her a little          
good-humoured shake4 ,stop that6 he     
said2 and tell me1 is that why you are  
carrying a ,bible out here in the       

streets8  ,oh1 ,i haven't any use for it
 here1 ,norton4  ,then what have you got
 it here for8  ,norton1 there are some  
people in the village who are sick1 or  
cannot read2 and ,i was going to read to
 them4  ,where are they8  ,in ,lilac    
,lane4  ,where is that8  ,you go up past
 the corner a good way1 and just by ,mr4
 ,barth's foundry you turn down a few   
steps1 and turn again at the baker's4   
,then1 a little way further on1 you     
strike into the lane4  ,that's it1 is   
it8 ,i know4 ,but do you know what sort 
of people live up that way8  ,yes4      
,well1 there's another thing you don't  
know1 and that's the mud4 ,you'd never  
have got out again1 if you had gone to  
,lilac ,lane to-day4 ,it is three feet  
deep2 and it weighs twenty pounds a     
foot4 ,after you set your shoe in it1   
you want a windlass to get it out again4
  ,what is a windlass8 ,matilda asked4  
,don't you know8 ,well1 you are a girl2 
but you are a brick4 ,i'll teach you    
about a windlass1 and lots of things4   

,i shouldn't think you would want to    
teach me1 because ,i am a girl1 said    
,matilda4  ,they had reached the iron   
gate of ,mrs4 ,laval's domain1 walking  
fast as they had talked2 and in answer  
to ,matilda's last remark1 ,norton      
opened the gate for her1 and took off   
his cap with an air as he held it for   
her to pass in4 ,matilda looked1 smiled1
 and stepped past him4  ,you are not    
like any boy ,i ever saw1 she remarked1 
when he had recovered his cap and his   
place beside her4  ,i hope you like me  
better than any one you ever saw8  ,yes1
 said ,matilda1 ,i do4  ,the boy's      
answer was to do what most boys are too 
shy or too proud for4 ,he put his arms  
round ,matilda and gave her a hearty    
kiss4 ,matilda was greatly surprised1   
and bridled a little1 as if she thought 
,norton had taken a liberty2 but on the 
whole seemed to recognise the fact that 
they were very good friends1 and took   
this as a seal of it4 ,norton led her   
into the house1 got his croquet box1 and

 brought her and it out again to the    
little lawn before the door4 ,nobody    
else was visible4 ,the day was still1   
dry1 and sunny1 and though the grass was
 hardly green yet and not shaven nor    
rolled nor anything that a croquet lawn 
ought to be1 still it would do1 as      
,norton said1 to look at4 ,matilda stood
 by and listened intently1 while he     
planted his hoops and showed his        
mallets1 and explained to her the       
initial mysteries of the game4 ,they    
even tried how it would go2 and there   
was no doubt of one thing1 the time went
 almost as fast as the croquet balls4   
,i must run home1 ,norton1 ,matilda said
 at last4  ,why8 ,i don't think so4  ,i 
know ,i must4  ,well1 do you like it8   
,he meant the game4  ,oh1 it's          
delightful6 was ,matilda's honest       
exclamation4 ,norton pushed back his cap
 and looked at her1 pleased on his part4
 ,it came into ,matilda's head that she 
ought to tell him something4 ,their two 
faces had grown to be so friendly to    

each other4  ,norton1 she said1 gravely1
 ,i want you to know something about me4
  ,yes1 said ,norton4 ,i want to know   
it4  ,you don't know what it is4        
,that's the very thing4 ,i want to know 
it4  ,norton1 did you ever see anybody  
baptized8  ,babies1 said ,norton1 after 
a moment's recollection4  ,well1 if you 
would like to see me baptized1 come to  
our church ,sunday after next4  ,you8   
said ,norton4 ,haven't you been         
baptized8  ,not yet4  ,i thought        
everybody was4 ,then if you have not    
been yet1 why do you8 ,whose notion is  
that8  ,it is mine4  ,your notion8 said 
,norton1 examining her4 ,what do you    
mean by that1 ,matilda8  ,i mean1 ,i    
want to be baptized2 and ,mr4 ,richmond 
is going to do it for me4  ,what's it   
for8 what's the use8 ,i wouldn't if ,i  
were you4  ,it is joining the church4   
,don't you understand1 ,norton8  ,not a 
bit4 ,that is something ,i never did    
understand4 ,do you understand it8      
,why1 yes1 certainly4  ,let's hear1     

then1 said ,norton1 putting up his      
croquet balls4  ,mr4 ,richmond has      
explained it so much1 you know1 ,i      
couldn't help but understand4  ,oh1 it's
 ,mr4 ,richmond1 is it8  ,no2 it's the  
,bible4  ,let's hear1 then1 said        
,norton4 ,go on4  ,matilda hesitated4   
,she found a difficulty in saying all   
her mind to him2 she did not know       
whether it was best2 and with that she  
had a suspicion that perhaps she ought  
to do it4 ,she glanced at him1 and      
looked away1 and glanced again2 and     
tried to make up her mind4 ,norton was  
busy putting up his croquet hoops and   
mallets2 but his face looked so         
energetic and wide awake1 and his eye   
was so quick and strong1 that she was   
half afraid to say something that might 
bring an expression of doubt or ridicule
 upon it4 ,then ,norton looked up at her
 again1 a keen look enough1 but so full 
of pleasure in her that ,matilda's      
doubts were resolved4 ,he would not be  
unkind2 she would venture it4  ,i want  

you to know about me1 ,norton1 she began
 again4  ,well1 said ,norton1 so do ,i2 
but it seems difficult1 somehow4  ,you  
do not think that1 for you are laughing4
  ,norton gave her another look1        
laughing rather more2 and then he came  
and stood close beside her4  ,what is   
it1 ,matilda8 he asked4  ,i don't want  
you to think that ,i am good1 she said1 
looking up earnestly and timidly1 for ,i
 am not2 but ,i want to be2 and being   
baptized is a sign of belonging to the  
,lord ,jesus1 so ,i want to be baptized4
  ,it isn't a sign of anything good1    
said ,norton4 ,lots of people are       
baptized1 that aren't anything else1 ,i 
know4 ,lots of them1 ,matilda4 ,that    
don't change them4  ,no1 that don't     
change them1 ,norton2 but when they are 
changed1 then the ,bible says they must 
be baptized4  ,what for8  ,it is just   
telling everybody what they believe1 and
 what they are4 ,it's a sign4  ,then    
when you are baptized1 as you mean to   
be1 that will be telling everybody what 

you believe and what you are8  ,yes4    
,it would not tell me1 said ,norton1    
be-cause ,i should not understand the   
sign4 ,i wish you would tell me now in  
words1 ,matilda4  ,i don't know if ,i   
can1 but ,i'll try4 ,you know water     
makes things clean1 ,norton8            
,sometimes4  ,well1 if it is used it    
does1 said ,matilda4 ,the water is a    
sign that ,i believe the ,lord ,jesus   
will take away my sins1 and make me     
clean and good1 if ,i trust ,him2 that  
,he will wash my heart1 and that ,he has
 begun to do it4 ,and it will be a sign 
that ,i am ,his servant1 because that is
 what ,he has commanded ,his servants4  
,what8  ,that2 to be baptized1 and join 
the church4  ,matilda1 a great many     
people are baptized1 and keep all their 
sins just the same4  ,oh1 but those are 
make-believe people4  ,no1 they are not2
 they are real people4  ,i mean1 they   
are make-believe ,christians4  ,how do  
you know but you are8  ,i think ,i know1
 said ,matilda1 looking down4  ,but     

other people won't know4 ,your being    
baptized will not mean anything to them1
 only that somebody has coaxed you into 
it4  ,it will mean all that1 ,norton2   
and if ,i am true they will see it means
 all that4  ,they might see it all the  
same without your being baptized4 ,what 
difference would that make8  ,it is     
obedience1 said ,matilda1 firmly4 ,and  
not to do it would be disobedience4 ,and
 it is profession of faith2 and not to  
do it1 would be to say that ,i don't    
believe4  ,norton looked amused1 and    
pleased1 and a little puzzled4  ,you    
have not told me anything about you1    
after all1 he said2 for ,i knew it all  
before4  ,how did you know it8  ,not    
this about your being baptized1 you     
know1 but about you4  ,what about me8   
,i say1 ,matilda1 when will you come and
 play croquet again8  ,i don't know4    
,but1 ,o ,norton1 ,i must go now4 ,i    
forgot all about it4 ,and there was     
something else ,i wanted to say4 ,i wish
 you would be a servant of ,jesus too8  

,matilda gave this utterance a little   
timidly4 ,but ,norton only looked at her
 and smiled1 and finally closed the     
question by taking her in his arms and  
giving her two kisses this time4 ,it was
 done without a bit of shamefacedness on
 his part1 and with the energy and the  
tenderness too of affection4 ,matilda   
was extremely astonished and somewhat   
discomposed2 but the evident kindness   
excused the freedom1 and on the whole   
she found nothing to object4 ,norton    
opened the iron gate for her1 and she   
hurried off homewards without another   
word4  ,in a dream of pleasure she      
hurried along1 feeling that ,norton     
,laval was a great gain to her1 and that
 croquet was the most delightful of     
amusements1 and that all the weariness  
of the day's work was taken out of her  
heart4 ,she only regretted1 as she went1
 that those poor people in ,lilac ,lane 
had heard no reading2 but she resolved  
she would go to them to-morrow4  ,there 
is one time1 however1 for doing         

everything that ought to be done2 and if
 that time is lost1 no human calculation
 can make sure a second opportunity4    
,matilda was to find this in the case of
 ,lilac ,lane4 ,the next day weather    
kept her at home4 ,the second day she   
was too busy to go on such an           
expedition4 ,the third was ,sunday4 ,and
 when ,monday came1 all thoughts of what
 she had intended to do were put out of 
her head by her mother's condition4     
,mrs4 ,englefield was declared to be    
seriously ill4  ,the doctor was         
summoned4 ,her fever had taken a bad    
turn1 he said4 ,it was a very bad turn2 
for after a few days it was found to be 
carrying her swiftly to death's door4   
,she was unable to see her children1 or 
at least unable to recognise and speak  
to them1 until the very last day2 and   
then too feeble4 ,and the ,sunday when  
,matilda had expected to be baptized1   
saw her mother's funeral instead4  ,anne
 and ,letitia came up from ,new ,york1  
but were obliged to return thither      

immediately after the funeral2 and the  
two younger girls were left to their    
grief4 ,it was well for them now that   
they1 had plenty of business1 plenty of 
active work on hand4 ,it was a help to  
,maria2 after a little it diverted her  
thoughts and took her out of the strain 
of sorrow4 ,and it was a help to        
,matilda1 but in a more negative way4   
,it kept the child from grieving herself
 ill1 or doing herself a mischief with  
violent sorrow2 it was no relief4 ,in   
every unoccupied moment1 whenever the   
demands of household business left her  
free to do what she would1 the little   
girl bent beneath her burden of sorrow4 
,kneeling before her open ,bible1 her   
tears flowed incessantly every moment   
when the luxury of indulgence could be  
allowed them4 ,mrs4 ,candy did not see  
the whole of this2 she was rarely in the
 girls' room2 yet she saw enough to     
become uneasy1 and tried all that she   
knew to remedy it4 ,clarissa was kind1  
to her utmost power of kindness4 ,even  

,maria was stirred to try some soothing 
for her little sister4 ,but ,matilda    
could not be soothed4 ,maria's instances
 and persuasions did1 however1 at last  
urge her to the point of showing a part 
of her thoughts and disclosing the thorn
 that pressed sharpest on her mind4 ,it 
was1 that she had not pleased her mother
 by doing her best in the studies she   
had pursued at school4 ,matilda had     
always been a little self-indulgent2 did
 not trouble herself with study2 made no
 effort to reach or keep a good place in
 her classes4 ,mrs4 ,englefield had     
urged and commanded her in vain4 ,not   
obstinately1 but with a sort of gay     
carelessness1 ,matilda had let these    
exhortations slip2 had studied when she 
was interested1 and lagged behind her   
companions in the pursuits she found    
dry4 ,and now1 she could not forgive    
herself nor cease her sorrowing on      
account of this failure4  ,maria in     
despair at last took ,mrs4 ,candy into  
her confidence1 and besought her to     

comfort ,matilda1 which ,mrs4 ,candy    
tried her best to do4 ,she represented  
that ,matilda had always been a good    
child2 had loved and honoured her       
mother1 and constantly enjoyed her      
favour4 ,matilda heard1 but answered    
with sobs4  ,i am sure1 my dear1 her    
aunt said1 you have nothing to reproach 
yourself with4 ,we are none of us       
perfect4  ,i didn't do what ,i could1   
aunt ,candy6 was ,matilda's answer4  ,my
 dear1 hardly anybody--the best of      
us--does all he might do4  ,i will1 said
 ,matilda4     ,,chapter ,,xii4   ,this 
could not last always1 and the days as  
they passed1 after a while1 brought     
their usual soothing4  ,the quiet       
routine of the early spring began to    
come in again4 ,mrs4 ,candy was looking 
for a girl1 she said1 but had not found 
one yet2 ,maria and ,matilda were not   
ready to go to school2 they were better 
getting the breakfast and washing up the
 dishes than doing nothing4 ,no doubt   
that was true4  ,tilly1 said ,maria1 one

 of these days1 when the coffee cups    
were getting put in order1 going out of 
,maria's tub of hot water into          
,matilda's hands and napkin1--,tilly6   
you know next ,sunday there is to be a  
baptism in the church8  ,yes1 said      
,matilda4  ,it was weeks after that     
other ,sunday1 when the rite had not    
been administered4 ,spring had come     
forward rapidly since then4 ,trees were 
in full leaf2 dandelions in the grass2  
flowers were in the woods1 though the   
two sisters had not gone to see them    
this year2 the apple orchards around    
,shadywalk were in a cloud of pink      
blossoms2 and the sun was warm upon     
flower and leaf everywhere4  ,who is    
going to be baptized8 ,maria went on4   
,i don't know4 ,at least1 ,i don't know 
all4  ,ailie ,swan is1 remarked ,maria4 
,yes1 ,i know ,ailie ,swan is4  ,and    
,frances ,barth4  ,matilda was silent4  
,and ,esther ,trembleton1 and ,george   
,rice1 and ,mary and ,willie ,edwards4  
,i suppose so1 said ,matilda4  ,you are 

not1 are you8  ,you know ,i was going to
 be1 said ,matilda4 ,i am now4  ,tilly1 
it would be no harm if you waited till  
another time4  ,why should ,i wait8  ,i 
am going to wait1 said ,maria4  ,why8   
,why1 because ,i don't feel like it4    
,not now4  ,i do not want to wait1 said 
,matilda4 ,and probably she was going to
 say more1 but her lip trembled and she 
stopped4  ,it would be no harm1 ,tilly1 
if you waited4 ,nobody would expect it  
of us now4 ,nobody would expect it1     
,tilly4  ,i think ,one would1 said      
,matilda4  ,who8  ,jesus4  ,but1 ,tilly1
 said ,maria1 uneasily1 ,i don't think  
so4 ,it could not be pleasant for you   
and me1 you know1 to go forward and be  
baptized now4 ,we might wait till       
another time2 and then it would be more 
easy1 wouldn't it8  ,it is not hard now1
 said ,matilda4 ,it is pleasant now4 ,i 
do not wish to put it off4  ,pleasant8  
repeated ,maria4  ,yes1 said her little 
sister1 quietly1 lifting her eyes to    
,maria's face so steadily and gravely   

that the other changed her ground4  ,but
 at least it is not duty1 ,matilda4     
,matilda had dried all the cups1 and she
 threw her napkin down and covered her  
face4  ,oh yes6 she said2 it is duty and
 pleasure too4 ,i'll do what ,i can4    
,but what does it signify1 your doing   
it8 said ,maria4 ,it isn't anything4    
,and it will look so odd if you do and  
,i don't4  ,matilda took up her napkin  
again1 and went to work at the plates4  
,matilda1 ,i wish you would wait4 ,i am 
not ready to go now4  ,but ,i am ready1 
,maria4  ,if ,i was to tell ,aunt       
,candy1 ,i believe she would put a stop 
to it1 said ,maria1 sulkily4 ,i know she
 does not think much of such young      
people doing such things4  ,but ,jesus  
said1 ,let them come4  ,maria tossed her
 head4 ,however she did not speak to    
,mrs4 ,candy4  ,so it was with no notion
 of ,matilda's intention that her aunt  
that ,sunday took her seat in ,mr4      
,richmond's church4 ,she had heard that 
a number of people1 most of them young  

people1 were to be baptized in the      
evening2 she had been to her own church 
duly in the morning1 and thought she    
might gratify her curiosity now in      
seeing how these things are managed in a
 different communion4 ,she and ,clarissa
 went alone1 not supposing that the     
younger ones of the family were at that 
same moment getting ready to follow4    
,how are you going to dress yourself1   
,matilda8 her sister inquired4  ,to     
dress myself6 said ,matilda1 turning her
 eyes upon her sister in astonished     
fashion4  ,why1 yes1 child6 you will go 
out there in sight of everybody1 you    
know4 ,aren't you going to put on a     
white frock8 ,clarissa says they always 
do in 'her church4'  ,matilda looked    
down at her own black dress and burst   
into tears2 only by a vigorous effort   
she kept the tears from falling1 after  
the first one or two1 and hurriedly and 
silently began to get herself ready4    
,but1 ,matilda6 why don't you speak8    
said her sister4 ,are you going just so8

 and why don't you speak to me8 ,there  
is no harm in a white frock4  ,i don't  
want a white frock1 said ,matilda4 ,do  
you mean to stay at home8  ,i suppose ,i
 am going1 said ,maria1 beginning slowly
 her own preparations4 ,people would    
think odd if ,i didn't go4 ,where are   
you going to sit8  ,what do you mean8   
,why1 you are very stupid4 ,i mean1     
where are you going to sit8  ,where we  
always do1 ,i suppose4  ,but then you   
would have so far to walk4  ,to walk8   
,matilda repeated1 bewildered4  ,why1   
yes1 child6 ,when you are called to go  
up with the rest1 you know2 you would   
have so far to go4  ,oh6 said ,matilda4 
,what of it8  ,don't you care8  ,why1   
no4 ,it don't make any difference4      
,well1 ,i'd have a white frock if ,i    
were you1 said ,maria4 ,being in black  
is no objection to that2 for people do  
just the same1 ,matilda1 for a baptism4 
,you will be late1 ,maria1 was all the  
answer her little sister made4  ,and    
they were late4 ,matilda was ready and  

waiting1 before ,maria's slow           
preparations were made4 ,they walked    
quick2 but service had begun in the     
church before they got there4 ,they     
paused in the vestibule till a prayer   
should be ended4 ,and here ,matilda was 
seized upon4  ,i thought you were not   
coming1 said an earnest whisper4 ,what  
made you come so late8 ,it was ,norton  
,laval4  ,i couldn't help it1 said      
,matilda4  ,and when you came1 ,i all   
but missed you4 ,they said all of       
you--you know--would be in white        
dresses2 and ,i was looking out for     
white4 ,aren't you going to be baptized1
 after all8  ,oh yes1 ,norton4  ,well1  
here's some flowers for you1 said the   
boy1 putting a bunch of white heath and 
lilies into ,matilda's hand4 ,mamma is  
here2 up in the ,dawsons' pew2 it was   
sold with the place1 so we've got it4   
,come there1 ,matilda1 it will be a good
 place for you2 yours is farther back1  
you know4 ,mamma told me to bring you4  
,maria had gone in1 after an impatient  

whisper to her sister4 ,and ,matilda    
yielded to a secret inclination1 and    
followed ,norton4  ,the service of      
baptism was not entered into until the  
close of the evening4 ,during one of the
 intervals of the usual service1 which  
preceded the other1 ,matilda questioned 
with herself if she really would have   
done better to put on a white dress8    
,everybody seemed to expect it4 ,she    
could not1 from the ,daweon pew1 which  
was a corner front one1 see how her     
companions were dressed4 ,but she       
presently recollected that the fine     
linen1 which ,mr4 ,richmond had talked  
to them about1 is the righteousness of  
saints2 and she quieted herself with the
 assurance that the real attire of      
fitness is inward and not outward4 ,and 
when the candidates for baptism were    
called to come forward1 she quietly left
 her bunch of lilies with her hat on the
 cushion of the pew4  ,is that ,matilda6
 whispered ,clarissa to her mother4  ,i 
never heard a word of it6 said ,mrs4    

,candy4  ,you cannot stop her now4  ,no2
 if ,i could ,i would1 answered ,mrs4   
,candy4 ,this ought not to be4 ,such a  
child6--does not know what she is doing4
 ,what a way6  ,but ,matilda knew what  
she was doing2 and when the candidates  
were asked respecting their faith and   
profession1 there was no voice among    
them all that answered more clear and   
free2 none that promised with more calm 
distinctness to keep ,god's holy will   
and commandments1 and walk in the same  
all the days of her life4 ,and it was a 
meek little face1 without a cloud or a  
doubt upon it1 that was raised towards  
,mr4 ,richmond when her turn came4      
,there was a long line of candidates for
 baptism1 reaching nearly from one end  
to the other of the communion rails4    
,mr4 ,richmond stood near one end1 by   
the font1 and did not change his place2 
so each one1 as he or she received the  
rite1 passed to one side1 while the     
place was filled by another4 ,without   
breaking the rank this was done2 one set

 slowly edging along from left to right1
 while from right to left1 one by one1  
the others came to take their turn4 ,it 
was a pretty sight4 ,so some thought2   
but there were varieties of opinion4    
,one variety ,matilda had to encounter  
that night before she slept4 ,going back
 to ,mrs4 ,laval's pew to get her hat   
and flowers1 naturally she walked home  
with her and ,norton1 and had no        
annoyance until she got there4 ,as she  
went through the hall the parlour door  
opened and she was called in4  ,i want  
to speak to you1 ,matilda1 said ,mrs4   
,candy2 and ,i think it is proper to do 
it at once4 ,i want to know about this4 
,how long have you been preparing for   
this step you have taken to-night8      
,ma'am8 said ,matilda4  ,how long have  
you been thinking of doing this8  ,oh1 a
 long while1 ,aunt ,candy4  ,why did you
 not consult me8  ,her mother would have
 been the one to speak to about it1 and 
her mother had been too ill4            
,remembering this1 ,matilda stood silent

 and her eyes filled4  ,you have been   
intending it for these two months past8 
,yes1 ,aunt ,candy2 and before4  ,well1 
then1 why did you not speak to me8  ,i  
spoke to ,mr4 ,richmond4  ,mr4 ,richmond
 might have had the courtesy1 himself4  
7,which ,mr4 ,richmond had meant to do1 
but various pressing matters had        
prevented47 ,but you ought to have      
spoken to me1 ,matilda4 ,you are too    
young a child to take such              
responsibility4  ,matilda did not think 
of anything to say to this4  ,i do not  
think you understand what you have been 
doing4  ,i think ,i do1 ,aunt ,candy4   
,what did you want to be baptized for8  
,because ,jesus says we must4  ,yes1    
properly2 but not improperly1 without   
knowing what you do4 ,what do you think 
it means1 ,matilda8  ,to be baptized1   
,aunt ,erminia8  ,yes4  ,it means1 said 
the child steadily1 and with the clear  
utterance of pleasure1 that ,i belong to
 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4  ,there6 said
 ,clarissa1 appealing to her mother4  ,i

 thought so1 said ,mrs4 ,candy4 ,that is
 not what it means1 ,matilda4  ,it is   
what ,i mean1 ,aunt ,candy4  ,it means a
 great deal more1 my dear1 which you    
cannot understand4 ,and you ought to    
have had a white dress on4  ,i don't    
think ,god cares1 said ,matilda4  ,did  
you ever hear such dreadful teaching as 
these people have8 said the mother1     
appealing to the daughter4 ,my dear1    
there is a propriety in things4 ,and not
 one of the candidates this evening was 
dressed in white4  ,but the water means 
a clean heart1 said ,matilda2 and if we 
have that1 ,god will think we are       
dressed in white4  ,so you think you    
have a clean heart8  ,i think ,jesus has
 begun to make it clean4  ,and what does
 it mean to renounce the devil and all  
his works8  ,it means1 said ,matilda1   
sighing1 to have nothing to do with     
anything that is wrong4  ,how is such a 
child as you to know what is wrong8     
,why1 the ,bible1 ,aunt ,candy4  ,what  
is the vain pomp and glory of the world8

  ,i don't know1 said ,matilda4 ,all the
 glory1 ,i suppose1 except what ,god    
gives4  ,what does ,he give1 child8 said
 ,mrs4 ,candy1 with an odd expression on
 her face4  ,why1 you know1 ,aunt       
,erminia1 said ,matilda1 a little       
wearily4  ,i should like to hear you    
tell4  ,i can't tell1 said ,matilda4 ,i 
think it was glory1 when ,he said of    
that poor woman1 ',she hath done what   
she could4'  ,my dear1 said ,mrs4       
,candy1 after a pause1 ,i am very sorry 
you have taken this step without        
consulting me4 ,your answers show that  
you have not the discrimination         
necessary for making such vows4         
,however1 it is too late now4 ,you may  
go to bed4  ,which ,matilda did1 and    
speedily forgot all that had troubled   
her in her aunt's words4 ,for she went  
to sleep making a pillow to her head of 
those other words--  ,and white robes   
were given to every one of them4        
,typographical errors silently          
corrected3  ,chapter #c3 been doing to  

day replaced by been doing to-day       
,chapter #c3 than other folks replaced  
by than other folks'  ,chapter #e3      
,richmond8' replaced by ,richmond'8     
,chapter #f3 ,but8--what 'but8' replaced
 by ,but8--what 'but'8  ,chapter #g3 one
 to 'carry the message8' replaced by one
 to 'carry the message'8  ,chapter #h3  
spend it somehow replaced by spend it1  
somehow  ,chapter #h3 ,only one day     
replaced by ,only1 one day  ,chapter #h3
 ,well what8 replaced by ,well1 what8   
,chapter #i3 band of workers replaced by
 ,band of workers  ,chapter #i3 to do   
,his will8 replaced by to do ,his will4 
,chapter #i3 give thanks8 replaced by   
give thanks8  ,chapter #aa3 redeem the  
time8' replaced by redeem the time'8    
,chapter #aa3 up opportunities8'        
replaced by up opportunities'8  ,chapter
 #aa3 no fun in walking4 replaced by no 
fun in walking4