pleased she had not spent her time about such a trifle, when she was so much better employed? Every day that this poor boy has to wait for his clothes, he cannot go to school, neither can he go out to work; so that you see it is not, like our visit to the cottage, a matter of indifference whether it is one day sooner or later; and yet you could have wished him to have waited still longer, that you might have had a trifling plaything. Are you not sorry for this?" added she, thing.-Are observing the tears stealing down the face of the softened Ellen.

"Yes, indeed I am," said she, as well as her sobs would allow her to speak; "I am indeed; I will never be so cross again: but are not you displeased with me, my dear aunt ?" added she, greatly distressed; "what shall I do, if you are? I never offended you before; but I know I deserve your anger."

"No, my dear," said Mrs. Irvin, tenderly embracing her, "if you are sorry for your fault, I can no longer be angry with you; you did not see things in this light before: but let what I have now said, convince you of the necessity there is of always examining the motives from which we act. You are but young at present, and may not always understand what I mean; but as you grow older, you are likely to

be often deceived in this manner; while you think you are shewing a very good disposition, it is only some vain or trifling passion you wish to gratify; as, in the instance of this afternoon, you may be sure it was only curiosity that influenced you, or you would not have been so angry when a work of charity interfered with your pleasure."

Ellen readily acknowledged her mistake; and the tenderness of her aunt was so clearly seen in the mildness of her reproofs, that by this manner she gained more ascendancy over the minds of her nieces, than if she had severely punished them for every fault. It was indeed by the cords of affection that she bound them to herself, and by thus reasoning with them on their generalconduct, she laid the foundation of their future happiness; by teaching them to bring all their actions to this unerring test, Whether the motive, as well as the action itself, was such as would be approved by Gov.

CHAPTER IV.

"When heaven-born Charity

"Expands the heart, and prompts the lib'ral hand.
"To soothe distress."

BOWDLER.

THE next morning, Mrs. Irvin proposed going into the village, and calling at Dame Hunt's, in her way home. home. Ellen felt conscious of not deserving to go with her; but her fears were soon removed by her aunt's telling her, as well as her sister, to get ready to accompany her.

After they had visited the school, and called on two or three old and sick people; they went to the cottage, where, instead of the children they had seen the day before, a woman of very decent appearance, but looking very ill, was walking in the garden; and as they approached the house, she opened the gate which led to it. Mrs. Irvin asked, if Dame Hunt was within, and was followed by the stranger up the walk, who appeared to have scarcely strength to answer her question.

"I am afraid you are not well," said Mrs.

Irvin, very kindly; "have you been long ill ?"

"Some time, Ma'am," answered she; "trou ble has brought me to this ill state of health.”

At this moment, the old woman came to the door, and without regarding the company, she cried out, "O Mrs. Forbes, make haste, and come in; I do believe your child is almost dead!"

"What do you mean?" said the poor woman, exerting all her strength to reach the house; "not my poor Mary, I hope?"

"No, my dear mother," cried a voice from within; " 'pray don't be frightened; indeed I am not much hurt."

Mrs. Irvin was now within the door, where she saw the poor little girl her nieces had mentioned, lying on the floor with her face and neck covered with blood.

“Oh, what is the matter?" said the affrighted mother; "how did this happen? my dear Mary, what shall I do for you?"—and, weakened by illness and alarm, she burst into tears.

Mrs. Irvin hardly knew which to assist first; but with her usual composure, she desired the old woman to get some water for Mrs. Forbes, while she raised the poor child from the ground, who, on hearing her mother's sobs, was still more distressed, and attempting to move, she said, "My dear mother, where are you? I am not hurt, indeed I am not; pray don't cry so;

let me come to you," added she, stretching out her arms; "where are you? and who is here besides you?"

"Here are none but friends," said Mrs. Irvin, kindly taking her hand, and leading her towards her mother; "your mother is only frightened, but you must set her a better example; and when we have washed your face, and put something over this slight wound in your forehead, you will be quite well again."

The poor woman now began to recover herself, and rose to help her child.-" How good you are, Ma'am," said she; "I am sure you take too much trouble about us: but indeed I was so frightened at first, that even now I am fit for nothing; my dear child, I can do nothing for you :"--and, on observing the deep cut in her forehead, she again burst into tears. "You are needlessly alarmed," said Mrs. Irvin, as she wiped the little girl's face; "it is but a very small wound; but Dame Hunt was very unguarded to alarm you as she did."

"Why, dear heart alive, Ma'am,” said the old woman, ❝ if you had but seen the poor -child, she did not say a word, but there she lay all as if she was dead, and the blood gushing out so! I only went up stairs to fetch something I wanted, and she was sitting very quietly, and