it. They had been taught
when very young, to distinguish beautiful things from those that were
merely novel, and although they liked (as I believe is natural) to call
things their own, they could be pleased with what was calculated to
produce pleasure, without envying its possessor, just as you would look
upon a beautiful sunset, or a fine landscape, without thinking of
becoming its owner. But Effie had a little money to spend, and this
occasioned a great deal of deliberation, for to tell the truth, the little girl
was so pleased with her day's work, that she was still determined on
self-denial.
'Take care,' whispered Harry, as he watched her examining some trifles
which he was pretty sure were intended for old Phillis, 'take care, Effie,
that you don't get proud of your generosity--there is more than one way
to make self a god.'
Effie blushed, and calling for some nuts, threw her money on the
counter, saying to her brother, 'We can share them together in the
evening.' The nuts were scarce stowed away in reticule and muff, when
a poorly-clad young woman, very pale and thin, bearing in her arms an
infant still paler, pressed her way through the throng, and gained the
counter. She inquired for cough lozenges. It was a long time before she
could be attended, but she stood very patiently, though seemingly
scarce able to support the weight of her own person. Harry
involuntarily glanced around the shop for a chair, and as he did so, his
eye rested on a bright-faced little girl, close beside his sister, who was
choosing and rejecting a great many pretty toys, and now and then
casting a glance at the well-filled purse in her hand, as if to ascertain
after each purchase the state of her finances.
'Beautiful!' she exclaimed, her eye glistening with pleasure at the sight
of the purple cushioned rocking-chair of which Harry had told his
sister.
'Is that all?' inquired a sad, low voice, and again Harry's eye turned to
the poor woman who was purchasing the lozenges.
'Yes, ma'am, to be sure,' replied the pert shopkeeper, 'and a pretty large
all too--what could you expect for a penny?'
The poor woman made no reply, but the hurried glance she gave her
infant with its accompanying sigh, seemed to say, 'God help my poor
baby then!'
Harry involuntarily thrust his hand into his pocket, but he quickly
withdrew it, and glanced at the little girl who was purchasing the
rocking-chair.
'This chair has cost so much,' she said, addressing the shopkeeper, 'that
I have only a shilling left.'
'Oh, then,' whispered Effie, emboldened by her brother's looks of
anxiety, 'give it to the poor woman with the sick baby.'
The little girl stared at her somewhat rudely, then turning to the woman,
exclaimed, 'What! that one, with the horrid looking bonnet!' and,
shaking her head, laughingly replied, 'Thank you, Miss, I have a better
use for it.'
Effie was really distressed. The poor woman looked so pale and sad,
and yet so meek and uncomplaining withal, that both brother and sister
found themselves strangely interested.
'O how I wish we could do something for her,' whispered Harry. 'Will
you please exchange my nuts for cough lozenges?' inquired Effie in a
faltering voice, of the shopkeeper.
'Rather too busy, Miss.'
'But it will oblige me very much.'
'Happy to oblige you on any other day, Miss, but we really have no
time for exchanges now.' By this time the poor woman had gained the
door, and Effie, looking round, observed that her brother too was
missing.
'He followed the woman with the baby,' said the little girl who had
purchased the rocking-chair; then pursing up her mouth with an
expression as near contempt as such a pretty mouth could wear, she
inquired, 'Is she your aunt?'
The angry blood rushed in a flood to Effie's face, but she quickly
subdued it, and with ready thought replied, 'No, my sister.'
It was now the turn of the stranger girl to blush, and at the same time
she cast upon her new companion a slight glance of surprise. She then
turned over with her fingers her new toys, glanced at the rocking-chair,
and seemingly dissatisfied with all, again turned to Effie.
'Please give her this,' she said, putting the remaining shilling in her
hand. 'I know what you mean, my mother taught me that, but--she is
dead now.'
'If Harry finds where the poor woman lives,' returned Effie, 'we will go
there together.' The little girl seemed to waver for a moment, then said
hastily, 'No, I must go home--give the money to her,' and hurried away
as fast as the crowd would permit. In a few moments Harry returned.
He had found out where the poor
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