o get it brought home and made
in her mother's absence. Indeed, so little did Rebecca care about
the school, that she would not have cared any thing about the gown,
if her vanity had not made her wish that her daughter should be the
best dressed of any girl at the feast. Being from home, as was said
before, she knew nothing of the disappointment. On May-day morning,
Hester, instead of keeping from the feast because she had not a new
gown, or meanly inventing any excuse for wearing an old one, dressed
herself out as neatly as she could in her poor old things, and went
to join the school in order to go to church. Whether Hester had
formerly indulged a little pride of heart, and talked of this gown
rather too much, I am not quite sure; certain it is, there was a
great hue and cry made at seeing Hester Wilmot, the neatest girl,
the most industrious girl in the school, come to the May-day feast
in an old stuff gown, when every other girl was so creditably
dressed. Indeed, I am sorry to say, there were two or three much too
smart for their station, and who had dizened themselves out in very
improper finery, which Mrs. Jones made them take off before her. "I
mean this feast," said she, "as a reward of industry and piety, and
not as a trial of skill who can be finest and outvie the rest in
show. If I do not take care, my feast will become an encouragement,
not to virtue, but to vanity. I am so great a friend to decency of
apparel, that I even like to see you deny your appetites that you
may be able to come decently dressed to the house of God. To
encourage you to do this, I like to set apart this one day of
innocent pleasure, against which you may be preparing all the year,
by laying aside something every week toward buying a gown out of all
your savings. But, let me tell you, that meekness and an humble
spirit is of more value in the sight of God and good men, than the
gayest cotton gown, or the brightest pink ribbon in the parish."

Mrs. Jones for all this, was as much surprised as the rest at
Hester's mean garb; but such is the power of a good character, that
she gave her credit for a right intention, especially as she knew
the unhappy state of her family. For it was Mrs. Jones's way, (and
it is not a bad way,) always to wait, and inquire into the truth
before she condemned any person of good character, though
appearances were against them. As we can not judge of people's
motives, said she, we may, from ignorance, often con