oung people of the place.

There was about Mrs. Reed a kindly manner which pleased all who knew
her. Although very poor, she took much interest in her young friends and
tried to make them happy.

Mrs. Reed had not always been poor. Her husband when alive was supposed
to be rich; but after his death, it was found that nothing was left to
his widow but two small cottages.

In one of these cottages, Mrs. Reed lived; the other, she rented. But
the rent received was no more than enough to enable her to live with
moderate comfort. She had little or nothing left with which to do for
others.

One cold winter morning, two persons were talking together in the cozy
sitting-room of the cottage. One was Mrs. Reed, and the other, Alice
Brown, a poor orphan girl, who lived with some distant relatives in
Fairfield.

"You are very kind to come to see me so often, Alice," said Mrs. Reed.
"I wonder why you do; because there is nothing attractive here."

"Why, Mrs. Reed!" replied Alice; "how can you talk so? are you not here?
do I not always receive a kind word and a welcome smile from you?"

"Well, you know I love you, Alice, and am always delighted to have you
come," said Mrs. Reed; "I am sure that were it in my power to do so, I
would have you here all the time.

"I would like to give you books, have you attend school, and do every
thing to make you happy. But alas! Alice, you know I am too poor to do
what I wish, and at times it makes me feel very sad."

"O, indeed you are too good, Mrs. Reed! My greatest pleasure is to come
and see you, and I hope you will always love me.

"I wish I could stay here all day; but you know that the day after
to-morrow will be Christmas, and I must hurry home now, as auntie wants
me to help her prepare for it. So good-by."

"But, Alice, you will come to see me Christmas morning, will you not?"
asked Mrs. Reed.

"Yes," replied Alice, "for a little while." And with a kiss and another
good-by, she left Mrs. Reed alone.

"What a dear good girl she is," said Mrs. Reed to herself, as she
watched Alice tripping down the street toward her home.

"She was so good to me last summer when I was ill! and here is Christmas
and I have no money with which to buy her a present.

"O dear, dear! why was I left so poor! I am sure my husband had some
money; what could he have done with it!"

Mrs. Reed sat down in her rocking-chair and for a full half hour looked
thoughtfully into the fire. Starting up sudd