hoes and stockings, what would she do, should she by any
means lose your favour, and with it all those indulgences? She will then
lament that she had ever experienced your bounty."

Miss Bella hastily replied, that she meant to be a friend to her all her
life, and only wished that her mamma, in order to enable her to do so,
would add a little to her weekly allowance, and she would manage it with
all the frugality possible.

Mrs. Adams then asked her daughter, if she did not know of any other
children in distress; to which Bella replied, that she knew several
besides, and particularly two in a neighbouring village, who had neither
father nor mother, and who, without doubt, stood much in need of
assistance. Her mamma then reminded her, that it was somewhat
uncharitable to feed Marian with sweetmeats and dainties, while other
poor children were starving with hunger. To this Bella replied, that she
hoped she should have something to spare for them likewise: but, at all
events, she loved Marian best.

However, her mamma advised her to give her sweet things seldomer, and
instead thereof something that would be of more use to her, such as an
apron or a gown. Miss Bella immediately proposed to give her one of her
frocks; but her mamma soon made her sensible of the impropriety of
dressing up a village girl, without shoes or stockings, in a muslin
slip. "Were I in your place," said her mamma, "I would be sparing in my
amusements for some time, and when I had saved a little money, I would
lay it out in buying whatever was most necessary for her. The stuffs
that poor children wear are not very expensive." Bella followed mamma's
advice. Marian was not, indeed, so punctual in her morning visits; but
Bella made her presents that were far more useful than sweetmeats.

Miss Bella, besides frequently giving Marian an apron, a petticoat, or
such like, paid a certain sum every month to the schoolmaster of the
village, to improve her in reading. Marian was so sensible of these
kindnesses, that she grew every day more tenderly fond of her kind
benefactress. She frequently paid her a visit, and was never so happy as
when she could do any little matters to oblige her.

Marian came one day to the garden gate to wait for Bella's coming down
to her; but she did not come, and she was obliged to go back again
without seeing her. She returned two days successively, but no Bella
appeared, which was a great affliction to her little heart, and she