ke a piece of paper and put the things
down! and then my thoughts will not slip away so."

Matilda got the piece of paper and the pencil; but she did not
immediately find out what she was to put down.

"The Menagerie?--I did not go there of my own head; Norton took me.
Still, '_whatsoever_ ye do'--I was getting pleasure, that's all; it was
nothing but pleasure. What has my motto to do with pleasure? Well, of
course it would make it impossible for me to take wrong pleasure--I see
that. I could not take pleasure that would be wrong in God's sight, nor
that would make me do wrong to get it. Other pleasure, right pleasure,
he likes me to have. Yes, and he gives it to me, really. I couldn't
have it else. Then certainly my motto says that I must remember that,
and thank Him first of all for everything I have that I like. Did I do
so about the Menagerie? I don't think I thought about it at all; only I
was very much obliged to Norton. I did not thank God. And yet it was
such a very, very great pleasure! But I will now."

And so Matilda did. Before going any further in her inquiries, she
kneeled down and gave thanks for the rare enjoyment of the morning. She
rose up a little more sober-minded and able for the other work on hand.

"What next? Those little street sweepers. I did not have anything to do
with them--I had no pennies in my pocket, and I could not wait. But I
shall be seeing them every day; they are under foot everywhere, Norton
says; how ought I to behave towards them? They are a great nuisance,
Norton says; stopping one at every corner; and they ought not to be
encouraged. If nobody gave them anything, of course they would not be
encouraged; and they would not be there sweeping the crossings. But
then, we should not have clean crossings. I wonder which is worst,
having them swept or not having them swept? However, they will be on
the streets, I suppose, those poor children, whatever _I_ do. Now what
ought I to do? I can't give pennies to them all; and if not, how shall
I manage?"

Matilda put her head down to think. And then came floating into her
thoughts the words of her motto,--"Do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus."

"What would He say?" questioned Matilda with herself. "But I know what
he did say! 'Give to him that asketh thee.'--Must I? But how _can_ I,
to all these children? I shall not have pennies. Well, of course! when
I _haven't_ pennies I cannot give them. But I cannot buy candy much,
then, can I!