by affection and gratitude. Aunt Lucinda
still seemed rather to distrust me and, although she said nothing,
I was too sharp-sighted to be ignorant of the scrutinizing watch she
maintained over my conduct. I did not, as many boys of my age would have
done, allow myself to cherish any resentment toward my aunt, on the
contrary I did every thing in my power to gain her goodwill; I never
allowed the water-pails to become empty; I split the kindlings for the
morning fire; and, by the time I had been a few weeks in the family, my
busy aunt found herself freed from many household tasks to which she had
been accustomed for years, and, more than this, I invariably treated her
with the utmost kindness and respect. It happened one evening that my
aunt was suffering from one of the severe headaches to which she was
often subject. After supper she was almost incapable of any exertion
whatever. When it was nearly dark she suddenly remembered that the large
weekly wash had not been brought in from the clothes' yard, and there
was every appearance of approaching rain. "I don't know," said she in a
desponding voice; "what will become of the clothes, but if they are all
spoiled I can't bring them in, for my head aches as though it would
split." It was with fear and trembling that I came forward, and offered
to get the clothes-basket and bring in the clothes. She looked at me
with astonishment, saying, "a pretty sight the clothes will be by the
time you bring them in, and then the lines will be broken into fifty
pieces; no, no, let them hang and take their chance in the rain; I can't
any more than have to wash them all over again." "Please let me go,
aunty," said I, "I will handle the clothes very carefully, and I
certainly will not break the lines." Touched in spite of herself by my
desire to assist her she gave me the basket, saying, "now do pray be
careful and not destroy every thing you put your hands on," and again
seated herself with a troubled countenance to await my return. She was
often inclined to think that nothing could be done properly about the
house which was not performed by her own hands. Her face did brighten a
little when I appeared after a short time at the kitchen door, bearing
the well-filled basket with its snow-white contents in a most wonderful
state of preservation. It was not her habit to praise any one to their
face, but, when I had left the room, she turned to Uncle Nathan and said
"I do believe after all there