all
right up and put us down in heaven! and when I opened my eyes, and saw
the roses and asparagus-bushes on the manteltree-piece, I had to ask
myself, 'Where have I been?' Oh, Miss Scudder, her afflictions have been
sanctified to her!--and really, when I see her going on so, I feel she
can't be long for us. They say, dying grace is for dying hours; and I'm
sure this seems more like dying grace than anything that I ever yet
saw."

"She is a precious gift," said the Doctor; "let us thank the Lord for
his grace through her. She has evidently had a manifestation of the
Beloved, and feedeth among the lilies (Canticles, vi. 3); and we will
not question the Lord's further dispensations concerning her."

"Certainly," said Miss Prissy, briskly, "it's never best to borrow
trouble; 'sufficient unto the day' is enough, to be sure.--And now, Miss
Scudder, I thought I'd just take a look at that dove-colored silk of
yours to-night, to see what would have to be done with it, because I
must make every minute tell; and you know I lose half a day every week
for the prayer-meeting. Though I ought not to say I lose it, either; for
I was telling Miss General Wilcox I wouldn't give up that meeting for
bags and bags of gold. She wanted me to come and sew for her one
Wednesday, and says I, 'Miss Wilcox, I'm poor and have to live by my
work, but I a'n't so poor but what I have some comforts, and I can't
give up my prayer-meeting for any money,--for you see, if one gets a
little lift there, it makes all the work go lighter,--but then I have to
be particular to save up every scrap and end of time."

Mrs. Scudder and Miss Prissy crossed the kitchen and entered the
bedroom, and soon had the dove-colored silk under consideration.

"Well, Miss Scudder," said Miss Prissy, after mature investigation,
"here's a broad hem, not cut at all on the edge, as I see, and that
might be turned down, and so cut off the worn spot up by the waist,--and
then, if it is turned, it will look every bit and grain as well as a new
silk;--I'll sit right down now and go to ripping. I put my ripping-knife
into my pocket when I put on this dress to go to prayer-meeting,
because, says I to myself, there'll be something to do at Miss Scudder's
to-night. You just get an iron to the fire, and we'll have it all ripped
and pressed out before dark."

Miss Prissy seated herself at the open window, as cheery as a fresh
apple-blossom, and began busily plying her knife, looking at t