whole. Though he frequently came down to see my mother in her
loneliness, yet he never alluded to the matter of the loan, and actually
declined taking any part of it until it was almost forced upon him. He
even offered, on one occasion, to increase the loan to any extent that
my mother might think necessary for her comfort, and in various ways
manifested a strong disposition to do everything far us that he could.
We had all been favorite pupils in his Sunday school, where I had soon
been promoted to the position of a teacher. Finding, also, that we were
fond of reading, he had lent us books from his own library, and even
invited me to come and select for myself. I sometimes accepted these
invitations, and occasionally chose books on subjects that seemed to
surprise him very much But, after all, are not a few books well chosen
better than a great library?

The lending of the money at the time we were in so much distress was of
inexpressible value to us. But as every-day life is a leaf in one's
history, so was this pecuniary experience in ours. I had innocently
supposed that the chief value of money was to supply one's own wants,
but I now learned that its highest capacity for good lay in its power of
ministering to the necessities of others. I have read that in prosperity
it is the easiest thing to find a friend; but that in adversity it is of
all things the most difficult. I know that in trouble we often come off
better than we expect, and always better than we deserve. But men of the
noblest dispositions are apt to consider themselves happiest when others
share their happiness with them. Our pastor lent us this little sum of
money at a time when it was of the utmost value to us; but it was done
in a way so hearty, and so unobtrusive, as to add immeasurably to the
obligation. Indeed, I sometimes think that a pecuniary favor which is
granted grudgingly is no favor at all.

Still, while at work in the factory, there were many things to think of,
and some inconveniences to submit to. The long walks to it were
unpleasant in stormy weather, and occasionally we were compelled to lose
a day or two from this cause. But then the out-door exercise in fine
weather was beneficial to health, and we were spared the public
mortification of carrying great bundles of made-up clothing through the
streets: for, let a sewing-girl feel as independent as she may, she does
not covet the being everywhere known as belonging to that class of