r of _you_ doing that with anything, and as for me, I
must strike while the iron is hot. You know how new impressions wear off
with me, and if I don't get into some work of this kind at once, I am
afraid I'll get cool. I don't mean that I fear going back to where I
was, but I am not like you, I haven't lived in it all my life, and I
need something to keep up my interest. It's so with me in everything
else, and I am sure it won't be different in this case, because of
course my nature won't change, although my heart has. But that is not
all; during these few weeks I have been living just in a sort of
trance--that is, every moment I've been alone, content to dream all the
time of how good God had been to me, but just the night before papa
spoke about those people, it suddenly occurred to me that I must do
something to help others, to find out how good He would be to them if
they would only let Him. It seemed dreadfully selfish to sit still and
drink in that wonderful happiness, without offering some of it to others
when there are thousands dying for a drop of it. So when papa spoke
about the miners down at Hollowmell, it struck me that here was work
just ready for me."

She stopped, a little out of breath, and waited to hear what Mabel would
say.

"Well, it does seem," said Mabel, beginning at the same time to put on
her jacket and hat, "It does seem as if it was intended you should take
this in hand; but don't let us do anything rashly. Let us think it over
carefully for a week, and if we come to the conclusion that it would
not be too much for us, let us begin operations then."

"O, Mab!" cried Minnie in dismay, "How calmly you talk of putting it
off. Why, my hands are just aching to get to work, and then, what's the
use of considering whether or not it will be too much for us; no amount
of consideration will convince us as one attempt will, and of what use
is our faith if we cannot make a practical use of it?"

"Perhaps I am over cautious," Mabel admitted, "but let us take at least
till Saturday to make up our minds as to the best way of going to work,
as you have already confessed you have not yet thought of a plan."

"Very well," agreed Minnie, kissing Mabel warmly as she bade her
good-night, "Not a word more till Saturday, when we shall have time
enough to give the subject the attention it requires. Good-night."

"Good-night," returned Mabel, as she ran lightly down the steps, and was
soon lost in the gathering