. Kimberly himself, who began to be quite interested in
the work, supplied a certain quantity of paint to every house, while the
young ladies offered a prize for its most successful use.

Although there were children in almost every house in the hollow, there
were two or three where there were not any, and some also where the
children were too young for work of this kind. These were consequently
alloted to any who should volunteer their services for the purpose. Some
one proposed that this competition should be open to boys alone, but
Minnie stood up bravely for the girls, declaring that they could do this
kind of work as well as the boys, and should not be shut out from it, as
the boys had not been shut out from the window-cleaning.

This was considered only fair, and it was also thrown open to all who
cared to compete.

But though the young reformers did not think it right to go further than
the outsides of the cottages in their endeavours after improvement,
their influence began to assert itself within also. They were so young
themselves that they considered it would be an arrogant and presumptuous
proceeding on their part to attempt anything that would look like
dictation, or interference, and might materially injure their work in
directions wherein it had been successful heretofore. They contented
themselves therefore with working among the young people, relying on the
natural development of that work, and were encouraged to find, that such
reliance was by no means misplaced, for, besides the improvements
effected by the youthful competitors in the outward appearance of the
cottages, a further improvement was observable in the comparative
absence of drunken men and untidy women.

The entertainments on Saturday afternoons had also somewhat changed in
their nature by this time. The social element was still preserved, but
instead of the riotous fun and hilarity of the opening meeting, a
quieter mode now prevailed. After tea, there was usually a game, then
all sat down, and the girls drew forth their sewing with which they
proceeded while the boys sat quietly in their places, all listening
eagerly to some entertaining book read by one of the young ladies till
about half-an-hour before the usual hour for dispersion which was given
up to general conversation, and the singing of a few hymns.

One night, during this half-hour, one of the young ladies, Agnes Summers
by name, the same Agnes who had defended Minnie on a f