laying down the law, he sought to emphasise his
remarks with an effective blow; but a craftsman has been at work on the
table, and it is no longer rickety. The chair, too, on which Mrs Frog
sits, is the same identical chair which missed the head of Bobby Frog
that time he and his father differed in opinion on some trifling matter,
and smashed a panel of the door; but the chair has been to see the
doctor, and its constitution is stronger now. The other chair, on which
Hetty sits, is a distinct innovation. So is baby's crib. It has
replaced the heap of straw which formerly sufficed, and there are two
low bedsteads in corners which once were empty.

Besides all this there are numerous articles of varied shape and size
glittering on the walls, such as sauce-pans and pot-lids, etcetera,
which are made to do ornamental as well as useful duty, being polished
to the highest possible degree of brilliancy. Everywhere there is
evidence of order and care, showing that the inmates of the room are
somehow in better circumstances.

Let it not be supposed that this has been accomplished by charity. Mrs
Samuel Twitter is very charitable, undoubtedly. There can be no
question as to that; but if she were a hundred times more charitable
than she is, and were to give away a hundred thousand times more money
than she does give, she could not greatly diminish the vast poverty of
London. Mrs Twitter had done what she could in this case, but that was
little, in a money point of view, for there were others who had stronger
claims upon her than Mrs Frog. But Mrs Twitter had put her little
finger under Mrs Frog's chin when her lips were about to go under
water, and so, figuratively, she kept her from drowning. Mrs Twitter
had put out a hand when Mrs Frog tripped and was about to tumble, and
thus kept her from falling. When Mrs Frog, weary of life, was on the
point of rushing once again to London Bridge, with a purpose, Mrs
Twitter caught the skirt of her ragged robe with a firm but kindly grasp
and held her back, thus saving her from destruction; but, best of all,
when the poor woman, under the influence of the Spirit of God, ceased to
strive with her Maker and cried out earnestly, "What must I do to be
saved?" Mrs Twitter grasped her with both hands and dragged her with
tender violence towards the Fold, but not quite into it.

For Mrs Twitter was a wise, unselfish woman, as well as good. At a
certain point she ceased to act, and s