oble horses, and driven by a
jolly-looking coachman with a fat, red face, and arms which looked stout
enough to drive a war chariot, dashed up to the door. Minnie dropped
her work, and exclaimed,--

"O ma, ma, aunt Amy's come! aunt Amy's come!"

She was too well bred to rush into the street, as some little girls
would have done. So she waited until the hired girl had opened the door,
and Mrs. Brown had welcomed her sister. Then it was Minnie's turn. She
sprang to return her aunt's kiss, and said,--

"I'm _so_ glad to see you, aunt Amy!"

"And I am happy to see you, Minnie; especially as you look so well and
healthy," replied her aunt.

Aunt Amy was Mrs. Brown's sister. She was a widow. The grave had taken
her husband and children from her; she was lonely in the world, and her
heart dwelt in heaven with her children, her husband, and her Savior.
She was rich, and delighted to spend her money in doing good. Having
lost the earthly objects she best loved, her life was spent in making
the miseries of the world less, and in adding to its happiness.

The day after her arrival at Mrs. Brown's, she took Minnie out with her
for a walk through the village. Minnie waited by her aunt's side, and
pointed her to all the changes which had taken place since her visit a
year before. She was pleased to listen to the little girl's prattle, and
their walk was a very happy one.

The weather being fine, they went beyond the village and down a lane
which led to an old granite quarry on the edge of a fine piece of woods.
On reaching the quarry, they sat down upon a large fragment of granite
to rest themselves, for their walk made them feel a little tired. As
aunt Amy was viewing the scenery around her, she saw a wretched-looking
house, half hid by the foliage of the trees, on the opposite side of
the quarry. Turning to Minnie, she pointed her finger towards it, and
asked,--

"Minnie, what house is that yonder?"

Minnie's eye followed the direction of her aunt's finger until she saw
the cottage, or hovel. She knew whose it was, and so she said,--

"That is Mrs. Button's house, aunt. She is very poor."

"Has she no husband to take care of her, Minnie?"

"Her husband is a bad man, aunt. People say he used to beat her sadly.
But he has gone away now, and no one knows where he is."

"Has she any children?"

"She has a girl about my age; the children call her ragged Kate."

"Poor child! I think we must call and see her and her moth