initial commit of ebook 23536HEADmain

1 files changed, 2396 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/23536.txt b/23536.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6103f55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/23536.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2396 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hatty and Marcus, by Aunt Friendly
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Hatty and Marcus
+       or, First Steps in the Better Path
+
+Author: Aunt Friendly
+
+Release Date: November 18, 2007 [EBook #23536]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HATTY AND MARCUS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Irma Spehar, Markus Brenner and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                           HATTY AND MARCUS;
+
+                                  OR,
+
+                    First Steps in the Better Path.
+
+                                  BY
+                            AUNT FRIENDLY,
+
+         AUTHOR OF "KATE DARLY; OR, 'IT WILL ALL COME RIGHT.'"
+
+                               NEW YORK:
+                         ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH,
+                           No. 683 BROADWAY.
+                                 1859.
+
+
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by
+
+ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH,
+
+In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for
+the Southern District of New York.
+
+EDWARD O. JENKINS,
+Printer & Stereotyper,
+No. 26 Frankfort Street.
+
+
+
+[Illustration: AUNT BARBARA.]
+
+
+
+
+HATTY AND MARCUS.
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+
+Hatty Lee had been on a visit to her grandmother, and now she was coming
+home.
+
+Mrs. Lee had hard work that morning to keep her young people in order,
+for Hatty was a favorite with her brothers and sister, and they were
+wild with delight at the idea of seeing her again.
+
+Hatty was only ten years of age, and Marcus, her brother, thought
+because he was two years older he was almost a man, and quite able to
+give Hatty advice on all subjects. He pretended a great contempt for
+girls, but the fact was he had missed his little playmate sorely, and
+was full of glee at the thought of her return. He showed his pleasure
+in a noisy way that made the house not very comfortable for any one
+else.
+
+Old Aunt Barbara had twice put her head out of her bed-room door, to
+tell him he was the "roughest, rudest boy in the world, and would drive
+her crazy if he did not behave himself;" but Marcus still ran up stairs,
+jumping up three steps at a time, with his heavy shoes, and sliding down
+the balusters, hallooing as he went, as if he were riding a race in an
+open meadow.
+
+Meggy, a mischievous little girl of six, joined her shouts with those of
+Marcus, while Harry, her next brother, was busy collecting all his new
+playthings in the hall, that he might show them to "sister Hatty" as
+soon as she arrived.
+
+As drums and trumpets were among his favorite toys, they of course had
+to be brought out, and thoroughly tried to prove that they were in
+perfect order.
+
+While all this tumult was going on in the hall, Mrs. Lee was vainly
+trying to hush the continual cries of her little baby, who, though only
+five weeks old, seemed to have remarkably strong lungs for its age, and
+to promise to resemble the rest of the family in his willingness to use
+them.
+
+Mrs. Lee was not very strong, and she was getting quite worn out with
+the screams of the baby, when old Aunt Barbara came stepping into the
+nursery, and declared that she was certain if she could take the child a
+moment, she could quiet it.
+
+Aunt Barbara put the baby on her lap, and began to say to it some of the
+queer old rhymes she had heard in her childhood, seventy years ago. It
+is not likely that the baby understood aunt Barbara's funny stories, and
+wanted to listen,--but this is certain, it stopped crying, and soon
+closed its eyes and fell into a sweet sleep.
+
+When there was silence in the nursery, the noise in the hall sounded all
+the louder. Mrs. Lee stepped to the door quickly, as if she were going
+to speak severely to the children, but something within her whispered
+that they had no idea of the pain their frolic was giving, and that it
+was joy about their sister's return that made them so unusually full of
+glee. When Mrs. Lee reached the head of the stairs, her face had a sweet
+motherly expression, and before she spoke, she could not help smiling
+to see little Harry blowing away at his trumpet with all his might, and
+marching up and down the hall as if he were a fat little soldier on
+parade, while they jumped up and down, and screamed with delight, to see
+how fast Marcus could move on his smooth-backed horse.
+
+Mrs. Lee knew that in their present state of mind it would be next to
+impossible to keep the children perfectly quiet, and she resolved to
+employ them about something, that they might not waste their energy in
+making a noise.
+
+Marcus heard somebody at the head of the stairs, and he looked up with
+an expression of provoking mischief, as if ready to receive another
+scolding from aunt Barbara. When he saw his mother's kind, pale face
+bending towards him, he felt a little ashamed of the thoughtlessness
+which had made him forget that her weak head might have suffered from
+what he called his "fun."
+
+"Well, Mother," he said looking up cheerfully, "how soon do you think
+Hatty will come?"
+
+"Not for an hour yet, my son," said the mother, kindly; "and, meanwhile,
+I have something for you to do. I want you to sweep the pavement, from
+the door-step to the gate, that it may look neat and tidy to Hatty when
+she comes home."
+
+"Here, Meg, you go get me a broom, and I'll set to work in a twinkling,"
+said Marcus, jumping down from the balusters, with a deafening stamp of
+his heavy shoes.
+
+The sound seemed to touch every nerve in Mrs. Lee's head, and she drew
+her eyebrows together with an expression of pain; but she only said,
+quietly--"I must have a pair of slippers for you to wear in the house,
+Marcus, and then you can take off your shoes, when you come in, as your
+father does."
+
+"O that will be first-rate," said Marcus, with delight. "I should like
+dog's-heads for the pattern; won't you begin them to-day, Mother?"
+
+"I will make them as soon as I can," said the mother, with a languid
+smile.
+
+Meg now came running along the hall, carrying the broom by the brush
+end, while the handle went "knock, knock," along the floor, keeping time
+to the skipping motion with which she generally moved.
+
+Marcus seized the broom, and began to flourish it this way and that
+way, across the wide pavement, as if he meant to be rapid, if not
+particularly thorough, in his work.
+
+"Now, Harry," said Mrs. Lee, quietly, "mother wants you to make a nice
+fence with your blocks all round your playthings. Meg will get them for
+you."
+
+From a closet under the stairs Meg soon dragged out a box in which were
+Harry's stores of blocks,--playthings of which he never tired, and which
+never wore out.
+
+The little fellow set to work very patiently; and then Mrs. Lee said,
+"Come, Meg, I will take you with me." Meg gave her hand to her mother,
+and skipped up the stairs, ready to take in good part anything that
+should happen.
+
+Mrs. Lee led her to a small room at the end of the hall, and said, "Now
+listen to me, my little darling. You are to sleep in here with Hatty,
+and she is to help you dress, and to be very kind to you. I want you to
+be very careful not to hurt any of Hatty's things, and to mind her, when
+I am not with you. If you do as I say, you will be sure to get on well."
+
+Meg gave a little jump, and perched herself on the edge of the bed, as
+she said, "O how nice, Mother! I am so glad. It is a great deal
+pleasanter than being in the old nursery with Jane."
+
+"Don't sit on the bed, Meggy," said Mrs. Lee, helping the little thing
+gently down--and smoothing the tumbled place she had made on the clean
+counterpane; "You know Hatty likes to keep her bed very nicely."
+
+"Hatty can't lock the door now--and say, 'You can't come in, Meg.' It is
+my room, too, now," said Meg, "and I shall have a right to come in."
+
+"I hope my little girls will get on very pleasantly together," said Mrs.
+Lee, gently. "Jesus' little children never quarrel, never speak bad,
+angry words."
+
+"Well, I won't, Mother, if I can help it," said Meg, and she put up her
+mouth to be kissed, as if that mother's kiss could ensure her doing
+right.
+
+While this conversation was going on up stairs, Marcus had stopped in
+the midst of his work, and was actually still, for a moment, while his
+face bore the marks of deep thought.
+
+Marcus did not feel altogether comfortable about the way he had spoken
+to Aunt Barbara that morning; he knew he had done wrong, and that
+brought to his mind a letter his mother had received from Hatty during
+her absence. Hatty had written that she was very sorry for all the
+naughty things she had ever done, and that she had made up her mind to
+be one of Jesus' little children, and that she believed He had forgiven
+her for all the past, and would help her to be a better girl. She sent
+much love to her brothers and sisters, and said she wanted them to
+forget every unkind word she had ever spoken to them, for she was very
+sorry, and never meant to do so again.
+
+Ever since Hatty could speak, her mother had been teaching her about her
+Heavenly Father, and trying to make her love Him and wish to serve Him.
+The little girl had always listened patiently, but Mrs. Lee had never
+been satisfied that Hatty had made her choice to be among the lambs of
+Jesus' flock, who love to hear their Shepherd's voice, and try to follow
+Him. This letter, therefore, written in the frankness and simplicity of
+childhood, had brought joy to the mother's heart. She believed that the
+love of Christ had taken root in the soul of her child, and that by
+God's grace it would grow and strengthen, and in time bear such fruit as
+angels love to see.
+
+Mrs. Lee had not only given the message Hatty sent to her brothers and
+sister, but she had read her letter to them, praying silently that by
+Hatty's example they might be led to choose God for their guardian and
+guide.
+
+Marcus had listened intently, and had been moved more than he cared to
+show. When his mother laid the letter down, he said bluntly, "I have
+nothing laid up against Hatty," and abruptly left the room.
+
+Now as he stood on the pavement leaning upon the broom, he was thinking
+of Hatty and her new resolution, and wondering if he should ever make up
+his mind to do right. Of one thing he was sure, doing wrong gave him no
+pleasure. He had been too well taught to be able to commit any sin,
+without being reminded of it by his conscience, but to obey that
+conscience was another thing.
+
+Marcus could not help fancying that he should see some great change in
+Hatty, that she would look differently, speak differently,--and he made
+up his mind not to be at all pleased with her if she affected any new,
+serious ways. This was but a momentary feeling, for Marcus really loved
+his sister, and in the depths of his heart he rejoiced that she had
+chosen the best portion, the only blessing that will last forever and
+ever.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+
+Marcus spent so much time in meditating about Hatty and her new
+resolution, that he had but just finished his task, when the carriage,
+so anxiously desired, drove up to the door, and out jumped Mr. Lee,
+followed in another moment by Hatty.
+
+Marcus threw down his broom, and sprang forward, and before he thought
+he had kissed Hatty several times. Marcus was not much in favor of
+kissing,--he thought it was "girlish;" but now he was so really glad, he
+did not think what he was about.
+
+While Mr. Lee was attending to the removal of his carpet-bag, Hatty's
+little trunk, and sundry baskets and packages with which the carriage
+was loaded, Marcus and Hatty walked up the wide pavement together.
+
+"You are a good sweeper, Marcus," said Hatty, looking at the clean
+bricks upon which they were stepping.
+
+Marcus did not answer; he was gazing straight into Hatty's face to see
+if she were really altered. He could see no change, save that a few
+freckles about her nose disfigured her uncommonly fair skin, and told of
+the life in the open air she had lately led. Her red hair had not grown
+a shade darker during her absence, although it was brushed a little
+smoother than usual. Her bright, reddish brown eyes had their own lively
+expression, and her mouth seemed as ready as ever to smile, until all
+about it the tiny dimples came like little pin-pricks in her fair skin.
+
+Hatty's face was not changed, certainly; and instead of having the grave
+manner that Marcus expected, she was all joy at her return, and seemed
+to have forgotten that she meant to be any better than any one else.
+
+Hatty had not forgotten her new resolutions, and if Marcus could have
+seen into her heart at the moment she stepped from the carriage, he
+would have read a prayer that she might be able to live among her dear
+brothers and sister like one of the lambs of the flock of Christ.
+
+Meg and Harry had heard the sound of the carriage wheels, and were on
+the door-step to receive Hatty. They first almost smothered her with
+kisses; then Meg untied her bonnet strings with rough kindness, and
+Harry seized her little travelling bag, as if it were his especial
+property.
+
+Hatty was a particular little soul, and the way Meg took hold of the new
+blue satin ribbons of her leghorn flat, hurt her as much as if Meg had
+given her one of the twisting little pinches she knew so well how to
+inflict. Hatty was going to twitch away, but instead of the twitch came
+a bright blush on her cheek, that she should have so soon been near
+being out of patience, when again among the little ones at home. As a
+kind of punishment to herself, she let Meg lay aside her bonnet, and
+suffered Harry to run off with her pretty travelling bag, without saying
+a word.
+
+"Where's Mother?" asked Hatty, eagerly, passing along the hall, and
+going directly up stairs.
+
+"Here, here, my child," said the mother, as she met her on the landing,
+and folded her affectionately in her arms.
+
+Very pleasant it was to Hatty to receive that mother's tender kiss, but
+dearer still were the words which were, breathed in her ear: "God bless
+you, my darling, you are dearer to me than ever."
+
+Hatty understood her mother's earnest words, and she could have echoed
+them, "you are dearer to me than ever." That was exactly what she felt.
+The mother who had talked to her of the blessed Jesus, and taught her
+His words and ways, was dearer than ever, now that she had resolved to
+follow Him.
+
+In silence Hatty and her mother ascended the short flight of stairs that
+led to the upper hall; then the little girl asked eagerly--"But where is
+the baby? I have not seen him yet--or Aunt Barbara, either."
+
+"So you did think of Aunt Barbara. I didn't know but you had forgotten
+me entirely, you were so taken up with your grandma," said the old lady,
+coming slowly out of the nursery.
+
+"No, indeed, I had not forgotten you," said Hatty, and she kissed her
+affectionately.
+
+Hatty had not forgotten Aunt Barbara; she had had painful reasons for
+remembering her. The unfortunate, disrespectful words she had spoken to
+the old lady, had risen up to her again and again, and made her pray
+with double earnestness to be forgiven for Jesus' sake.
+
+Aunt Barbara led the way to the nursery, and there on the bed lay the
+baby, the pet of the house.
+
+"O what a dear, tiny little creature!" said Hatty, bending over it, with
+a look half wonder and half affection. "I never saw such a little baby
+before; that is, I don't remember Harry very well, when he was so
+young," she added, for Hatty was trying to be truthful, even about
+trifles.
+
+"Harry was twice as big at the same age," said Aunt Barbara. "He always
+was a bouncer."
+
+Hatty stooped down to kiss the wee mouth of the sleeping baby, but Aunt
+Barbara pushed her roughly back, and said impatiently: "Don't, child!
+don't, you'll wake him."
+
+"Mamma does not say I mustn't!" sprang to Hatty's lips, for she was
+sadly quick-tempered, but again a blush of shame took the place of
+hasty words.
+
+"He will wake soon," said Mrs. Lee, quickly but quietly, "and then,
+Hatty, you can hold him in your arms; he is not much heavier than your
+dolly, Susan."
+
+"Thank you, Mother. I should like that," said Hatty; she felt that her
+mother had wished to speak quickly to keep her from wrong words, and she
+was grateful for the kindness that would help her to do right.
+
+"Now, Hatty, you had better come to your room, and take off your
+things."
+
+"To _our_ room," said Meg, with a saucy, mischievous look.
+
+Hatty turned towards her mother with a sudden glance of inquiry.
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Lee, "you are to have Meg for a room-mate." Hatty's
+face flushed, and Mrs. Lee hastened to add, "I thought you would like to
+help me, and you can do so best by taking Meg with you, and having a
+little charge over her."
+
+Hatty looked very soberly, as she answered, "I _should_ like to help
+you, Mother."
+
+Mrs. Lee opened the two lower drawers of the bureau, and said, "you see
+I have put some of Meg's clothes here; when you need any more you can
+come to me for them."
+
+"But, Mother, where are all my presents, and my pretty things? That is
+too bad! I have always kept them so nicely in those drawers!" said
+Hatty, hastily.
+
+Mrs. Lee did not speak for a moment; she opened a door leading into a
+large lighted closet, and then said, "Here, my darling, you will have a
+place for all you want to keep particularly nice; see, I have put your
+presents in this drawer, and your books are there above, on the shelf. I
+have put a little table here for your Bible, and you must not forget to
+'enter into your closet,' to pray to Him who seeth in secret."
+
+"O, Mother, you are so very kind and I am so very hasty," exclaimed
+Hatty; "I will not forget to do as you say, for indeed I need it. You
+will have to be very patient with me, Mother, for I am afraid I shall
+have hard work to keep my resolutions."
+
+"Trust in God for help to struggle against your faults, and in the end
+you will conquer," said the mother, with an affectionate kiss, and then
+she left her little daughter alone.
+
+Hatty had led an easy, quiet life with her grandmother for the last
+three months, and had had but little temptation to give way to her hasty
+temper. Now she began to realize that it would be quite another thing,
+where at almost every moment she was called on to give up her own will
+and pleasure for that of others; but she was not disheartened. God has
+promised to give his strength to those who really wish to serve Him, and
+on this promise little Hatty relied. In her closet she knelt and asked
+the blessing of Heaven on her poor efforts, and she rose cheerful and
+happy.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+
+When Hatty had arranged her clothes once more neatly in her own room,
+she began to wonder what had become of Marcus, and she concluded to go
+in search of him; she met him in the hall. He seemed much excited, and
+said, "O Hatty, what beautiful bantams! I have put them in a barrel, and
+carried all the packages grandma sent, to the kitchen, and now I want to
+know where we shall keep them?"
+
+Hatty was not quite pleased that Marcus should take the bantams so
+immediately under his protection, though she had brought them as a
+present to him. She checked the feeling of annoyance, and said
+pleasantly, "They are yours, Marcus, so you can plan for them as you
+think best; but perhaps you could manage to make a coop, as you do not
+go to school to-day."
+
+Marcus was delighted with the presents, and resolved to set to work
+immediately to get the pets into comfortable quarters before Sunday.
+
+Hatty put on her sun-bonnet, and they both were soon very busy in the
+yard, planning for the chicken coop with as much interest as if they
+were going to build some wonderful specimen of architecture which all
+the world would admire.
+
+Marcus found in the wood-house a large packing box, and after much
+hammering he succeeded in knocking out one side, so the chickens could
+have their feet on the ground in their new home.
+
+"Chickens are like the Irishman who liked a mud floor that would never
+wear out, and never need washing," said Marcus, with the air of one who
+was instructing some ignorant person.
+
+"Yes, grandma has all her coops made that way," said Hatty, who was well
+pleased to show that she understood the subject.
+
+Marcus now selected a board of the right length, and had just begun to
+split it up into slabs for the front of the coop, when he heard Aunt
+Barbara's bed-room window go up.
+
+Marcus did not raise his eyes, but he could not stop his ears, and he
+had to hear the shrill tone that called out, "Stop! stop! Marcus Lee!"
+
+Marcus rested his hatchet on the board, and looked up.
+
+"You are a wasteful boy!" began Aunt Barbara. "You ought to be ashamed
+to cut up that good board!"
+
+"Don't mind her," said Marcus, in an undertone, as he resumed his work.
+
+"Wait a minute, Marcus," said Hatty; and then raising her voice she
+called out, "Aunt Barbara, we want a coop for the chickens--some dear
+little bantams I brought from grandma's!"
+
+"Chickens!" said Aunt Barbara, much as if she had said bears! "What on
+earth did you bring them here for? why, they'll ruin everything in the
+garden, and crow so in the morning nobody can sleep."
+
+"We are going to shut them up, Aunt Barbara, and that will keep them out
+of mischief," said Hatty, trying to speak pleasantly.
+
+"Take your own way! take your own way! Its never any use for me to say
+anything!" said Aunt Barbara, and her window was put down with such a
+force that made the glass rattle.
+
+Marcus had expected to hear Hatty answer in her usual hasty way, and he
+was quite surprised to see that she did not seem at all angry, and now
+had no unkind remarks to make about Aunt Barbara. He did not know that
+Hatty had been obliged to cast one look up to the clear sky, to remember
+the Great Being who was looking down upon her, before she dare trust
+herself to speak, nor did he know that she was now wondering why Aunt
+Barbara should be so unlike her dear, dear grandma.
+
+Marcus kept steadily on at his work, but Hatty did not feel satisfied
+about it until she had asked her mother if there was really any harm in
+what they were doing. After Mrs. Lee had given them free permission to
+go on, the morning passed pleasantly away in watching Marcus, and she
+was quite surprised when the dinner bell rang.
+
+"O dear!" said Hatty, "we shall have hardly time to put ourselves in
+order for the table."
+
+Although Marcus knew that it was his mother's express wish that he
+should never come to the table without looking neat and tidy, he paid
+little regard to his personal appearance; but there was something in
+the eager way in which Hatty hastened to brush the hair she had been too
+much inclined to neglect, that had its influence on him.
+
+Hatty was in her seat before her father was at the table, and a pleased
+smile crossed her face as she saw that Marcus had been using the clothes
+brush, and combing his straight black hair off his high forehead.
+
+The dinner hour was always a pleasant time at Mrs. Lee's, for then all
+the family were together, and some interesting conversation was sure to
+take place. Marcus was a restless boy, active in body and mind. He
+enjoyed his father's society, and affected to think that he was the only
+one in the family who was really a suitable companion for a boy of the
+mature age of twelve!
+
+Mr. Lee was a merchant; he had lately met with large losses, but he did
+not allow himself to be saddened by misfortunes that left his home
+untouched, and all his dear ones alive and well. Mr. Lee was a tall,
+slender man, with a bright, expressive eye, and a large, pleasant mouth,
+and his children thought him the handsomest man in Hyde, the large
+inland town where he lived.
+
+During the dinner-hour on the day about which we are writing, Mr. Lee
+was talking of a plan for building an Orphan Asylum, about which the
+citizens of Hyde were greatly interested.
+
+Marcus listened to his father's remarks, and seemed to think himself
+called upon to reply. He did so, and showed uncommon quickness and good
+sense for a boy of his years in what he said. Mrs. Lee modestly made
+some suggestions, which her husband thought particularly useful; but
+Marcus' lip curled as his mother spoke, in a way which it was well for
+him escaped his father's observation. After dinner, Mr. Lee was obliged
+to hurry away, but not too soon to give Hatty a kiss, and to say to her
+how pleasant it was to see her face once more at the table.
+
+When Mr. Lee was gone, Mrs. Lee resumed the subject about which they had
+been talking, and sketched what she thought would be an improvement on
+the internal arrangement of the proposed building.
+
+"Now don't, Mother!" said Marcus. "What do women know about such
+things?"
+
+"What do boys know? you had better say!" said Hatty, hastily taking
+part with her mother.
+
+"Any sensible boy of twelve knows more about such things than a woman!"
+said Marcus, turning to leave the room.
+
+"Stop, Marcus," said Mrs. Lee, gently.
+
+Marcus stopped, but did not approach his mother. She stepped to his side
+and said: "Marcus, there was once a boy of twelve who had more wisdom
+than the learned doctors in the Jewish Temple. He, of course, knew more
+than his mother. Yet he went down with her to Nazareth, and was subject
+unto her. Even he was not above honoring his father and mother. Will you
+not try to imitate him?"
+
+Marcus was softened by his mother's gentle manner, and he answered: "If
+I don't behave as I ought to you, Mother, it is a great shame;" and then
+he was again turning away.
+
+Again he was detained. Hatty laid her hand on his arm and said: "Marcus,
+I did not speak rightly to you just now. I was angry. I am sorry." Hatty
+blushed painfully when she spoke, and it was evident the acknowledgment
+cost her a great effort.
+
+"I did not notice it," said Marcus, hurrying away.
+
+Hatty felt a little hurt at the way her apology was received, but her
+mother took her by the hand, and said: "That is right, Hatty. Confess
+your faults one to another, and pray one for another. You must not
+forget Marcus in your prayers."
+
+Hatty was silent a moment, and then her mother said: "Come now, my dear,
+the baby is awake, and you will have an opportunity to see his queer
+little blue eyes, and to hold him in your lap."
+
+Hatty was delighted when she reached the nursery, to be allowed to take
+the tiny being in her arms, and to hold his pretty soft hand in hers.
+
+Meg and Harry seemed to think it was a very attractive sight to see
+Hatty with the baby on her lap, and they left their soap-bubbles and
+came to stand about her.
+
+At this moment Aunt Barbara came in. She did not seem to notice Hatty
+and the baby. Her eyes at once fell upon the bowl full of soap-suds Meg
+had placed on a chair.
+
+"Dear! dear!" exclaimed Aunt Barbara, "what are the children coming to?
+Why, they waste soap as if it grew, instead of cost money! Here, Meg,
+pour this away directly, and don't do such a thing again!"
+
+"It won't help it to throw it away," said Meg. "I want to blow bubbles."
+
+"Shan't have it! shan't have it!" said little Harry, holding tight to
+the edge of the bowl with his little fat hands.
+
+"Aunt Barbara," said Mrs. Lee, very gently, "I told the children they
+might blow bubbles a little while this afternoon. Jane mixed the soap
+for them, that they need not be wasteful."
+
+"Its little use savin' in such a house as this!" said Aunt Barbara, and
+she walked away as if she were particularly injured.
+
+Marcus now came in to tell how happy and contented the chickens seemed
+in the new coop. He saw some evidences of displeasure on the faces of
+Meg and Harry, and he exclaimed, "I met Aunt Barbara in the hall, with
+her indignation strut on. What's up?"
+
+"Marcus, my son, I cannot bear to hear you speak in that way of any old
+person, especially of Aunt Barbara."
+
+"But she is too tiresome and provoking, Mother. If I want a piece of
+twine for a kite-string she calls it wasteful, and--"
+
+"Yes," broke in Meg, "and when I want to play tea, she won't let me have
+a bit of milk or sugar,--that is, if mother is not here."
+
+"Hush, hush, my children," said Mrs. Lee, with a look of pain. "Come,
+sit down all of you, and I will tell you a story."
+
+Marcus liked to hear stories as well as little Meg herself, and he
+forthwith sat down on the floor, where he could look straight into his
+mother's eyes.
+
+Mrs. Lee began: "Once there was a little orphan girl, only seven years
+old. Her father and mother died, and she did not know what was to become
+of her. Now this little girl had an aunt, who was the widow of a
+clergyman. This aunt had a little cottage of her own, and just enough
+money to live quietly and comfortably by herself. She knew if she took
+the little orphan to her home, she must deny herself a great many
+comforts to which she had always been accustomed; but she resolved to do
+it.
+
+The little girl was very glad when she found that she was not alone in
+the wide world, and she soon learned to love the kind aunt who did so
+much for her.
+
+Sometimes she was surprised to see what care her aunt took, that nothing
+should be wasted; and she often wondered why her aunt did not buy
+herself a new bonnet, or a new dress, which she seemed to need. She did
+not know that her aunt had to practice so much care and economy, to give
+her a home. By and by, when she grew older, she understood all this, and
+tried to be like a daughter to the friend who had been so kind to her.
+Her aunt's queer little ways only made her feel, then, that it was for
+her she had learned to save even the shreds she cut off when she was
+sewing. After the orphan girl was grown, she was married to a very kind
+gentleman. This gentleman was so grateful to the aunt for her care of
+the orphan, that he wanted her to come and live with them in her
+comfortable home; but Aunt Barbara said--"
+
+"There, there, Mother! you have let it out," exclaimed the children in a
+breath.
+
+"Don't, don't," said Hatty; "what did Aunt Barbara say, Mother?"
+
+"She said, your old aunty is queer and notional, and maybe you would be
+happier without her. No, no, let me stay here alone; I shall be quite
+contented to know my little orphan is so well taken care of! It was of
+no use urging Aunt Barbara, so we had to let her have her way. Now, my
+children, you know how Aunt Barbara got her very economical ways, and I
+hope you will have patience with her, for my sake."
+
+"Indeed, I will!" said Hatty, looking up with her eyes full of tears.
+
+"I won't tease her any more," said Meg, nestling at her mother's side.
+
+Marcus was silent; he felt too deeply to speak, how ill a return he had
+made to Aunt Barbara for her kindness to his mother.
+
+"But how came Aunt Barbara here?" asked Hatty, with much interest.
+
+"I will tell you," said Mrs. Lee. "We had been married three years, when
+I had a little, helpless, sickly baby. I was too feeble to take proper
+care of it, and your father was obliged to be too much away from home to
+give me any help. Aunt Barbara heard how weak and pale I was looking,
+and what a poor, suffering baby I had. Then the old lady let her little
+home to a stranger, and came one day to us. She said she could not
+sleep for thinking of me and the little one, and she had come to take
+care of us. And what good care she took of us! She seemed to know just
+what I wanted. I was young, then, and there were many things about which
+I was as ignorant as you are. Aunt Barbara had nourishing food made for
+me just when I needed it, she took the care of the housekeeping from me,
+and so nursed me that I soon began to feel strong again. But I have not
+told you about the poor baby. Aunt Barbara could not do too much for
+that baby. It was a cross little thing, crying even when it was not
+sick. Aunt Barbara was never out of patience with it. She attended to
+its food, got up with it at night, and even when I was well enough to
+take it with me again, she was hardly willing to give it up.
+
+"All this watching and nursing was too much for Aunt Barbara; she has
+never been well since. When her rheumatism keeps her awake at night, she
+is often irritable and inclined to find fault the next day. When I feel
+tempted to be out of patience with her, I have only to remember that it
+was for me and my little baby she came here, and that for us she
+wearied herself until her health gave way."
+
+"Mother," said Hatty, in a whisper, "was I that little sickly baby that
+Aunt Barbara was so patient with?"
+
+"Yes, my darling," was Mrs. Lee's reply.
+
+The many impertinent, hasty, impatient words that she had spoken to her
+old aunt, returned to Hatty's mind, and she resolved to ask God to give
+her strength to make amends for the past.
+
+"It is a sad truth," said Mrs. Lee, "that old people have much less
+patience shown towards them than little children have, yet they need it
+quite as much. God has so arranged it, that those who are watched over
+and taken care of when they are helpless babes, should in their turn
+nurse and comfort the feeble old age of their parents. Remember, my
+children, old age makes people in one way like infants; that is, it
+leads them to be irritable and troublesome, and often helpless, and
+these defects should be borne with tenderly, as your father or I would
+soothe that dear baby on Hatty's lap. God has taught in his holy book
+the greatest respect to the aged, and his eye sees with displeasure
+even a rude look cast towards one who is grey-haired."
+
+The children were all silent. Mrs. Lee saw that they were moved, and in
+her heart she prayed that God would grant a blessing upon the earnest
+words she had spoken, and save her dear ones from falling into the sin
+so offensive to the Holy One of Israel.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+
+When Hatty went to bed, on the evening of her return, she found Meg fast
+asleep, and apparently as much at home as if she had always had a right
+to talk of "our room," instead of being one of the children in the
+nursery.
+
+Hatty looked at the little brown face lying on the pillow, and the long
+dark lashes hiding the mischievous eyes, and she felt that she loved her
+little sister dearly, and would be willing to be put to a great deal of
+inconvenience to be of service to her. When Hatty knelt that night in
+the quiet closet her mother had given up to her use, she did not forget
+to pray that she might be patient and gentle with Meg, and so win her
+confidence as to be able to lead her to the Saviour, who loves to call
+the little ones His own.
+
+Hatty's short reading in the Bible that evening was about the
+crucifixion of our Saviour, and as she prepared to lie down, she
+wondered how he could have borne such suffering without one murmur.
+Hatty had a perfect horror of pain. Her skin was thin and delicate, and
+even the grasp of a rough hand on her arm was sure to leave a bruise.
+Her usually pleasant face was clouded over by a scratch or a pin-prick,
+and her tears often fell fast for a wound that many children would have
+met with a smile. Hatty was naturally very sensitive to pain, and that
+was not her fault; but she had never yet begun to try to bear it
+patiently, as a part of her christian duty. As she lay down that night,
+she resolved to be more patient under, little trials, and to make light
+of little pains.
+
+Hatty's new resolution was soon put to the test. She had hardly put her
+head on the pillow, before she became conscious that her couch was
+anything but a bed of roses.
+
+Meg had consoled herself for going to sleep in a strange room by
+herself, by munching hard crackers until that pleasure was lost in the
+new joy of the dreams of childhood. The bed was strewn with the crumbs,
+and through her thin night-dress Hatty could feel them in all
+directions. After brushing them this way and that way, Hatty jumped out
+of bed with an angry bound, and proceeded to light the candle and
+rectify the mischief in a systematic manner.
+
+"The troublesome little thing!" exclaimed Hatty, as she saw a half-eaten
+cracker lying in Meg's loosened grasp. "She ought to be punished for
+it!"
+
+At that moment Hatty thought of her resolution to be patient under
+trifling discomforts, and a feeling of mortification came over her. Very
+quietly she brushed away the offending crumbs, gently she removed the
+half-eaten cracker, and then she knelt to ask forgiveness for this new
+exhibition of her hasty temper, ere she again lay down to rest.
+
+Hatty was soon in a sweet sleep; but shortly after midnight she was
+awakened by a feeling very much as if a broom-handle were thrust against
+her, while at the same time Meg exclaimed, "Do move, Hatty, you crowd
+so. I wish you would'nt come on my side of the bed."
+
+Meg was a thin bony little creature, and the children all dreaded a
+punch with her sharp elbows almost as much as one of her scientific
+pinches.
+
+Hatty's tender side actually ached, but she made an effort to say,
+gently, "Meg, you must be dreaming; wake up!"
+
+"I am not asleep at all!" said Meg, pettishly. "I wish you would move!"
+
+Hatty passed her hand along the seam of the sheet (Mrs. Lee used her
+old-fashioned sheets on the children's beds) to assure herself that she
+was on her own side of the bed, and then she was going to tell Meg that
+it was _she_ who was out of place; but something checked her, and she
+only said, pleasantly, "Never mind, Meg, where the middle of the bed
+is,--you shall have all the room you want;" and making way for her little
+friend with the sharp elbows, Hatty composed herself again to sleep,
+with a far happier feeling than if she had contended for her rights.
+
+Once she was going to say, "O Meg, it hurts me still where you punched
+me," but she checked the words, and thought how trifling was such a pain
+compared with the nails in the hands of our great example, who has bid
+us follow him in his patience, as well as in perfect purity.
+
+Hatty's long ride from her grandmother's, a distance of sixteen miles,
+and the excitement of her return home, made her sleep very soundly, when
+not disturbed, and she would gladly have continued her nap until the
+rousing bell gave forth its summons.
+
+Meg was something like the uneasy birds who twitter at midnight on their
+perches, and wake at dawn to sing, as if they never knew the need of
+rest.
+
+By the first grey streak of morning she began to stir, and was soon wide
+awake and full of glee at finding herself in her new quarters.
+
+Hatty turned her back resolutely, but in vain. Meg was not to be so
+easily disposed of. Hatty was going to say some hasty words to Meg, as
+she twitched away from her, when Meg pleaded, "Do wake up, sister Hatty.
+It is Sunday morning."
+
+"Sunday morning!" that thought brought Hatty to herself--and making an
+effort to throw off her sleepiness, she turned towards Meg, and said,
+"Well, then, give me a nice kiss to begin the day."
+
+Meg gave the kiss with real good will, and then, nestling up close to
+Hatty, she began to talk as if her tongue needed violent exercise to
+make up for being quiet all night.
+
+Before many minutes were over, Hatty had set that little tongue at
+Sunday work, repeating all the hymns and Bible verses that Meg had
+learned during the three months that Hatty had been away from home.
+
+Meg was full of eager questions about her hymns and her verses, and
+Hatty had an opportunity of giving the little one some sweet lessons
+about the loving Saviour and what He wishes in His lambs, that she would
+have lost if she had given way to her selfish wish for a longer nap.
+
+We do not know, when we give way to our own whims, instead of being
+unselfish, what opportunities of usefulness we may be losing. If we do
+one duty well, some higher and more important duty generally follows
+close upon it.
+
+Hatty took a pleasure in making Meg look particularly nice that Sunday
+morning, and she was well pleased when her mother smilingly remarked at
+breakfast that Meg showed very plainly that she had fallen into good
+hands. "Hatty needs a little attention, herself," added Mrs. Lee, and
+she glanced at the irregular white line which separated the two heavy
+masses of waving red hair on each side of Hatty's head.
+
+Hatty would rather have gone without her breakfast than had her hair
+parted. Hatty was apt to fret about being hurt all the while the
+operation was going on, and Mrs. Lee actually dreaded to propose what,
+if borne cheerfully, would have been but the work of a moment. Happily
+for Hatty at that instant her thoughts were called in a different
+direction by Marcus' sudden question--
+
+"Where is Aunt Barbara this morning?"
+
+Even the question showed some interest in the old lady; and Mrs. Lee
+hailed it as an indication of a better state of feeling in her son.
+
+"Aunt Barbara is not very well this morning; she did not get up as early
+as usual," said Mrs. Lee.
+
+"Shan't I go up to see if I can do anything for her?" said Hatty,
+eagerly.
+
+"She will be down soon, I think; but you may go," said the mother,
+pleasantly.
+
+Hatty ran up stairs, and knocked very gently on Aunt Barbara's door.
+
+"Who is it? What do you want?" answered Aunt Barbara's voice from
+within.
+
+"It is Hatty. Can I do anything for you?" said the little girl.
+
+"No!" was at first the decided answer; then followed a sudden call
+"Stop, stop, child. Come in a moment."
+
+Hatty stepped in, but felt like drawing back as Aunt Barbara stood
+there, half dressed, with her grey hair uncovered, and her thin,
+shrivelled arms bare.
+
+"Don't stare as if you were frightened," said Aunt Barbara, quickly.
+"Old people are not generally very beautiful to look at!"
+
+"Can I do anything for you?" said Hatty, pleasantly.
+
+"Yes, if you want to. I can't find my pocket. Perhaps you can see it."
+
+Aunt Barbara wore a pocket tied on under her dress with a string, and
+she had been for some moments looking for it, as she was ready to put it
+on.
+
+Hatty glanced round the room, and was delighted when she saw a piece of
+white Marseilles peeping out from under the tumbled bed-clothes. She
+sprang towards it, and handed the pocket to the old lady, who took it
+without a word, and went on dressing herself.
+
+Hatty began to pick up the things about the room, and to throw open the
+bed; for she knew Aunt Barbara would not think of going down to
+breakfast until the room was a little in order.
+
+Aunt Barbara did not seem to notice her; but when she had tied the
+strings to her close-quilted muslin cap, and pinned a broad black ribbon
+round it, she said: "Come, now, child, its not worth while your
+breakfast should get cold while you are waiting on me."
+
+Hatty's face brightened, and she said, eagerly: "I should be glad to do
+anything for you, Aunt Barbara."
+
+"You may have more chance than you want, if I feel like this many
+mornings," said Aunt Barbara, very sharply.
+
+Aunt Barbara was not very pleasant at breakfast that morning. Nothing
+seemed cooked to suit her. The fact was, the poor old lady was not well,
+and had no appetite, and that made everything seem out of the way to
+her.
+
+Hatty could not help noticing how pleasantly her mother took Aunt
+Barbara's comments on the breakfast, that would have put many
+housekeepers out of patience. When nothing on the table seemed to suit
+Aunt Barbara, Mrs. Lee quietly sent out for a bit of ham to be boiled;
+and when it came in, she seemed pleased that the old lady ate a few
+mouthfuls,--complaining at first that it was done a trifle too much, and
+in the end making way with it all.
+
+Mr. Lee did not seem to notice that Aunt Barbara was not well,--at least
+he did not ask about her health; and Hatty thought at first it was not
+quite right in her father, and she wondered that he should do anything
+so unlike himself. By-and-by she noticed that all the topics he brought
+up were such as were likely to interest Aunt Barbara. He spoke of
+meeting an old minister who used to live near her own home, and told how
+cheerfully he talked of his long, active life, and of the happy time
+when he should meet his Master in heaven. Then he brought up the new
+orphan asylum, which was always sure to enlist Aunt Barbara's
+attention; and at last she seemed to forget her pains, while listening
+to his account of the meeting on the subject he had attended the evening
+before.
+
+Hatty felt pleased as she saw the shadow passing from the old lady's
+face, and she glanced across for Marcus to sympathize in her
+satisfaction. He did not see her, but Hatty noticed that he placed a
+comfortable chair, after breakfast, near the window where Aunt Barbara
+best loved to sit, and drew a footstool up to it.
+
+Marcus did not think that anybody observed him, but two hearts were made
+glad by this little effort of kindness. Mrs. Lee and Hatty both saw that
+Marcus' feelings towards Aunt Barbara had undergone a happy change.
+Marcus' feelings had been touched, but feelings are a poor dependence
+for doing right, without principle.
+
+Hatty was delighted at the idea of going to church once more in her dear
+native town. She felt that it would be a new and better thing to be
+there, now that she could count herself among those who were glad at the
+thought, "God is in His holy temple." Hatty began, in her impatience, to
+make her preparations in very good season. She had laid out on her bed
+all the things she expected to wear, when her mother called her to come
+into the nursery.
+
+Hatty went promptly as far as the door, but she moved across the floor
+more slowly when she saw that her mother had a comb and brush in her
+hand.
+
+"I hope we shall have no trouble about the hair, this morning. It needs
+parting, sadly," said Mrs. Lee, in her gentle way.
+
+Hatty's mind was made up at that moment; her mother might pull as hard
+as was necessary, _she_ would not say a word if it hurt her ever so
+much.
+
+Mrs. Lee used the comb very carefully, yet it was disagreeable, almost
+painful to Hatty's delicate skin. She shut her mouth tight, however, and
+thought of her resolution to bear little hurts pleasantly, and actually
+got through without a murmur.
+
+When the hair was brushed smoothly, Hatty's face looked very sweet from
+the effort she had made to do right, and she well deserved the
+affectionate kiss her mother pressed on her lips.
+
+"Perhaps I could help Aunt Barbara get ready for church," said Hatty,
+one right action leading to another.
+
+"Aunt Barbara is not well enough to go, to-day. I am very sorry, on my
+own account as well as on hers. It is Communion day, and I had hoped to
+go to church, for the first time in many weeks."
+
+"But cannot you go, Mother?" said Hatty, earnestly.
+
+"No, my dear," said Mrs. Lee, quietly. "I do not like to leave Aunt
+Barbara with no one to wait upon her. I promised Betsy, yesterday, that
+she should go out this morning, and Jane will be busy with the baby and
+Harry."
+
+Hatty was silent for a moment; a struggle was going on in her mind. At
+length she looked up with a beautiful, bright expression on her face,
+and said, "I will stay with Aunt Barbara, if you could trust her with
+me. I do not want you to be kept at home."
+
+Mrs. Lee knew the effort it must have cost her little girl to give up
+the pleasure for which she had been so eagerly preparing, but she did
+not refuse her kind offer.
+
+"Thank you, my darling; I shall feel quite easy leaving Aunt Barbara
+with you. 'I was sick and ye visited me,' our Saviour says, and then
+adds, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye
+have done it unto me.' That thought makes taking care of the sick doubly
+pleasant. And now, darling, instead of putting on your own things, which
+are all laid out so nicely, you will have to help me to get ready."
+
+Hatty was glad to be kept very busy that she might not have a moment to
+regret her choice, and she made herself so actively useful, that Mrs.
+Lee was not at all too late in joining the group waiting for her in the
+hall below.
+
+"Why! are you not going, Hatty?" exclaimed Marcus, as his sister
+appeared at her mother's side.
+
+"Hatty is going to stay with Aunt Barbara. She may need some attention,
+and I did not like to leave her alone," said Mrs. Lee.
+
+Marcus looked up in surprise. He knew with what eagerness Hatty had
+spoken in the morning of being at church, and could not but wonder at
+the sudden change,--she looked so cheerful. One glance at the sweet,
+bright expression of her face, convinced him of the generous motive that
+had kept her at home. Marcus began to think there was some strength in
+Hatty's new resolution to do right.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+
+Aunt Barbara's room was in the back building, and the entrance to it was
+on the first landing to the front stairs. The old lady had chosen that
+room, when she came to Mrs. Lee's, because no one had ever occupied it;
+for she said, "I never did turn anybody out, and I never mean to."
+
+There Aunt Barbara had collected about her all her favorite pieces of
+old-fashioned furniture, her dark mahogany secretary-bureau, with its
+bright brass rings held fast in the mouths of wrinkled old brass faces,
+and her curtained bed, with all its festoons and fringes.
+
+When Hatty stepped into the room, she saw Aunt Barbara sitting
+bolt-upright in a stuff, straight-backed chair, and looking not much in
+the humor for little visitors.
+
+"Aunt Barbara, mother thought perhaps you would like some one with you
+this morning, and so I have brought in my Sunday books, and will sit
+here, if you like," said Hatty, in a cheerful tone.
+
+"I don't mind your sitting here, if you choose," was the old lady's
+reply.
+
+Hatty did not know what to say next, so she mounted into one of the
+high, stiff chairs, and took up a book and tried to read. Her eyes would
+wander to Aunt Barbara, sitting up straight and still, and looking out
+of the window at the sky. At length Hatty said, "Do lie down, Aunt
+Barbara; I am sure you would be more comfortable. Let me fix your
+pillows nicely for you."
+
+"I never go to bed when I can sit up. I was not brought up to loll about
+and make myself sick by being lazy," said Aunt Barbara.
+
+Hatty tried to read for a few moments more; then Aunt Barbara moved, and
+she looked at her again.
+
+The old lady evidently wanted something she could not find in her
+pocket, and yet did not feel like getting up.
+
+Hatty glanced her eyes round the room, and saw Aunt Barbara's
+spectacles on the mantel-piece.
+
+She jumped up and handed them to her. "You may give me my Bible, if you
+choose," said Aunt Barbara, in a pleasanter tone than she had used that
+morning.
+
+Hatty laid the great Bible on Aunt Barbara's lap, and for a few moments
+the old lady seemed nodding; but she soon began to rub her spectacles as
+if they were not clean, and then she put her hand to her head, and said,
+"old folks can't sit and read all day like young ones."
+
+"That is just what grandma tells me," said Hatty; "and she says young
+people ought to remember that, and learn a great many Bible verses to
+think about when they are too sick or too old to read."
+
+"But if they did not do that when they were young," said Aunt Barbara,
+"did grandma say what they should do then?"
+
+"She did not say anything about that," said Hatty, looking puzzled. In
+another moment she added, in her most pleasant way, "would not you like
+me to read to you a little, Aunt Barbara?"
+
+"If you can make that little tongue of yours go slow enough, for me to
+understand, you may try," said Aunt Barbara.
+
+Hatty drew her chair close up to Aunt Barbara, and was going to ask when
+she should begin, when the old lady said, pettishly, "Go round to the
+other side, child! don't you know that's my deaf ear?" Hatty moved as
+she was requested, and then Aunt Barbara told her to read the 103d
+Psalm. Hatty was a very pleasant reader, and she had lately taken great
+pains not to speak too rapidly.
+
+Aunt Barbara must have been pleased, for she kept Hatty reading,
+reading, until the family came home from church; and when she turned to
+leave the room, she said, "Thank you, child; I think going to your
+grandma's has done you good."
+
+Mrs. Lee had not told Aunt Barbara of Hatty's letter about her new
+resolutions, yet the old lady felt that some change must have taken
+place in Hatty to make her willing to give up her own pleasure to sit in
+that quiet room with a sick, fretful old woman, as Aunt Barbara knew
+herself to be that morning.
+
+Hatty enjoyed her afternoon at Sunday school all the more for the
+sacrifice she had made; and when the children all gathered in the parlor
+before tea to say their catechism and Bible verses to their father, she
+felt as if she were one of the happiest little girls in the world.
+
+Mrs. Lee was all the afternoon with Aunt Barbara, and when night came
+the Doctor was sent for, and Jane and Betsy were called in to help Mrs.
+Lee to get the poor old lady into bed, for she was very sick.
+
+The Doctor looked soberly, and said the disease must have been coming on
+some time--that there was a great deal of irritation in her system, and
+he could not say how her sickness might end.
+
+Hatty and Marcus heard the Doctor say these words in the hall as he went
+out. The tears came into Hatty's eyes, and she said to her brother, "How
+I wish we had never spoken a wrong word to Aunt Barbara!"
+
+Marcus did not reply, but he walked away to his room, to lie awake with
+sad, repentant thoughts.
+
+Mrs. Lee had no idea how rude her children had often been to Aunt
+Barbara; her presence had been some check upon them, though she had
+heard enough to give her pain. Aunt Barbara had led for many years a
+quiet life, and the noise and restlessness of children tired and worried
+her; and latterly she had been far from well.
+
+Mrs. Lee had been for some weeks confined to her room, and during this
+time Aunt Barbara had had much to bear from Marcus and the little ones;
+but she never complained to Mrs. Lee, though she daily grew more harsh
+in her own manner to the children.
+
+A little gentleness, a little patience on the part of those who were
+young, healthy and happy, would have done much to make poor old Aunt
+Barbara more pleasant and cheerful.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+
+Now came an anxious period in Hatty's home. Mrs. Lee, and a nurse who
+was hired for the purpose, spent their time in Aunt Barbara's room,
+while the Doctor came and went with a troubled, serious air.
+
+On Hatty, meanwhile, fell the care of Meg and Harry. Hatty found having
+Meg in her room by no means so troublesome as she had expected. Meg's
+desire to meddle with Hatty's things, and to put them out of order,
+seemed to have gone now that she could say "our room." She even made
+herself a kind of guardian against Harry's inroads; and when she heard
+his little feet pattering that way, she would get in advance of him with
+her swift skips, and have the door shut before he reached it.
+
+Hatty found it quite impossible to keep the children quiet, so she
+managed to have them in the garden as much as she could, in pleasant
+weather, that they might not disturb Aunt Barbara.
+
+At the foot of the wide walk that led down between the flower beds, was
+a pleasant arbour, and here Hatty made a kind of a little home of her
+own. Marcus put up a tight box on one of the seats, and there Hatty kept
+a store of books and playthings for herself and the children, to make
+the place attractive, and looked so bright and happy herself, that when
+Marcus came from school he was glad to leave the dull, quiet house, to
+join the circle in the arbour.
+
+Hatty was busy sewing there, one day, while Meg made a parasol for her
+doll, of a maple leaf, and Harry drew a long-necked squash up and down
+the walk for a carriage. Suddenly Hatty heard Marcus come out the back
+door, whistling a cheerful tune. Hatty tucked her work in her pocket,
+and quickly picked up some bits of bright-colored worsted that were
+scattered over her dress.
+
+Marcus came down the walk, kicking a ball before him, and leaped into
+the arbour with a regular bound.
+
+"Well, Hatty," he exclaimed, "I was head of my class to-day, and did
+not get a mark for being late, either. So I stand a chance for the prize
+yet."
+
+"Were you not late?" asked Hatty, with surprise.
+
+"O yes!" answered Marcus, with a laugh. "The boys were all on their
+knees when I went in, but I opened the door quietly, and nobody heard
+me; so I got off famously."
+
+"But what did you say when your name was called? You did not tell an
+untruth, Marcus?" said Hatty, anxiously.
+
+"No, indeed!" said Marcus, indignantly. "I am above that!"
+
+"I don't understand it at all," said Hatty, uneasily.
+
+"Why, this was the way. When Mr. Briggs called over the names for
+punctuality, some how or other his attention wandered just before he got
+to my name, and he skipped it, so I did not have to answer at all. After
+Mr. Briggs went out I looked at my name, and there was a cross after it
+for punctual; so you see it is all right, and my chance for the prize is
+as good as ever."
+
+"I would rather have a brother who told the truth, than one who got the
+prize," said Hatty, earnestly. "Dear Marcus, won't you tell Mr. Briggs
+about it?"
+
+"I shall do no such thing. Girls are so silly! You never can make them
+understand anything," said Marcus, hastily.
+
+But Hatty did understand. She felt that Marcus had acted a lie for the
+sake of winning the prize he so greatly desired. She knew he would be
+angry if she said anything more about it; but she could not be silent
+and let him do wrong, without one more effort. After a moment, in which
+she asked God to help her to keep down her own quick temper if Marcus
+should make a harsh reply, Hatty said:
+
+"Marcus, you know what mother tells us about the book where what we call
+secret things are written down, to be read on the great day when all
+things will be known. Something will stand against your name, there,
+worse than a mark for being unpunctual. Dear Marcus, do tell the truth,
+and not mind the prize. You will not care about the prize when you are
+happy with the beautiful angels in Heaven; but you will love to remember
+how you did right, when it came so very hard."
+
+It had cost Hatty a great effort to say all this, and now she burst
+into tears.
+
+"Girls are so silly!" said Marcus, impatiently. "I wish you would not
+set up to lecture me, Miss?" and the brother walked angrily away.
+
+"For shame! For shame!" shouted little Meg, who had been an unnoticed
+listener to the conversation, and her slender finger was pointed at her
+brother. He took no notice of her; and she turned to Hatty, and threw
+her arms round her neck, and said: "Don't cry, sister. Meg will be a
+good girl. I will try very hard."
+
+"Will you, Meg?" said Hatty, brightening. "Then I shall be very happy."
+
+Now Meg had only wanted to say something to comfort Hatty, and had
+spoken the first words that came into her mind, without thinking what
+they meant. When she saw Hatty seem so much pleased, she thought to
+herself: "I do mean to try, if Hatty wants it so very much."
+
+At that moment Harry's voice was heard in loud, angry screams. Hatty and
+Meg ran to the spot from whence they came. Marcus walked sheepishly
+away, as they appeared, ashamed to own that in his ill-humor he had
+been teasing his little brother.
+
+Harry was a sweet-tempered, affectionate little fellow, ready to put up
+his mouth to kiss anybody who smiled upon him; but now he had been too
+far provoked to bear all patiently.
+
+Marcus had run away with his yellow carriage and dashed it against a
+stone, until all the seeds that had been riding about so comfortably
+were scattered far and wide on the grass. Then, because he looked
+displeased, and said, "Naughty boy!" Marcus had perched him on the high
+chicken-coop, and left him to scream for himself, or roll off as he best
+could.
+
+Hatty took the little fellow in her arms and wiped away his tears. She
+promised to hunt with him for a "beautiful squash," larger than the one
+he had lost,--and he was soon comforted, and began to smooth her face and
+say, "Dear Hatty--Hatty so dood."
+
+"Yes, Hatty is so good," echoed Meg.
+
+"Sister is only trying to be good," said Hatty, modestly. But the praise
+of the little ones went to her heart.
+
+Marcus was sulky towards Hatty all the noon. He did not go out to help
+her feed the bantams, though she went through the room where he was,
+with the food in her hand, to give him a chance, if he wished, to join
+her pleasantly.
+
+Hatty loved her brother, and since she had been making an effort to
+govern her temper, she had enjoyed being with him. He, too, found in her
+a very pleasant companion. She was ready to listen to him when he
+talked, and let herself be instructed, though she sometimes knew as much
+as he did about the subjects of which he was speaking. Marcus did not
+teaze Hatty much of late, as she had learned to laugh, herself, even
+when he warmed his hands by her red hair, or asked her if she was so
+hot-tempered that she had set her head on fire in a passion.
+
+Marcus was glad that day when it came time for him to go to school
+again, though he generally thought the intermission quite too short. He
+missed Hatty, and he felt uneasy about what she had said. An
+uncomfortable feeling was at his heart. He was acting a lie! The truth
+had been plainly told him, and he could not forget it.
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+
+Marcus was very cross to Hatty for a day or two after their conversation
+in the arbour; and whenever he was in the house he kept the children
+perpetually uncomfortable with his teasing.
+
+Hatty had all this to bear in silence, for she would not trouble her
+mother with complaints when she had so much on her mind.
+
+Saturday came, and Marcus was to be at home all day. Hatty actually
+dreaded it. She did not know how she should get through so many hours,
+with Marcus about the house, so she resolved to go early to the arbour,
+and perhaps he would not follow her there.
+
+Marcus lounged about by himself for a while, and at last, out of
+loneliness, he went down to the arbour, too.
+
+Hatty looked up pleasantly as he drew near, and said: "Why can't you
+get a book, Marcus, and read something to Meg and me?"
+
+"To Meg and you!" said Marcus, contemptuously. "A pretty business for a
+boy of twelve!"
+
+Hatty did not like contempt, and she answered, hastily: "I am only two
+years younger than you are, and mother says I am farther advanced in
+some of my studies!"
+
+"Hurrah for the red-head; touch her, and she goes off like a brimstone
+match!" said Marcus, triumphantly, for he was tired of having all the
+crossness on his own side.
+
+"Hatty's hair isn't red," said Meg, angrily. "I heard a lady say, the
+other day, it was beautiful auburn hair; and she said Hatty was
+sweet-looking and good, and that is more than anybody will say of you."
+
+"Bad boy! bad boy! Go away!" said Harry, lifting his fat little leg and
+trying to kick Marcus with his wee foot.
+
+Hatty could not reprove the children, for she herself had set the
+example of speaking angry words.
+
+Heartily ashamed of herself, she said: "I am very sorry I spoke so to
+you, Marcus; it was not right. I ought not to mind being put with Meg,
+for she is a dear little girl, and I love her very much."
+
+"And I love Hatty, and you shan't be cross to her," said Meg, putting
+her arms round Hatty.
+
+"It was Hatty who was cross," said the little girl, sadly. "Poor Hatty
+is only _trying_ to be good. She does wrong very, very often."
+
+"Hatty dood! Hatty dood!" said Harry, nestling at her side.
+
+Marcus walked away, without saying another word. He took his
+fishing-rod, and Hatty saw him no more that day.
+
+When Marcus came home in the evening he was very tired. The family had
+all done supper. He took what he wanted, alone, and then went up to bed
+without saying "good-night" to any body. When he got into his own room,
+he saw on the floor by his bed a beautiful pair of slippers, with dogs'
+heads worked neatly upon them. He took off his heavy shoes. How
+comfortable the slippers felt to his tired feet! Such an excellent
+fit--so loose and easy! "How kind in mother to make them!" he thought.
+"When could she have had the time."
+
+Marcus was going to rush to the door of Aunt Barbara's room to thank his
+mother, when he saw a little note lying on the table. He broke it open
+and read:
+
+"Dear Marcus: It has made me very sad all the week to think you were
+displeased with me. I love you very dearly, and cannot bear to have you
+look at me as if you did not care for me. I know I made you angry by
+speaking about the mark at school. If I had not cared for you I should
+not have spoken as I did. I hope you will yet tell Mr. Briggs. Perhaps I
+am too naughty myself to give anybody advice. Please forgive me all I
+have ever done wrong to you.--I began to work these slippers as soon as I
+got home from grandma's, and they were only finished this week. I hope
+they will fit you.--Won't you be pleasant to-morrow morning to your
+sister Hatty?"
+
+Marcus read the note, with the slippers on his feet. He felt ashamed of
+his unkindness to his little sister, and he resolved to meet her
+pleasantly in the morning. Marcus did not go to sleep until late that
+night, but we will not tell what was the subject of his thoughts.
+
+The next morning Marcus' ill humor seemed to have all passed away. He
+made no apology to Hatty for his late rudeness, but she was generous
+enough to forget the past. She did not now in her turn sulk and pout,
+and so keep up the quarrel, but she received him as cheerfully as if
+nothing had happened.
+
+Marcus wore the new slippers, and declared he had never had a present
+that suited him better, and Hatty was repaid for all her trouble.
+
+Hatty fancied that at church Marcus was more attentive than usual, and
+once she thought she saw him wipe his eyes, as if he were affected by
+something the clergyman said; but she was soon afraid she had been
+mistaken, for he began to look about as usual, and even exchanged a
+glance of recognition with one of his acquaintances in the gallery.
+
+Hatty felt anxious for her brother, and she was particularly tender and
+kind in her manner towards him all day, and in the evening, when she
+went to bed, she prayed earnestly that God would soften his heart, and
+lead him to do right. Hatty had not forgotten that Marcus had acted a
+lie, and she remembered that our Heavenly Father is "a God who hateth a
+lie."
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+
+Monday morning rose bright and clear. For many days Aunt Barbara had
+been steadily gaining, and now she was coming down stairs, for the first
+time. Hatty felt it a pleasure to wait upon her mother, while she
+assisted the old lady to dress, and even Marcus seemed pleased to be
+useful. He and Jane carried down the old-fashioned easy chair, which
+Aunt Barbara particularly fancied, and then he drew a small table near
+it, placed a footstool beside it, and stood waiting to see if he could
+be of any further assistance. Mr. Lee helped Aunt Barbara down very
+tenderly, and looked at her as affectionately as if she were a dear
+little child instead of a poor invalid, tottering with age and sickness.
+
+Marcus expected to hear Aunt Barbara say, "This room is too light for
+anybody," or "My! who could have chosen such a place for my chair?" but
+he was mistaken.
+
+Aunt Barbara sunk down among the pillows which Hatty had arranged, quite
+exhausted, and for a while was too weak to say one word. Mrs. Lee
+brought her a glass of wine, and a light biscuit, and when Aunt Barbara
+had taken them she seemed better.
+
+Then she looked round the cheerful library, and said, "How pleasant it
+is here, and how nicely you have prepared for me! And you helped, too,
+Marcus; that was kind!"
+
+"I am very glad you are pleased!" said Marcus; and away he ran to
+school, feeling more light-hearted than he had done for many days. Mrs.
+Lee said she would take care of the children in the nursery, as Jane
+must be busy, and leave Hatty with Aunt Barbara. Hatty was glad to be
+trusted, and she brought her sewing, and took a low seat near the old
+lady.
+
+Aunt Barbara did not seem inclined to talk at first, and Hatty kept very
+quiet, though every now and then she opened her mouth as if she were
+going to speak, and then shut it again quickly.
+
+Hatty had learned that there are often times when older people do not
+care to hear even pleasant young voices. She had found out that a little
+happy child may show a great deal of unselfishness by keeping quiet,
+when she would gladly let her tongue speak out the joy that is in her
+heart. Hatty tried to think over all the hymns she had ever learned, and
+so be silent until Aunt Barbara should choose to speak.
+
+Hatty's lips were beginning to feel quite stiff with their unusual
+effort, when Aunt Barbara said, "Hatty, my dear."
+
+Hatty looked up suddenly, (Aunt Barbara had never called her "my dear"
+before,) but she only said "What, ma'am," and then waited to see what
+would come next.
+
+"Do you love your grandma?" asked Aunt Barbara.
+
+"Indeed I do!" said Hatty, warmly. "She is the dearest and sweetest old
+lady in the world!"
+
+"She is older than I am, I believe, and a great deal more wrinkled,--at
+least I have heard so!" said Aunt Barbara.
+
+"I don't know, I never thought about that; she looks very sweet to me!"
+said Hatty, with a puzzled look.
+
+"I have had a notion," said Aunt Barbara, "that children did not like
+old people, and perhaps I have not tried to make myself pleasant to
+them. Do you think if I tried to be like your grandma you could love me,
+too?" and the old lady looked earnestly at the little girl.
+
+"O Aunt Barbara, I love you now!" said Hatty affectionately; "and you
+grow more like grandma every day."
+
+"Dear child!" said Aunt Barbara, and she laid her thin hand on the head
+of the little girl. After a moment's pause she went on--"Hatty, I think I
+must have been very cross before I was sick; somehow everything seemed
+wrong to me. I am sorry!"
+
+"I and Marcus and Meg and all of us are sorry we were so naughty. It was
+our fault, Aunt Barbara,--and we mean to be better," said Hatty, eagerly.
+
+"Poor old Aunt Barbara did wrong, too, child. God has laid her on her
+bed of sickness to think, and he has raised her up again for some good
+purpose. Perhaps he wanted to give her an opportunity to be more like
+what a person ought to be, who has had more than seventy years of
+blessings, and who has the promise of a home in Heaven. Aunt Barbara
+means to try not to be fretful, and you children must have patience with
+her if she don't always speak just as she should."
+
+The old lady was in earnest, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
+
+Hatty rose and wiped them away,--then she kissed Aunt Barbara, tenderly,
+and said, "We will never think any harm of what dear Aunt Barbara
+says,--for we all love you, and mean to make you very happy."
+
+Aunt Barbara now asked Hatty to sing some sweet hymns; and she looked so
+quiet and peaceful as she listened, that Hatty could not help thinking
+that Jesus must be very near to old people, who are almost at the golden
+gate of Heaven.
+
+From that time Hatty was much with Aunt Barbara; and it was touching to
+see how hard the old lady tried to be gentle and pleasant.
+
+Hatty's example had a great influence on the other children. Meg learned
+to skip more softly as she passed Aunt Barbara's door; and Harry never
+ate an orange without pattering along to Aunt Barbara's room, to give
+her a taste.
+
+In their hearts the children often acknowledged that it was their own
+thoughtlessness which had brought about much of the old lady's
+harshness; and now that they were more gentle and considerate, they
+found her a dear, kind friend, who had pleasant stories to tell, of days
+gone by; and with her Hatty had many sweet talks of the loving Saviour,
+whom they were both striving to serve.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+
+When Marcus came home from school on Monday afternoon, Hatty was in the
+garden, picking a bouquet to put in Aunt Barbara's room. He stepped
+quietly behind her and put his hands round her waist, before she heard
+him coming.
+
+She looked round, expecting to see his face full of fun; but it was very
+sober,--and he said, quietly,
+
+"I have lost the prize, Hatty!"
+
+"Did you miss a lesson to-day!" said Hatty, eagerly.
+
+"I have not made a mistake this term, and I don't mean to, if I can help
+it," said Marcus, rather proudly.
+
+"Not a mark for misconduct?" said Hatty, anxiously.
+
+"A mark for tardiness stands against my name. I have told Mr. Briggs."
+
+Hatty turned towards her brother, and kissed him tenderly. He did not
+push her away, but, putting his arm round her waist, he walked a few
+moments along the path in silence; then he said, "I have had a talk with
+Mr. Briggs, that I hope I shall never forget. I thank you, Hatty, for
+being a true sister to me."
+
+Here Marcus broke away from Hatty, and ran into the house before she
+could speak a word in reply.
+
+Hatty finished gathering the flowers, but her thoughts were not on her
+bouquet, but on her brother. In her heart she thanked God for prompting
+him to take this first right step, and earnestly she prayed that he
+might go steadily forward in the path that leadeth unto life.
+
+
+
+
+X.
+
+
+The weeks flew by, and Aunt Barbara was able first to take a short
+drive, and then to be in the air hour after hour.
+
+One Saturday Mr. Lee pushed back his chair, after dinner, and looking
+pleasantly round on his children, said, "What do you all say to a visit
+to Mr. Sparrow's peach orchard to-day?"
+
+The young faces flushed back a glad response, and every little voice was
+raised in a joyous welcome to the proposal.
+
+"Aunt Barbara must go, too," said Meg, giving the old lady a protective
+look, which, although it was quite absurd, sprang from real kindness.
+
+"Yes, Aunt Barbara must go, of course," said Mr. Lee, smiling.
+
+"And Hatty, Hatty so dood," put in Harry, as he laid his plump hand
+caressingly on Hatty's white arm.
+
+"Yes, every one must go, if the carriage is as full as the shoe where
+the old woman lived, with that wonderfully large family."
+
+"I hope none of us will have to be whipped and sent to bed," said Meg,
+laughingly.
+
+"No, no. You shall all have peaches and bread, instead," said Mr. Lee,
+with a quizzical look.
+
+The children all laughed so much at what they thought a charming
+witticism on their father's part, that they could hardly hear his voice
+when he spoke again to say they must be ready in an hour; and then away
+he went, to give orders about the carriage.
+
+At the first mention of the excursion Marcus had darted away to get his
+fishing-tackle in order; for he knew there was a famous trouting stream
+on Mr. Sparrow's farm, and he meant to have sport, for which he cared
+more than for bushels of peaches.
+
+The hour passed quickly away in busy preparation for the coming
+pleasure, and all were ready when the great family carriage Mr. Lee had
+borrowed from his brother, came up to the door.
+
+The horses seemed as full of glee as the children, and Mr. Lee could not
+leave them to attend to the ladies. Marcus assisted Aunt Barbara very
+carefully down to the gate, and handed her in so dexterously that she
+was able to take her seat without complaining of twisting her joints
+with the exertion. Then Mrs. Lee was escorted with great ceremony, by
+Marcus, and placed at Aunt Barbara's side. Jane (with the baby in her
+arms) and Hatty took up the middle seat. Marcus was to sit with his
+father,--but what was to become of Harry and Meg. The little things
+looked disconsolate as they saw the places filling up; but Hatty called
+out, cheerily, "I will hold Meg," and Marcus said, almost in the same
+breath, "Harry must sit on my knee, that all the gentlemen may be
+together."
+
+"All de dentlemen todedder!" said Harry, with a pompous look, as he
+stood ready to be lifted to the place of honor assigned him.
+
+"Now are all packed in tight?" said Mr. Lee, as he drew up the reins in
+his hand.
+
+"All right!" was the merry shout within, and away went the horses, as
+if they enjoyed the sport.
+
+The swift motion through the cool air made Hatty glad to draw close
+round her the shawl she had thrown over her bare neck and arms; and Mrs.
+Lee reached forward to fold the baby's blanket closely about it.
+
+Hatty soon found Meg rather heavy, and she might have made the whole
+party uncomfortable by complaining,--but she had learned that one way of
+doing right is, to check all complaints about trifles, and to be as
+cheerful as possible.
+
+After a while Meg slipped quietly down into the bottom of the carriage,
+and said she had a charming seat there on the baby's strong basket. She
+did not say that she saw sister Hatty was weary, and wished to relieve
+her. Little Meg was learning something of Christian kindness; so true is
+it that where one child in a family is really trying to do right, all
+the others soon catch something of her spirit.
+
+It was a real treat to the children to be fairly outside the town, among
+green fields and pleasant woods. Mrs. Lee had to keep her head bobbing
+this way and that way, to see a flock of turkeys that made Meg laugh;
+or a wild flower that pleased Hatty; or a "pretty moo cow" that Harry
+thought quite extraordinary.
+
+Marcus, meanwhile, was sitting up beside his father, and trying to talk
+learnedly of "crops and fallow-land, good timber, and pretty fair
+orchards." His father listened when he spoke, and quietly corrected his
+mistakes, without showing him the least sign of contempt, or making him
+feel his youth unnecessarily.
+
+Mr. Lee saw that Marcus was bent upon appearing like a man, and he only
+tried to make him a sensible, accurate little man, instead of putting
+him down in a way likely to provoke him.
+
+All Marcus' _mannish_ ways went off, suddenly, when the carriage drew up
+at Mr. Sparrow's door. He leaped from his seat, and without waiting to
+hand out the ladies and children, he gave a merry shout, and started off
+for the brook at a pace that most men find neither easy nor comfortable.
+
+Good farmer Sparrow was away in the orchard; but stout Mrs. Sparrow
+helped Aunt Barbara out as well as if she had been a man; and by that
+time Mr. Lee had tied the horses, and was ready to lift down the
+children; Meg came out with a flying skip, and Hatty bounded down
+cheerfully; but Harry was so sleepy, that his father had to lift him as
+if he were a bag of meal.
+
+The sight of the peach orchard was enough to fill the children with
+astonishment,--the rich fruit looked so beautifully, hanging on the
+bending boughs. Aunt Barbara was placed on a comfortable chair by the
+window; Mrs. Lee took the baby,--and then Jane and the children went out
+into the peach orchard, with Mrs. Sparrow.
+
+The farmer's wife knew exactly to what trees to take them; and she
+reached up and picked two of the largest peaches Hatty had ever seen,
+and placed one in the little girls' hands. Away went Hatty back to the
+house with her treasures, and when she had given them to Aunt Barbara
+and her mother, she was ready for her own pleasure.
+
+Hatty was learning to think of others first, even in trifles.
+
+Mrs. Lee had told the children just how many peaches they must eat; and
+after they had come up to the number she named, they enjoyed going
+about with Mrs. Sparrow, and watching her while she filled the large
+basket that had been placed in the carriage, in front of Mr. Lee, for
+the purpose. Hatty could not help thinking, as she looked at the trees
+loaded with the beautiful fruit, how kind it was in our Heavenly Father
+to make so much that is "pleasant to the eye and good for food," that we
+may take without breaking any of his commandments. She pitied poor Eve,
+if the forbidden fruit looked anything like those tempting peaches, and
+was glad that there was no "serpent" at farmer Sparrow's that pleasant
+day.
+
+Hatty forgot that there is temptation every where, if not quite in the
+form that was tried upon Eve.
+
+After the children had enjoyed the orchard to their hearts' content,
+little Harry grew tired, and Jane took him to rest. Mrs. Sparrow and her
+strong maid carried in the heavy basket of peaches, and Hatty and Meg
+had permission to wander about to look at the chickens, the bee-hives,
+or anything else that might interest them.
+
+Meg was full of glee, and would gladly have chased the chickens, handled
+the young ducks, and teazed the turkey-gobbler till he was quite in a
+passion. Hatty checked her as gently as she could, and managed to keep
+her for some time from doing any actual mischief.
+
+Meg was charmed when she got to the bee-hives. She had lately heard
+Marcus discoursing, in his most learned manner, as to the habits and
+peculiarities of bees, and she was curious to see these wise little
+insects in their own home.
+
+Hatty was glad to find her at last so absorbed as to be willing to be
+quiet a moment, and, a little relieved from her anxiety, she turned away
+to look at a curious plant that was growing in a small swampy place,
+into which the surplus water from the large back-yard was made to flow.
+
+The plant was, indeed, worth looking at; it was the pitcher plant, or
+side-saddle-flower,--every leaf of which is so formed as to hold water.
+She walked round and round it, looking into each pitcher-like leaf, and
+thinking of the wonderful variety which God has chosen to make even in
+the forms of the leaves, not to speak of the many-hued flowers.
+
+Turning accidentally towards Meg, Hatty saw her slender brown arms
+pushing with all their might against one of the hives, and it was
+evident from Meg's determined air that she had made up her mind to do
+something--some mischief, Hatty concluded, of course, and hurried to the
+spot.
+
+She only reached it in time to see the hive tumbling over, while a swarm
+of angry bees came forth to avenge themselves for this overthrow of
+their home.
+
+The very impulsiveness of character, which made Hatty open to temptation
+from a hasty temper, now made her think and act quickly.
+
+She saw at once the danger that Meg was in, from the angry insects. It
+was but the work of a second for Hatty to throw her light shawl
+completely over Meg--the child's straw hat--holding it at such a distance
+from her face and arms that the stings of the insects could not reach
+her.
+
+Then, with one hand, Hatty held her white sun-bonnet close together in
+front, while she extended the other, to lead Meg.
+
+Over Hatty's bare neck and arms the bees now settled, and began to vent
+their anger in sharp stings that made her scream with pain.
+
+The cries of the children quickly brought Mr. Lee and Farmer Sparrow,
+who had been taking a survey of the place, together.
+
+Farmer Sparrow bade Mr. Lee keep at a distance, as soon as he saw, from
+the over-turned hive, and from the moving black spots on Hatty's fair
+neck and arms, what was the matter.
+
+Mr. Lee found it hard to keep away from his children when they were in
+such trouble, but he knew it was best to obey.
+
+With a dexterous turn of the shawl, Farmer Sparrow shut the bees up in
+it, while he bade Meg run for her life. She needed no second command,
+and was soon sobbing in her father's arms.
+
+The few bees who had escaped from the shawl settled upon Farmer Sparrow,
+but he minded them no more than if they were so many flies, for the
+sagacious insects knew him too well to sting him.
+
+"Stand quite still, child!" said Farmer Sparrow to Hatty, in a tone of
+command. It would have been hard for Hatty to obey, covered as she was
+with the tormenting bees, but for the belief that the prayer for help
+that she had sent up to God in her distress was about to be answered.
+One by one Farmer Sparrow picked off the bees with his hands, and
+slipped them into the shawl, which he held like a bag. They seemed to
+own him as a master, and not one offered him a disrespectful sting.
+
+When Hatty was freed from her tormentors she was in a piteous plight,
+her neck and arms being spotted over with the painful stings. Hatty
+struggled hard to bear them patiently, and Farmer Sparrow declared she
+was a perfect soldier.
+
+Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Sparrow were now on the spot. The latter hastened to
+bind indigo on the wounded parts, and poor Hatty soon presented an odd
+appearance, her white face peering out from her blue wrappings.
+
+Farmer Sparrow excused himself from any further attendance upon the
+party, as he must secure his beloved bees ere they were lost to him.
+
+The sun was now sinking in the west, and Marcus, laden with the results
+of his successful trouting, came whistling up to the farmhouse. He
+heard, in silence, the story of Hatty's misfortune; but when his mother
+came quite to the end, Marcus walked up to his sister, and kissing her
+fondly, said: "You are a splendid girl, Hatty. You ought to have been a
+boy!" Then, turning to Meg, his indignation burst upon her, and he could
+not find words strong enough to express his anger at her mischief, and
+his conviction of the severity of the punishment she deserved.
+
+Meg could only reply in sobs.
+
+"Poor Meg is punished sufficiently by seeing her sister suffer. I think
+she will not soon forget this lesson!" said Mrs. Lee, kindly.
+
+"Meg did not know the harm she was doing!" added Hatty, pleadingly.
+
+"I only wanted to look inside," said poor Meg, in the midst of her sobs.
+"I thought the wise little bees knew too much to hurt us!"
+
+"I hope my little Meg will remember, hereafter, 'to touch not, taste
+not, handle not' what is not her own," said Mrs. Lee, soberly.
+
+"Indeed, I will try," answered Meg, earnestly. "Do kiss me, Hatty," and
+the child turned her swollen face towards her generous sister.
+
+Hatty kissed her, and assured her the pain of the stings was almost
+gone, and that she should soon be quite well.
+
+Mr. Lee was now ready with the horses, and the little party set out for
+home.
+
+As Hatty rode along in the carriage, and all seemed so tenderly
+interested for her, the little girl went back in memory to the time
+before she started on that all important visit to her grandmother.
+
+She recalled the frequent reproofs she then received from her mother,
+the stern displeasure of her father, her constant quarrels with Marcus,
+her impatience with Meg, and the saucy replies of the child. It seemed
+strange to her to remember that even Harry did not then like to be with
+her, and that she thought it quite a trial to be left with Aunt Barbara
+even for a few moments. Were all changed, or was the change in herself?
+When she thought all around her severe, cross, or quarrelsome, must not
+the fault have been in a great measure her own?
+
+Hatty could not bear to think of her old naughty self, and she turned
+with pleasure to the happy present. God had given her the wish to do
+right, and granted his blessing on her sincere efforts. How near and
+dear now seemed that Heavenly Father to his little one; she realized
+that He was at her side; she needed not to wait until she reached home
+to thank Him for his mercies. Into her heart she knew He was then
+looking, and beholding her gratitude there.
+
+Little Hatty felt very happy as she glanced round on the kind faces,
+beaming lovingly on her. Surrounded by such affection, she could bear
+almost anything. Yes, Hatty Lee, who once so dreaded pain, knew now that
+wrong, angry feelings, in herself, or the disapproval of her earthly
+parents, or the smile of her mother withdrawn, were far greater trials
+than the slight sufferings her body had been called to endure.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+
+Hatty's wounded neck and arms healed rapidly, but the red spots remained
+for many days to remind all the family of the late accident, and make
+them more tender than usual in their manner to the courageous little
+girl.
+
+Marcus seemed to have quite changed his opinion of his sister, and felt
+called upon to treat her with marked respect, and to honor her with many
+long talks on his favorite subjects.
+
+Hatty heard his footstep in the hall, as he was returning from school
+one afternoon, shortly after the accident. She knew that on that day was
+to be awarded the prize for which he had so faithfully labored, and
+which he had been induced to forfeit for the sake of truth.
+
+She felt great sympathy for him, and was planning in her own mind how
+she could best cheer him under his disappointment, when he threw open
+the door, and with a joyous bound sprang towards her.
+
+"Look, Hatty!" he said, as he laid on her lap the richly bound copy of
+Virgil which he had so desired for its own sake, as well as a mark of
+his teacher's approval.
+
+"It is mine, given in the presence of the school, by Mr. Briggs!" said
+Marcus, with a joyous smile, "And I owe it all to you, Hatty."
+
+"I am so glad!" said Hatty, with real pleasure. "But you do not owe it
+to me, Marcus."
+
+"Yes, Hatty," continued Marcus,--"Mr. Briggs knew all about my being
+late, and he was waiting for me to acknowledge it; if I had not I should
+have lost his confidence, and the prize would never have been mine, he
+said: as it was, no other boy stood as high as I did! Isn't it
+splendid?"
+
+"I am very, very glad," repeated Hatty. "Is it not better always to try
+to do right, Marcus!" she added softly.
+
+Marcus opened his mouth as if to speak, then turned silently away.
+
+That evening Mrs. Lee sat in the library, in the twilight, with Marcus
+and Hatty. She too had heard about the prize, and had rejoiced with her
+son, with a silent prayer in her heart that he might see the wisdom of
+the Better Path, and be led always to do right by the happy results
+which had followed the step that had cost him such an effort.
+
+After the subject of the prize had been discussed, a feeling of
+quietness stole over the little group; perhaps all had their own serious
+thoughts at that twilight hour.
+
+"Come, Hatty," said Mrs. Lee, pleasantly, "can you not recite a hymn for
+us?"
+
+Mrs. Lee almost feared that Marcus would walk away at this proposal, as
+he had often done before, on similar occasions; but he sat down at his
+mother's side, and listened, while Hatty repeated, in a voice of deep
+feeling, the hymn,--"Ashamed of Jesus."
+
+"Mother," said Hatty, earnestly, when she had done speaking, "Do you
+think anybody in a Christian country was ever _ashamed of Jesus?_"
+
+"There are few in a christian country, my dear, who would be willing to
+be called infidels, or heathen," said Mrs. Lee, soberly; "and I doubt
+if there are any young people who have heard of Jesus, who would not
+shrink from the thought. Though this is quite true, there are many who
+are ashamed of Jesus--many children, I fear!"
+
+"O Mother! what do you mean?" said Hatty, earnestly.
+
+"I mean," said Mrs. Lee, "there are many who are ashamed to have it
+known that they wish to serve him. They would rather their best actions
+should be attributed to any cause, than a desire to do His will. They
+hide their best feelings, and struggle to show indifference when holy
+things are named, in a way which proves them at heart to be _ashamed_ of
+Jesus. Alas, poor foolish children! what will be their lot when he is
+ashamed of them, in the presence of his Father in Heaven!"
+
+Marcus had laid his head on his mother's hand, as he sat beside her, and
+now she felt the hot tears trickle over it.
+
+Hatty was questioning in heart whether she could be so situated as to be
+_ashamed of Jesus_, when Marcus suddenly rose, and said:
+
+"I am afraid I have been ashamed of Jesus! Let me say now to you, dear
+Mother, and to Hatty, that I do wish to serve Him, and I want you both
+to help me.
+
+"We will together ask God for his help, which is better than any human
+arm, my dear son," said Mrs. Lee, solemnly.
+
+The mother knelt down with her children, and earnestly implored God's
+blessing on their young hearts. Fervently she asked the Great Heavenly
+Friend so to guide and sustain them in the upward path, that they might
+at last be gathered to his Eternal Home, with all those that love Him in
+sincerity and truth.
+
+When they rose from their knees, Hatty's heart was too full of joy for
+words. She walked to Marcus' side, and putting her arm about him, kissed
+him, with a deep, trusting affection she had never felt before.
+
+Now came in Aunt Barbara, leading little Harry, full of glee, while Meg
+followed, with her usual cheerful skip.
+
+"Let us have one more hymn before supper," said Mrs. Lee, as she
+gathered the little group around her. "We will have 'I want to be like
+Jesus,' and only those must sing who really feel what they say."
+
+Mrs. Lee began in her own clear, sweet voice. Hatty quickly followed,
+and Marcus united with her in trembling tones, with sober earnestness.
+Meg, with her childlike warble, and even little Harry, felt that he
+wanted to be like Jesus, and tried to lisp in "sweet accord" his
+Saviour's name, blending his baby notes with those that fell from Aunt
+Barbara's faltering tongue.
+
+How welcome to the father's ear, as he returned from his daily toil, was
+that evening hymn!
+
+At the closing verse his manly tones were heard as a deep, full echo to
+the rest, while devout thanksgiving filled the mother's heart.
+
+And Hatty--little Hatty--she felt almost too happy for earth; and fully
+she realized the truth, that "Wisdom's ways are pleasantness, and all
+her paths are peace."
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: The table below lists all corrections applied to
+the original text.
+
+p. 009: [added pair of quotes] and say, 'You can't come in, Meg.'
+p. 009: [added open quotes] "Jesus' little children never quarrel
+p. 011: obey that consicence -> conscience
+p. 016: I did'nt know -> didn't
+p. 027: [removed wrong quotes] "Marcus was softened -> Marcus
+p. 058: [normalized] a store of books and play-things -> playthings
+p. 096: [added period] that love Him in sincerity and truth. ]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hatty and Marcus, by Aunt Friendly
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HATTY AND MARCUS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 23536.txt or 23536.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/5/3/23536/
+
+Produced by Irma Spehar, Markus Brenner and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.