“There do be bad fairies, Miss Beth. All big cities have the two sides to ’em, the grand side where people spend money like water, and the awful side where even water is scarce. Then there’s a fine lot between; people workin’ hard, but gettin’ good times out of it and nice, comfortable little homes. I think your Aunt Alida wanted to learn what you’d make out of seein’ these miseries,” said Anna Mary. “Can we help it?” asked Beth. “I never can, because I shall not be rich myself, but can any one?” “It’s a great puzzle, Miss Beth,” said Anna Mary. “No end of things there are makin’ and keepin’ these people poor. The wisest and best heads in the world are always puzzlin’ over helpin’ it, and by this and by that they’re always thinkin’ they’ve found the cure, but it’s not so easy. Sure, you can help it, Miss Beth. Helpin’s not curin’, but if every one helped, then the cure’d be worked. And as to your bein’ poor, do you imagine your aunt and uncle, havin’ found you and found you what you are, lovin’ you as they do, won’t take care you have plenty to help with, if you’re minded to use it that way?” “Will they?” cried Beth, plainly not thinking of this in connection with her own life. “How shall I help?” “First off it needs wantin’ to, Miss Beth, real wantin’, so other things don’t crowd it out. And then it takes lovin’, lovin’ in the right way, so you don’t mind when the poor unfortunate people disappoint you and are ungrateful, or turn out ill. Then the way can’t be missed. It’s much the kind of lovin’ that was shown all His life long by our dear Lord, whose birthday you’re goin’ to make glad for the children you’ve been askin’. And the only way I know to help the people is His way; just go about teachin’ and feedin’ and maybe dyin’ for ’em, if needs be, prayin’ they be forgiven for they know not what they do.” Anna Mary spoke with profound emotion in her usually dull voice. Her face warmed and quivered with feeling and Beth sat looking up at her, drinking in her words, her own sweet little face responsive to the chords Anna Mary touched, her eyes dimming with tears, yet kindling with her inward resolve to help in this way, if the opportunity came to her. Beth put her hand over the back of Anna Mary’s when she stopped speaking. “I’m glad I came with you to-day, Anna Mary. I think you have shown me better than even Aunt Alida could; you seem to know closer, if that’s the right way to say it. And I’m glad you are the one that came for me, to fetch me from Aunt Rebecca’s here. Maybe it means that some day I can help and you are going to show me how and were sent to fetch me for that reason, only no one knew it then,” she said in her earnest way.