"I want to see you young ones together," said she. "I desire to explain somewhat to you, for though young folks should not sit in judgment on their elders, I can see that you both have sharp wits, and I have a mind you should understand me. I dare say you, Richard, are wondering why I should choose Felicia for my companion, instead of one of the little girls, or Peggy here." "I confess I did think of it," said Richard, as Aunt Willson seemed to pause for a reply. "Well, then, I'll tell you," said she. "I can see as far into a mill-stone as another, and I can see that Felicia—plague take the name, it sounds like a stage play—is one by herself among you and is no help to any one. She hath just the disposition of her father, my poor brother, who was wont all his life-long to take the poker by the hot end." I could not help laughing. It was such an apt illustration. "I see plainly that she is no help to your poor mother, and also that she could never go out and earn her living like you and Peggy here," continued Aunt Willson. "The fact is, children, she is just one of those who seem born to exercise the forbearance and patience of their friends. The best we can do is to make a means of grace of them." "That don't seem to be a very flattering use to which to put our fellow-creatures!" said I. "'Tis all we are any of us fit for, at times, chick." "But do you really think," I asked, "that we have any right to think so—to think that people are made bad only for means of grace to us?" "By no means, child!" replied my aunt. "That were spiritual pride, and presumption worse than that of the Pharisees. But we must be either better or worse for the faults of the people we live with. If we learn from them patience, forbearance, and watchfulness not to give any just offence, we are the better; and whatsoever makes us better, is a means of grace, is it not, sweetheart?" I confessed that she was right; thinking at the same time that Felicia had been anything but a means of grace to me. "Well, as I was saying," continued my Aunt Willson, "as I have no children to be plagued by her, and as I have a pretty even temper of my own, besides a good strong will, and plenty of money—why I will even take the poor thing in hand, and do the best I can with her. But mind, children, not a word of this to Felicia herself. Let her think, if she will, that she is doing me a great favor. I am glad I came this way, though it was a toilsome journey. I shall think of you all with pleasure; and though we may never meet again, you will hear from me. You are going into a hard place, Peggy, but keep up a good heart, put your trust above, be faithful to God and your mother, avoid all mean and little practises of tattling, eavesdropping, and the like, mind your own business, be kind to all, but beware of intimacies,—and when troubles and vexations come, as doubtless they will, keep a brave heart, put a good face on it, and be not discouraged. ''Tis all in the day's work!'"