"I wrote him I was willing to work hard, to deny myself of every luxury, even to live on two meals a day, but I could not consent to throw a mother's holy duties upon another." "You did right," said the young listener. "At last after many changes, I heard of this place, and with the advice of a younger unmarried sister who has been like an angel of mercy to me, I made the move with the idea of taking table—boarders from the factory. There are four overseers who have already engaged to come, and they promise to bring me as many others as I want. But last week, just as my hopes were raised to the utmost, my landlord decided to sell this house, and move to one of the Western States. In consequence of my disappointment, he offers to sell it to me for one thousand dollars, one half of which can lie at interest for a year or two. "After consulting my neighbors here, and finding that without doubt property would rise, I went at once to the city, though I could poorly afford the expense, to plead with my rich brother to buy the house for me and let me pay him by instalments. This would have been a safe speculation for him, and have given me perfect relief. But he would not advance one dollar, though I told him that our sister was willing to risk one hundred dollars which she had earned as school teacher. He said he could speculate with his money more to his advantage than buying country houses." Mrs. Russel wept as she added: "I remember the time, and I reminded him of it, when but for the kindness of a good Christian gentleman, he would have starved while trying to procure work." "And did not that recollection soften him?" inquired Mr. Knowles. "He made no reply, sir, except that he had plenty of use for his money, that his taxes and church subscriptions were enough to ruin any man. And, to prove what he said, he brought me a newspaper wherein a large subscription had been noticed. I think I have the paper now." She opened a drawer in the worktable and took thence a copy of the — Journal, which, with flushed cheeks, she unfolded, and gave to the clergyman, placing her finger on the paragraph. While he was deliberately putting on his glasses, Helen seized it, and with a scream of astonishment read aloud: "We are gratified to notice among the liberal contributors to the new orphan asylum, the name of one of our princely merchants, MONSON P. TRACY. This noble and large-hearted gentleman has added one thousand dollars to the sum already raised. A few more similar donations, and the entire amount will be made up." "Shameful! I wish everybody knew that he refused to help his own sister to a shelter for herself and children. Mr. Knowles, is it wicked for me to hate such a man?" "Hush, my child, let charity have its perfect work. The building of an asylum for orphans is a noble undertaking. Don't let us impugn his motives."