"And how much more useful and honourable!" remarked Mr. Ellis. "In the one case, you fed only the body, but now you are dispensing food to the immortal mind. You are moreover independent in your own house. When the day's work is done, you come together as one family, and shut out the intruding world." "Yes, it is better, far better," replied Mrs. Darlington. "Ah, that first mistake of mine was a sad one!" "Yet out of it has come good," said Mr. Ellis. "That painful experience corrected many false views, and gave to all your characters a new and higher impulse. It is through disappointment, trial, and suffering, that we grow wise here; and true wisdom is worth the highest price we are ever called upon to pay for it." Yes, it is so. Through fiery trials are we purified. At times, in our suffering, we feel as if every good thing in us was about being consumed. But this never happens. No good in our characters is ever lost in affliction or trouble; and we come out of these states of pain wiser and better than when we entered them, and more fitted and more willing to act usefully our part in the world. PLAIN SEWING; OR, HOW TO ENCOURAGE THE POOR. "Do you know of any poor body who does plain sewing?" asked Mrs. Lander of a neighbour upon whom she called for the particular purpose of making this inquiry. "I have a good deal of work that I want done, and I always like to give my plain sewing to people that need it." "I think I know of a person who will suit you," replied Mrs. Brandon, the lady to whom the application had been made. "She is a poor widow woman, with four children dependent upon her for support. She sews neatly. Yesterday she brought me home some little drawers and night-gowns that were beautifully made. I am sure she will please you, and I know she deserves encouragement." "What is her name?" "Mrs. Walton; and she lives in Larkin's Court." "Thank you, ma'am. I will send for her this morning. You say she is very poor?" "You may judge of that yourself, Mrs. Lander. A woman who has four children to support by the labour of her own hands cannot be very well off." "No--certainly not. Poor creature! I will throw all I can in her way, if her work should please me." "I am sure that will be the case, for she sews very neatly." Mrs. Lander having found out a poor woman who could do plain sewing--she was always more ready to employ persons in extreme poverty than those who were in more easy circumstances--immediately sent a summons for her to attend upon her ladyship. Mrs. Walton's appearance, when she came, plainly enough told the story of her indigence. "Mrs. Brandon informs me," said Mrs. Lander, "that you do plain sewing very well, and that you stand in need of work. I always like to encourage the industrious poor." The woman inclined her head, and Mrs. Lander went on. "Do you make shirts?" "Yes, ma'am, sometimes." "Do you consider yourself a good shirt maker?"