Madeline felt a deeper reverence for her dear aunt from that day, and by every means in her power tried to show her love for her afflicted relative. And in return, Aunt Clara learned to love most tenderly the wild child of nature committed for a time to her care. The next day, the tuner was sent for, and in the evening, Aunt Clara entertained Madeline with some exquisite sacred music on the harp. "I have often heard papa talk about the harp, he is so fond of that instrument. Would it not be a great surprise if I could learn the harp without his knowledge? he would be so delighted." "We will see about it, Maddy." Next day, Mrs. Edmonds engaged one of the best teachers in Boston, and laid out a daily plan for her little niece as well as Lucy, for she well knew that idleness is the bane of happiness. "Line upon line, and precept upon precept," was, however, the discipline which she had constantly to exercise in training the wayward nature of her interesting charge. One day Aunt Clara looked over the banisters, and saw her little niece talking very earnestly to a poor woman at the front door. "Come here, Madeline, I want to speak to you." "Wait a minute, aunt," said the child, "I will be there directly." "Who is that woman, Maddy?" "I don't know, aunt; but she is so poor and ragged. She has five children, and no husband, and they are starving to death." "How do you know that, my child?" "Why, aunt, she said so," replied Maddy, with an earnest look. "What did you give her, my child?" "All that was in my purse, aunt." "And how much was that?" "Only two dollars, aunt, and that is so little to buy clothes and food for so many." "You had better not give money in that way, my child." Mrs. Edmonds went to the door, took the woman's address, and promised to call upon her the next day. Accordingly she went, but no such person lived there, or could be heard of in the neighborhood. Madeline was sadly chagrined, when she found that the woman had told such a dreadful falsehood. "So you see, my dear, it is not best to give money at the door; it is always advisable to visit such cases." "What a shame! Aunt Clara, for that woman to be so wicked; she might prevent us from giving to one who is really deserving." "So it is, my dear; but we have to learn some very sad lessons in this wicked world." Madeline frequently visited Lavinia, not because she wished to do so, but simply on the ground of relationship, and Lavinia frequently sent for her. One morning, a servant rung the bell, and left cards for Madeline and Lucy, from Lavinia Raymond for the next Tuesday evening, announcing herself at home at eight o'clock. "Aunt Clara, must we go? I don't want to go to any such parties of would-be men and women." "I suppose that you must go, Maddy; you will give great offence to your Aunt Raymond, if you do not." "I am not going to dress up in anything but a simple muslin, aunt, and if she don't like it, I don't care."