"Why, Bessie," she said, "do you really think Jesus had Mabel and her mamma come here just so I could be a sunbeam to them and try to do them good? I don't believe He did." "Well, maybe He didn't send them here just for that," answered Bessie; "but when He did send them, I think He'd like you to make a little sunshine for them." "And then," said fanciful Maggie, always ready to catch at what she thought a poetical idea,--"and then, you know, when the sunshine comes the clouds 'most always go away; so if we try to be very patient and kind with Mabel, maybe the clouds of her crossness and _obstinateness_ will roll away and be seen no more." It was impossible to hold out against such words of wisdom as came from Maggie's lips; and Belle began to feel that here, after all, might be the very opportunity she had wanted. "And then that would make your aunt glad," persuaded Bessie; "and we are sorry for her." "Um--m--m, well, I don't know about that," said Belle: "my aunt said a thing about me,--a very disagreeable thing." "What was it?" "She said I wanted some kind of management. I forgot what kind. I don't know what word she called it, but it meant something horrid I know; and she oughtn't to say I was spoiled when she spoils her own child." "No," said Maggie: "people who live in glass houses oughtn't to throw stones; but I fear they generally do, for all." "What does that mean?" asked Bessie. "It means when we do a thing a good deal ourselves we oughtn't to speak about other people who do it; but we are apt to." "Well, then," said Belle, taking the maxim to herself, though Maggie had not meant it for her, "I s'pose if I used to be spoiled myself, I oughtn't to talk so much about my cousin who is." "But you was never like _that_," said Bessie. "I used to be pretty spoiled sometimes, and yesterday I was--ugh--I was horrid," answered Belle, a sense of her own past naughtiness coming over her. "What did you do?" asked Bessie. "I screamed and hollered--and--and I kicked. I shouldn't be s'prised if my aunt thought I was as naughty as Mabel." "She that repents ought to make haste to show her repentance," said Maggie. "That is a new proverb I made up on purpose for you, Belle, 'cause I thought it suited you." "Oh! thank you, Maggie," said Belle: "then I'll do it." And so our three little girls resolved that they would at least meet Mabel kindly and politely; and as far as possible put the remembrance of her past ill-behavior from their minds. [Illustration] [Illustration] V. _A DAY WITH MAGGIE AND BESSIE._