e grew rosy.

"Mamma dear," she said, as her hands wiped each other dry on the nice
soft towel, "I know what you mean. You're like a fairy, mamma, you can
see into my heart. I didn't like that lady thinking Lily was your right
hand, and me no good to you. It made me feel as if I didn't love Lily."

"But nobody said you were no good, Belle dear. You made that up in your
own silly little head. For you know even though Lily is older, you can
still help me a great deal, and even help her to help me," said her
mother.

"Like as if you were the head, and we your two hands," answered Belle.
"Well, mamma, I won't mind now even if you count me only your left hand,
and I'll always remember what you've said."

She kissed her mother, quite happy now, and when they were going to bed
that night she told Lily all about it.

"I am afraid," said Lily, looking sorry, "that I was too proud of what
mamma said of me. But if each of us is always as kind to the other as
right hand is to left hand, and left hand to right hand, it will be all
right, won't it dear?"

[Illustration]

A.SHILLING OF HALFPENCE

She was a lonely little old lady. She was one of those who had "seen
better days," as it is called. I am afraid there are a great many people
in the world of whom this can be said, and the saddest part of it is
that they are very, very often, _old_ people.

It is sad to see anyone in want even of comforts, and still more of
really needful things, but I think it is worst of all to see very old or
very young folk deprived of what they should have. Middle-aged men and
women seem more fit for the battle of life than those who are already
tired by what they have come through, or those who have not yet got to
their full strength and courage.

My little old lady was not what is commonly counted _very_ poor. She had
enough to eat--certainly her appetite was small--and enough to pay the
rent of the two neat little rooms, furnished with what she had been able
to keep of her own old furniture, which had once stood in a very
different kind of house; and enough, with _great_ care, to dress herself
nicely; and, what she considered quite as important as any of these
things, she managed to have enough to give her mite of help to those
still poorer and more closely pressed than herself.

[Illustration: Billy]

How I got to know her I am not at liberty to say. But I will tell you
about the first time I ever saw her and _him_, the other p