er mother said she was
well, and spoke of returning home next spring or summer."

"O, dear! these young girls sent off alone in the world most always come
to some harm," said Miss Sharpwell, with a rueful expression of
countenance.

"True, true, sister Jerusha," returned Mrs. Sykes, "what should I think
of sending my Henrietta off so?"

"Sure enough, sister Sykes," said Miss Sharpwell. "We ought not,
however, to forsake our friends in adversity. Let us call on Mrs.
Orville, and sympathize in her affliction."

"With all my heart, sister Jerusha. I am a mother, and can appreciate a
mother's feelings over a beloved child's downfall and disgrace," said
Mrs. Sykes, with a distressful expression of pity distorting her
countenance.

And thus in the mint of the Ladies' Benevolent Society was cast, coined
and made ready for current circulation, the tale of poor Alice Orville's
imaginary shame and ruin. Yet faster flew those Christian ladies'
Christian fingers for the poor heathen, while they thus discussed the
slang and gossip of the village.

At length the president arose, and said the hour for adjournment had
arrived. She complimented the ladies on their prompt attendance and
enthusiastic devotion to the good cause. "Who can tell the results that
may follow from this little gathering of Christian sisters on this dark,
rainy evening?" she exclaimed. "What mind can conceive the mighty
influence these seemingly insignificant articles your ready tact and
skill have put together, may exert on the heathen world? Even this
scarlet pin-cushion may save some soul from death 'mid the spicy groves
of Ceylon's isle." [Tremendous sensation, as the lady president waved
the pin-ball to and fro.] "But language would fail me to enumerate the
benefits this holy organization of Christians is destined to bestow on
benighted Pagandom. We will now listen to a hymn from the sisters
Gaddies, and adjourn to Wednesday next, at 2 o'clock, P.M., at the house
of Mrs. Huldah Fleetfoot."

The hymn was sung, and the "Ladies' Literary Benevolent Combination for
Foreign Aid" duly adjourned to the time and place aforementioned.

We have seen that Miss Jerusha Sharpwell and Mrs. Dorothy Sykes had
agreed to call on Mrs. Orville, and condole with her on her daughter's
disgrace; but those benevolently-disposed ladies deemed it expedient to
call first at sundry places in the village and repeat the lamentable
tale, probably to increase the stock of sympathy