, straight-backed chair, and looking not much in
the humor for little visitors.

"Aunt Barbara, mother thought perhaps you would like some one with you
this morning, and so I have brought in my Sunday books, and will sit
here, if you like," said Hatty, in a cheerful tone.

"I don't mind your sitting here, if you choose," was the old lady's
reply.

Hatty did not know what to say next, so she mounted into one of the
high, stiff chairs, and took up a book and tried to read. Her eyes would
wander to Aunt Barbara, sitting up straight and still, and looking out
of the window at the sky. At length Hatty said, "Do lie down, Aunt
Barbara; I am sure you would be more comfortable. Let me fix your
pillows nicely for you."

"I never go to bed when I can sit up. I was not brought up to loll about
and make myself sick by being lazy," said Aunt Barbara.

Hatty tried to read for a few moments more; then Aunt Barbara moved, and
she looked at her again.

The old lady evidently wanted something she could not find in her
pocket, and yet did not feel like getting up.

Hatty glanced her eyes round the room, and saw Aunt Barbara's
spectacles on the mantel-piece.

She jumped up and handed them to her. "You may give me my Bible, if you
choose," said Aunt Barbara, in a pleasanter tone than she had used that
morning.

Hatty laid the great Bible on Aunt Barbara's lap, and for a few moments
the old lady seemed nodding; but she soon began to rub her spectacles as
if they were not clean, and then she put her hand to her head, and said,
"old folks can't sit and read all day like young ones."

"That is just what grandma tells me," said Hatty; "and she says young
people ought to remember that, and learn a great many Bible verses to
think about when they are too sick or too old to read."

"But if they did not do that when they were young," said Aunt Barbara,
"did grandma say what they should do then?"

"She did not say anything about that," said Hatty, looking puzzled. In
another moment she added, in her most pleasant way, "would not you like
me to read to you a little, Aunt Barbara?"

"If you can make that little tongue of yours go slow enough, for me to
understand, you may try," said Aunt Barbara.

Hatty drew her chair close up to Aunt Barbara, and was going to ask when
she should begin, when the old lady said, pettishly, "Go round to the
other side, child! don't you know that's my deaf ear?" Hatty moved as
she was requested, and then