want of soup.
But, mamma, _that_ is not the whole of Maria's engagements. She has
pledged herself to 'carry the message,' read the Bible, and distribute
tracts."

"Don't you read the Bible now, Maria?" her mother asked.

"Oh yes, mamma," said Matilda. "This means reading the Bible to
somebody who is blind, you know, or sick and can't read, or who doesn't
know how."

"There are no such people in Shadywalk," said Mrs. Englefield, promptly.

"Shadywalk is a happy village then," said her sister.

"When do you expect to find time for all these things, Maria?" her
mother continued. "Do you know what a state your bureau drawers are in,
at this minute? You told me you had been too busy to attend to them.
And the frock that you spilt ink on, the week before last, at school,
you have not mended; and you need it--and you said you could not get a
minute."

"I have been busy about something else, mamma," Maria said.

"That braiding. Yes. But there is always 'something else.' There are
other things that ought to begin at home besides charity. Do _you_
belong to this association, Matilda?"

"No, mamma," came in a low voice from the child.

"Why not?"

The answer was not ready.

"Have you joined it, Clarissa?" her mother asked.

"Yes, mamma."

"And what have you pledged yourself to do?"

"I think nothing, mamma, that I was not properly pledged to before."

"Such as what?"

"I gave my name for the visiting and helping sick and poor people; for
the singing in the school;--I believe that is all, mamma."

"I shall not let you go where there is sickness," said Mrs Candy. "When
did you pledge yourself to that ever?"

"When I took the vows of the Church, mamma," Clarissa said, with a
little hesitation, "I suppose I engaged to do some of these things."

"Some of them; I have no objection to your singing as much as you like;
but as to your going where there are fevers and bad air, and all that
sort of thing, I should not be willing at all."

"There will not be much occasion for it in Shadywalk," said Mrs.
Englefield. "We have few poor people; there are not many who have not
friends of their own to take care of them."

"Anne and Letitia, you have nothing to do with all this?" their aunt
asked.

"I have enough to do as it is, Aunt Candy," said Anne.

"And I don't like the new sorts of work, Aunt Erminia," said Letitia.

"I know you wanted to stand up with us this evening, though," said
Maria. "You felt bad because