Here," said the old woman, kindly putting her arm around Ruth, "are
kept all those angry words which children speak to each other and their
friends; all their little fretful words when they are impatient, and
which they will never wish to see again, but which, alas! will be given
back to them at a most unwelcome time."

Then they went on to another house, the walls of which were black, and
not a green thing grew about it.

"There," said the old woman, "are the treasures of those children who
care most for themselves, and do not think of others' pleasures. Those
things which they have so loved are kept carefully for them; but they
will only tell them of what they have done for themselves." So she
opened the door, and Ruth looked in. There was such a medley of things!
Candies of gay colors, nice waxen dolls, a great many broken toys, nice
fruit, and, indeed, I could not begin to tell you of all Ruth saw there.
There had come, too, a mould upon many of the things, so many of them
had grown tarnished; and a bad stench rose from some fruit which had
been there a long time.

"You see, my child," said the old woman, as she locked up the door,
"these things cannot be preserved to look so brightly as when they were
first brought here; they all grow rotten; and I cannot prevent the worms
creeping in to corrupt them."

Then they met some very black-looking clouds, loaded with things like
those Ruth had seen in the two houses, and they were put in with the
rest.

"Alas," she sighed, "that the children will send up these things!"

Ruth rejoiced to see that, with quick step, her kind guide passed by
many more such houses; for they terrified her. She feared she might
hear, if she listened well, some complaint she had uttered, or should
see some tarnished toy which she had selfishly treasured. No wonder she
liked to hasten by the houses!

Then they passed away from the dreary desert places where black houses
were, into beautiful plains where the grass was mingled with bright and
lovely flowers, and rivulets gracefully flowed along; and here were
lovely temples, shining with precious stones, so that Ruth clapped her
hands at beholding them. "Here," said the old woman, "are more beautiful
treasures, which are my great glory and delight."

She showed Ruth one, round which the whitest blossoms grew among green
leaves, in which were treasured all the smiles ever given to comfort
people who had grief in their heart; and these smiles