In summer, when the two families retired to a retreat that one of them had in the country, the children were permitted to visit the cottagers, and to assist the distressed, if they chose, out of their own funds--a permission which they availed themselves of so liberally that they were called by the country people the two little angels." "What a pity there are no poor people here!" said Sophia, dolefully.
"Why ?" inquired her mother.
"Because we might assist them, mamma." "It is much better, however, as it is, my child; our assistance might mitigate the evils of poverty, but might not be sufficient to remove them." This reasoning did not seem conclusive to Sophia, who shook her head and commenced plying her wheel with redoubled energy.
"When Herbert Philipson was twelve years of age he was sent off to school, and Cecilia was confided to the care of a governess, who, under the direction of Mrs.Foster, was to undertake her education.
But neither music nor drawing, needlework, grammars nor exercises, could make little Cecilia forget her absent companion.

Absence, that cools older friendships, had a contrary effect on her heart; the months, weeks, days, and hours that were to elapse before Herbert returned for the holidays, were counted and recounted.

When that period--so anxiously desired--at length arrived, there was no end of rejoicing: she told Herbert of all the little boys and little girls she had clothed and fed, of the old people she had relieved, of the tears she had shed over tales of woe and misery, how she had carried every week a little basket covered with a white napkin to widow Robson, how often she had gone into the damp and dismal cottage of the dying miner, and how happy she always made his wife and their nine pitiful looking children." "That is a way of conquering human hearts," remarked Mrs.Becker, "often more effective than those referred to the other day." "Once, when Herbert was at home for the holidays, he accompanied Cecilia on her charitable visits, and was greatly surprised to find that blessings were showered upon his own head wherever they went; people, whom he had never seen before, insisted upon his being their benefactor.

This he could not make out.

At last, by an accident, he discovered the secret--Cecilia had been distributing her gifts in his name! He remonstrated warmly against this, declaring that he had no wish to be praised and blessed for doing things that he had no hand in.