THE GOOD LADY.
"Seeing is believing. I never will believe any one, until I know her distress is real. But I never will turn any one from my door, without trying to find out the truth of the story." So said a lady; and, putting on her bonnet, she went to seek the abode of want. Down this dirty lane, and through that miry alley, and up a dark passage, and across a muddy court, and into such a filthy hovel, and up such crazy stairs. Her limbs were quite tired, and her spirits quite worn out; but her heart was as warm and fresh as ever, and her wishes as kind. "Never, never let us stop short in the course of duty, in the efforts of pity." Such were her thoughts as she paced forwards towards the scene of distress. She was there at last; and what a scene! Six children and their starving mother, without food, without fire, almost without clothing, so thin, so pale, so haggard. "And, I was eating a hearty breakfast, when this beggar came to my door. Oh! if I had sent her away without hope, and left her without help!" The lady's heart beat fast, as these thoughts passed through it; and she heaved a heavy sigh, and wiped away a few bitter tears. But then, rousing herself, she felt there was much to be done. Two babies, twins, were in the woman's arms, as she rose from her only chair to welcome the lady. The eldest girl was seated on the only stool, holding a cup of cold water to a sickly infant on her knee; a boy was mounted on a piece of wood, trying to find something to eat on the shelf; and a younger girl was running to hide herself in the ragged bed, having only a scanty garment thrown about her chilled body.
The woman had no need to beg for pity; her state besought it, claimed it. "Were you at my house this morning?"—"Ah! no, madam, I could not crawl so far; besides, how could I leave my little ones? It was a kind neighbour that spoke for me, Heaven bless her!"—"Thus the poor can help the poor," said the lady; "and thus it is that real distress is found in holes and corners, unknown and modest." This lady was not rich, but yet she placed this sad group in a state of comfort. She had old clothes to give, and she could contrive cheap broth, and she could spare a little money. I think one never misses what one gives to the poor and needy.