THE VILLAGE SHOP.
Now Blanche was well again; they all walked to Lord Glenmore's, and he kindly gave his promise to employ the poor man in his gardens, or grounds. As they came back, they called in at the village shop, to buy some things for the poor man. The old woman, who kept the shop, came to serve them, and she was wiping her eyes, and could scarcely speak for crying. "What is the matter, dame Hodge?" said the good Aunt, and went up kindly to the poor woman, whilst the two girls staid behind the counter. The old dame sighed, and said her daughter had just left her service, and she was afraid it would be long before she got so good a place again. The Lady said she would inquire among her friends for a place for Belle; and then they proceeded in their walk. The girls talked of the difference between all they saw at Castle Glenmore, and what they saw at the shop. "Yes," said the Aunt, "and you may also observe how little alike is the life of a rich lord and our poor dame. He and his lady have no care, but to please and amuse themselves just as the humour takes them, from morning till night; whilst dame Hodge has, even in old age, to work for her food, and to cook it before she eats it. She must make her bed before she can sleep in it; in short, she must labour before she can possess any one thing. Then again, humble as is her lot, there are others who have a still more lowly fate; for instance, the poor man we have just helped to save from want. How much worse off is he, than our weeping old woman!"—"Aunt," said Kate, "I had been thinking with envy of Miss Glenmore; her toys, her books, her fine dress;—but I shall do so no more; for, oh! how well am I off, when I compare my lot to the poor children we have been clothing."—"You are right, Kate; be grateful for your lot, and reflect, that all have their share of good; what we do not prize is perhaps a joy and a pleasure to those who are below us in life; your old bonnet, you know, was a treasure to the poor man's child."