"Oh, I thought you did. When people want to be very unhappy all day long, they have only to do one thing, and they will be sure to succeed. Can you tell me what that is?"
Milly's face was now quite hidden on her father's shoulder, but no answer came.
"They have only to think about themselves from morning to night, and cry me, me, for everything. That is a very ugly picture, is it not? Suppose we look at another: How to be happy all day long instead?"
"How?" whispered the little penitent, with a tighter clasp.
"Why, never to think about self at all, but try and see how many other people can be made happy. If everybody did that in the world, there would be much less sorrow. Suppose we try, Milly, you and I? I wonder who will succeed best? What does mamma say? Here she comes, and Clarice too; they look as if they had something to tell us."
Mamma smiled, while Clarice knelt down to whisper something in her sister's ear.
"But I want to hear too," said papa.
"Oh, very well, we will say it out loud!
"Papa, Robin Campbell, the washerwoman's son is here, and Jonathan has been telling me all about his poor little sister Corrie. She is quite lame, and never never can walk; and they are very poor. He wants to make a Christmas tree for her with a fir branch Jonathan has put into a pot and given to him. Mamma says Milly and I may have it up here in the nursery and dress it, and then Robin can come again to fetch it in the afternoon. Won't it be nice, Milly?"
Such a bright smile came over Milly's face on hearing this, that papa said, "Ah! There is the rainbow! I thought it would come; and here is nurse with the fir bough to be decked for Corrie. You will have a happy morning now, my little girls!" he added as he left the room.