"Poor little girl, has she no relations or friends?"
"I don't think so. Miss Bertha, if she comes in our village could you, would you ask her to tea? In the kitchen I mean, like you do some of the village children. And will you tell me why God makes some little girls like Susy!"
"Yes, I will certainly have her to tea. I think, Childie, those kind of little girls are meant to be helped by their richer sisters. You have never known what it is to be hungry or cold, and I expect you will never know it; but you can help the little friendless tramps and beggars. That is why God makes rich and poor. If we were all rich, we should have no opportunity to be unselfish and sympathetic and self-denying; if we were all poor, we could not help each other so well."
"I should like to help Susy."
Christina's eyes glowed at the thought.
"What could I do for her?" she added eagerly. "Could I buy her anything? I have some money."
"Let us wait till she appears, then we will see what she wants most. Would you like to knit her a small shawl?"
Christina's face fell. She knew how to knit, but she did not like it, and since Nurse had left, her knitting had been put aside.
"Would she like a shawl?"
"I think she might if she drives in an open cart, or a thick woollen scarf!"