“Why, Mamma, only think how many poor little girls there are in the town: I am sure nothing would be easier than to get such as I should like.”
“I am not quite so certain about that as you seem to be, my love; for really, Fanny, I do not know one little girl who never gives any trouble, and who always does exactly as she ought. However, as you seem so fond of teaching children to read, I think you will be very glad when you are old enough to teach at the Sunday School with sister Harriet.”
“I do not think I shall like that very much,” said Fanny.
“Why not, my love; I know of nothing which is so much like your own plan?”
“Dear Mamma, I think it is very different, and not nearly so pleasant; for sister Harriet often comes home very tired, and says that some of the children behave very badly, and some will not learn at all; beside, you know, Mamma, it would be so nice to have it all to myself, and for me to be the governess.”
“I hope, Fanny, you are not more anxious to please one little girl than you are to do good to half a dozen,” said her Mother.—“But I do not wish to discourage you, my love, for I quite approve of your wish to be generous; and I dare say we shall find some way in which you may be able to do a little good before you are old enough to be a Sunday School Teacher.”
“Well,” said Fanny to herself, as her Mother left the room, “I really believe that Mamma begins to think this a good plan, for she allowed that it would be very delightful; and she says, too, that she approves of my wish to be generous; and as to their being no nice little girls in the town, I really quite wonder at her thinking so.—very likely it would be rather troublesome sometimes if they were at all naughty; but I should soon learn to manage them; beside, if they were ever very naughty, I would ask Mamma to come and help me, and they must mind her.”
So Fanny thought a great deal about it; and the longer she thought, the more sure she felt, not only that it was a good plan, but what is still more strange,—that her Mother approved of it. But several days passed without any thing more being said on the subject, at which Fanny wondered very much, and was many times going to say something about it, only she knew it was best not to teaze, and therefore she resolved, if possible, to wait patiently till her Mother mentioned it.
At last, her Mamma said to her, one morning at breakfast, “Fanny, my love, do you remember telling me a few days ago that you thought it was very pleasant to be generous?”
“O, yes, Mamma;” said Fanny, and her eyes sparkled with joy at the thought of the School.