"Had I given Bertie all the love and tenderness in my power? Had I done the work which my mother—aye, and my God, too—had put into my hands; the work that should have been done before I took up any other?
"These thoughts now troubled me so, that I could scarcely study; but I tried to put them from me, saying to myself that I would give Bertie a good petting and tell her a long story on the next afternoon, after my return from Bible-class.
"But the next morning I thought I had found a new piece of work which it was my duty to perform. My Sabbath-school teacher told the class of a poor family, living some distance beyond the village, who were in the greatest need, and asked if some among us could not spare a little to help them. I at once took it up, saying that I would go round among the girls in our school, and see what I could collect. This I did, as soon as I reached home; and, each of the teachers and scholars giving more or less, I soon had a nice sum in my hands. I asked, and obtained permission, to go with one of my schoolmates and take this to the suffering family, after the dismissal of the afternoon Bible class; and as I sat upon the piazza, counting over the money, I said that I intended to do so.
"Bertie sat at my feet, leaning her head against my knees. She had not been to church or Sunday-school that morning, for she seemed so languid that Mrs. Horton had proposed she should stay at home.
"'O Margy!' she said, looking up at me with pleading eyes; 'then you will be away all the afternoon. It is such a long walk over to Cuddy's Hollow! and if you go there after Bible-class, you will not be home till tea-time. I do want you so! Couldn't some one else take it, and wouldn't you stay with me just this one Sunday?'
"'Impossible, Bertie,' I said; 'I have not missed one Bible-class since we came to school, and hope not to during the year; and you surely would not have these poor people suffering another twenty-four hours, when here is the money ready for them?'
"'No,' said Bertie; 'but I thought some one else could go. I believe I don't feel very well, Margy; and I want you to talk about mother. O Margy, do stay!'
"'Miss Ruthven," said one of my schoolmates, a new scholar, who stood by, 'I intended to join the Bible-class this afternoon; and if you would like to stay with your little sister, I will gladly go with Miss Oliver to carry the money.'
"Now, my conscience not being quite at rest for refusing Bertie's request, I immediately imagined that this young lady meant to reprove or dictate to me; and I answered stiffly,—
"Thank you, Miss Hart, but I prefer to attend to it myself. When one has undertaken a plain duty, one should not give it up for one's own pleasure.'