"But, remember, 'charity suffereth long, and is kind.' "
"And I try all the while, dear Miss Alice, to keep down my bad feelings," said Ellen, her eyes watering as she spoke; "I try, and pray to get rid of them, and I hope I shall by-and-by; I believe I am very bad."
Alice drew her closer.
"I have felt very sad part of to-day," said Ellen, presently; "Aunt Fortune, and my being so lonely, and my poor letter, altogether; but part of the time I felt a great deal better. I was learning that lovely hymn do you know it, Miss Alice?
'Poor, weak, and worthless, though I am.' "
Alice went on:
" 'I have a rich, almighty Friend,
Jesus the Saviour is his name,
He freely loves, and without end.'
"Oh, dear Ellen, whoever can say that, has no right to be unhappy. No matter what happens, we have enough to be glad of."
"And then I was thinking of those words in the Psalms 'Blessed is the man' stop, I'll find it; I don't know exactly how it goes; 'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven; whose sin is covered.' "
"Oh, yes, indeed!" said Alice. "It is a shame that any trifles should worry much those whose sins are forgiven them, and who are the children of the great King. Poor Miss Fortune never knew the sweetness of those words. We ought to be sorry for her, and pray for her, Ellen; and never, never, even in thought, return evil for evil. It is not like Christ to do so."