Page:Letters of Life.djvu/239

Rh and the acuteness of the sempstress, they might be heard debating how a dress might be repaired, or a mantle enlarged, or a hood rejuvenated, so as best to accommodate the little body or head that most needed them. When I listened to the ring of their melodious voices, and saw the glance of their bright eyes, as they decided on some successful expedient, or triumphantly displayed some finished garment, I have felt that they could never be so truly happy at any splendid party.

As it is the nature of true charity to expand, they were led from link to link in the chain of goodness. This clothing process induced more intimate acquaintance with their pensioners, and they thus ascertained that in the families of some were aged, or sick persons, or feeble infants, requiring assistance. Appointing almoners to visit and report, they formed themselves into a regular society, with a written constitution, at a time when such associations were so much less common than at present, as to give the plan almost a pioneer, or at least a novel character.

Prompted by that charity which leads its votaries from grace to grace, these pure-hearted beings conceived a desire of making their monthly alms the fruit of their own efforts. "Is it any benevolence," said they, "to give away the money of others?" When they first mentioned to me their design, I replied: "What can you do, my children, with those little hands?" But they persevered. Each consulted with