Page:Stories told to a child.djvu/210

 a great deal of trouble, and myself, too; but you have one advantage that all children are not blessed with.'

'What is that, mamma?'

'There are times when you sincerely wish to do good.'

'Yes, I think I really do, mamma; I had better fold up this thing, and put it away, for it only vexes me to see it. I am sorry I have lost my golden opportunity.'

And so, not without tears, the toy was put away. The silver and the copper remained, but there was an end of my golden opportunity.

My birth-day had been gone by a week, and still the shilling and the penny lay folded in their silken shrines.

I had quite recovered my spirits, and was beginning to think how I should spend them, particularly the shilling, for I scarcely thought any good could be done with such a small sum as a penny. Now there was a poor Irish boy in our neighborhood, who had come with the reapers, and been left behind with a hurt in his leg.

My mother had often been to see him. While he was confined to his bed, she went regularly to read with him, and sometimes she sent me with our nursemaid to take him a dinner.

He was now much better, and could get about a little. To my mother's surprise she found that he could read perfectly well. One day, when she met him, he 'thanked her honor for all favors,' and said he should soon be well enough to return to old Ireland.

As we walked home one day my mother said to Rh