For my part, I can't say that I ever found her to be any thing extra." "You do not judge of her kindly, Mrs.Tompkins," said the minister gravely.

"I only wish that all my parish were as good as she is.

I should feel, in that case, I am sure, far less concern for souls than I do." Thus rebuked, Mrs.Tompkins contented herself by saying, in an under-tone, to one who sat near her-- "They may say what they please, but I am well enough acquainted with her to know that she is no better than other people." Thus the conversation and the conjectures went round, while the subject of them sat in solitude and sadness in her own chamber.

Finally, the minister said that he would call in and have some conversation with her on the next day, as he had no doubt that there was some trouble on her mind, and it might be in his power to relieve it.
Monday morning came at last, and Aunt Mary proceeded, though with but little interest in her occupation, to "do over" her preserves.

She found them in a state that gave her little hope of being able to restore them to any thing like their original flavour.