Presently she laid her work down in her lap, and seemed lost in some melancholy reverie.
Mary Bell, who had been playing about the floor for some time, came up to her mother, and seeing her look so thoughtful and sorrowful, she said, "Mother, what is the matter with you ?" "Why, Mary," said Mrs.Bell, in a melancholy tone, "I was thinking of poor Mary Erskine." "Well, mother," said Mary Bell, "could not you give her a little money, if she is poor?
I will give her my ten cents." [Illustration: MRS.

BELL.] Mary Bell had a silver piece of ten cents, which she kept in a little box, in her mother's room up stairs.
"Oh, she is not poor for want of money," said Mrs.Bell.

"Her husband made his will, before he died, and left her all his property." "Though I told Mr.Keep about it last night," continued Mrs.Bell, talking half to herself and half to Mary, "and he said the will was not good." "Not good," said Mary.

"I think it is a very good will indeed.

I am sure Mary Erskine ought to have it all.