"Does this brace of angels think that virtue consists in making shirts for poor people ?" Lawrence looked at his aunt with the inscrutable eyes, and answered slowly, "I don't know that they do, Aunt Dagon; but I suppose they don't think it consists in _not_ making them." "Phew!" said Mrs.Dagon, tossing her cap-strings back pettishly.

"I suppose they expect to make a kind of rope-ladder of all their charity garments, and climb up into heaven that way!" "Perhaps they do," replied Lawrence, in the same tone.

"They have not made me their confidant.

But I suppose that even if the ladder doesn't reach, it's better to go a little way up than not to start at all." "There! Lawrence, such a speech as that comes of your not going to church.

If you would just try to be a little better man, and go to hear Dr.Maundy preach, say once a year," said Mrs.Dagon, sarcastically, "you would learn that it isn't good works that are the necessary thing." "I hope, Aunt Dagon," returned Lawrence, laughing--"I do really hope that it's good words, then, for your sake.