Begin with Jenny, my dear; tell those girls about her, and if I 'm not much mistaken, you will find them ready to help, for half the time it is n't hardness of heart, but ignorance or thoughtlessness on the part of the rich, that makes them seem so careless of the poor." "To tell the truth, I 'm afraid of being laughed at, if I try to talk seriously about such things to the girls," said Polly, frankly.
"You believe that 'such things' are true?
You are sincere in your wish to help better them, and you respect those who work for that end ?" "Yes, I do." "Then, my dear, can't you bear a little ridicule for the sake of a good cause?
You said yesterday that you were going to make it a principle of your life, to help up your sex as far and as fast as you could.

It did my heart good to hear you say it, for I was sure that in time you would keep your word.

But, Polly, a principle that can't bear being laughed at, frowned on, and cold-shouldered, is n't worthy of the name." "I want to be strong-minded in the real sense of the word, but I don't like to be called so by people who don't understand my meaning; and I shall be if I try to make the girls think soberly about anything sensible or philanthropic.

They call me old-fashioned now, and I 'd rather be thought that, though it is n't pleasant, than be set down as a rampant woman's rights reformer," said Polly, in whose memory many laughs, and snubs, and sarcasms still lingered, forgiven but not forgotten.
"This love and thought and care for those weaker, poorer, or worse than ourselves, which we call Christian charity, is a very old fashion, my dear.

It began eighteen hundred years ago, and only those who honestly follow the beautiful example set us then, learn how to get genuine happiness out of life.