24 



made for the poor, in readiness to employ those 

 who wish for work caps, aprons, bedgowns, 

 and baby-linen. By these means she has always 

 some useful article of clothing ready to give the 

 distressed people who apply to her; and, besides, 

 she likes that young people should acquire the 

 habit of employing some of their time for the 

 benefit of others. 



My aunt truly practises what she advises to 

 be useful is her great object - } but she mixes 

 usefulness and domestic pleasures so well, as my 

 uncle says, that one is scarcely aware of all she 

 effects. 



12th. When I was in the library to-day, look- 

 ing at some books of prints, and Wentworth and 

 Frederick engaged in their algebra, my uncle 

 coming to the window said, " Bertha, my dear, 

 are you a good arithmetician ?" 



" No, uncle, I am not ; Mamma has always 

 found it difficult to get arithmetic into my head 

 I do not know why, but I cannot learn it." 



" Perhaps you mean, will not attend to it." 



" No, indeed, uncle ; but there was always 

 some little thing that was not quite clear, and 

 which prevented me from advancing as fast and 

 as far as I ought." 



" Yes," said my uncle, " that is the secret 

 some little step, which appears to the instructor 

 so simple as to require no explanation, becomes 



