64 THE WORLD'S WORKERS. 



read to her, and did what she could to make the 

 time pass pleasantly. In later life this same sister 

 Anna was her friend and companion in all her work. 



Twice during her childhood Mary suffered from 

 this affection of the eyes, and was compelled, on 

 account of it, to give up work. This was all the more 

 remarkable, because, as a woman, Mary's eyes were 

 her most attractive feature. They were large and 

 grey, and so expressive of earnestness and kindly 

 penetration, that they exercised a sort of fascination 

 over those who looked into them. 



It is a very good thing when childhood is free 

 from care. Young people who belong to happy 

 homes usually go on from day to day having all that 

 they need provided for them, and thinking perhaps 

 that thus it will always be. But sooner or later there 

 comes to all a reminder that they have their own 

 work to do, and must take their share of the burden 

 of life. Sometimes this reminder conies in the form 

 of the death of a parent on whom they were accus- 

 tomed to lean, sometimes in the failure of strength, 

 sometimes it comes gently and gradually, sometimes 

 suddenly and unexpectedly. Happy they who, when- 

 ever it comes, and however it comes, are prepared for 

 action, and find themselves possessed of the tools 

 they need. 



To Mary Carpenter this reminder came when she 

 was about seventeen years old. Then she realised 

 that her father her dear and honoured father was 



