KINDLINESS OF PEOPLE 355 



her life to Aller, a hamlet which lies a similar 

 distance on the other. They "keep themselves to 

 themselves," as they are fond of saying. Their 

 ideal of womanhood without knowing it or ever 

 putting it into words is very much that which was 

 held up by Pericles to the quick-witted Athenians. 

 " Those are the best women who get themselves least 

 talked about by men, whether for praise or blame." 

 But when a neighbour is ill or bereaved, there is 

 no limit to their helpfulness and active sympathy. 

 They are in and out of the house of sickness or of 

 mourning, whenever they have a moment that they 

 can call their own. A mother who is already over- 

 burdened with children, will take charge of the 

 children of the sick or the dead, in addition to 

 her own, and just as if they were her own. What- 

 ever a kind heart can prompt or a neat and ready 

 hand can do, she will do. When an unexpected 

 death takes place, and there is an immediate call 

 which a "long" and poor family can ill meet, to 

 be, as they say, "in deep," mourning garb is 

 promptly volunteered from many quarters. 



Over and above this active kindliness, and quite 

 apart from it, anything and everything which has to 

 do with a death or a funeral seems to have a strange 

 fascination for them. The noiseless approach of the 



