OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



of an insect gives more vivid color to that spot in the 

 leaf; the fringe-winged thrips eat the green substance 

 from the fern, and lo! a fairy texture sways beneath 

 the cricket's leap. 



If it were possible for us to select the gifts with 

 which the fairy godmother endows each one of us at 

 birth, perhaps no one of us would choose to be the 

 second best. And yet the world would be a weary 

 place without those helpful souls. To be willing to 

 be of use to others, to be ready at a moment's notice to 

 fly where duty awaits one, to give loving service with- 

 out thought of self — many women there are who follow 

 along these lines, but particularly the maiden aunt. 



I am sorry for any family who has not a maiden 

 aunt. Ours used to come to us often, but especially 

 in time of need. Was one of the children ill? The 

 dear aunt looked after the rest of us. Was the mother 

 worn out by long service? The dear aunt came to 

 take her place for a while. Must the parents go away? 

 The dear aunt invited us to visit her, and great was the 

 rejoicing thereat. Illumined by a halo of romance, she 



290 



