THE LISTENER. 173 
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tocracy as "a genial regard for the feelings of 
others, which springs from an absence of selfish- 
ness ; " and how can those whose hearts are hard 
as their treasures hope to acquire it ? 
But I mean not to digress thus, and will hasten 
to tell you how my friend-fared. The whole year 
was spent in toil, and its effect was ennobling, for 
she was stimulated and incited by the highest mo- 
tives which can influence our conduct ; and may 
not the most menial labor be rendered a proud, 
yea, a holy service, when we toil for the comfort 
and happiness of those we love, for their or our own 
advancement in the beautiful love the soul craves? 
Helen's leisure hours were well improved ; the 
boarding-house piano was ever her choicest recrea- 
tion, for she had a fine voice and a well-cultivated 
taste for music. A large library, for the use of the 
operatives in the mills, supplied her with books 
her own little store lacked ; and besides this, she 
learned many, and to her most strange lessons of 
human nature, among her associates, until both 
heart and soul expanded most liberally during her 
year at Lowell. 
At the end of the year she returned to school, 
more beautiful far than she had ever been, for she 
had learned to be fully conscious of her own pecu- 
liar dignity as a woman, capable of self-control 
and of self-support. She was more lovable than 
ever, also, for her heart had a warmer welcome for 
those whose affection was tried and faithful. 
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