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was well she did not also see the quick look the lady gave her as
she turned the letter and found a red stamp sticking to the under
side； for this unlucky little witness told the story。
Mrs。 Minot remembered having seen the stamp lying close to the
sofa when she left the room； for she had had half a mind to take
it to Jack； but did not； thinking Frank's plan had some advantages。
She also recollected that a paper flew off the table； but being in
haste she had not stopped to see what it was。 Now； the stamp and
the letter could hardly have come together without hands； for they
lay a yard apart； and here； also； on the unwritten portion of the
page； was the mark of a small green thumb。 Jill had been winding
wool for a stripe in her new afghan； and the green ball lay on her
sofa。 These signs suggested and confirmed what Mrs。 Minot did
not want to believe； so did the voice； attitude； and air of Jill； all
very unlike her usual open； alert ways。
The kind lady could easily forgive the reading of her letter since
the girl had found such sad news there； but the dangers of
disobedience were serious in her case； and a glance showed that
she was suffering either in mind or bodyperhaps both。
〃I will wait for her to tell me。 She is an honest child； and the truth
will soon come out；〃 thought Mrs。 Minot； as she took a clean
sheet； and Jill tried to study。
〃Shall I hear your lesson； dear？ Jack means to recite his like a
good boy； so suppose you follow his example；〃 she said； presently。
〃I don't know as I can say it； but I'll try。〃
Jill did try； and got on bravely till she came to the word
〃permanent〃； there she hesitated； remembering where she saw it
last。
〃Do you know what that means？〃 asked her teacher； thinking to
help her on by defining the word。
〃Alwaysfor a great whileor something like that； doesn't it？〃
faltered Jill； with a tight feeling in her throat； and the color coming
up； as she tried to speak easily； yet felt so shame…stricken she could
not。
〃Are you in pain； my child？ Never mind the lesson； tell me； and I'll
do something for you。〃
The kind words； the soft hand on her hot cheek； and the pity in the
eyes that looked at her； were too much for Jill。 A sob came first；
and then the truth； told with hidden face and tears that washed the
blush away； and set free the honest little soul that could not hide
its fault from such a friend。
〃I knew it all before； and was sure you would tell me； else you
would not be the child I love and like to help so well。〃
Then； while she soothed Jill's trouble； Mrs。 Minot told her story
and showed the letter； wishing to lessen； if possible； some part of
the pain it had given。
〃Sly old stamp！ To go and tell on me when I meant to own up； anti
get some credit if I could； after being so mean and bad；〃 said Jill；
smiling through her tears when she saw the tell…tale witnesses
against her。
〃You had better stick it in your book to remind you of the bad
consequences of disobedience； then perhaps this lesson will leave
a permanent impression on your mind and memory； answered Mrs。
Minot； glad to see her natural gayety coming back； and hoping that
she had forgotten the contents of the unfortunate letter。 But she
had not； and presently； when the sad affair had been talked over
and forgiven； Jill asked； slowly； as she tried to put on a brave look；
〃Please tell me about Lucinda Snow。 If I am to be like her； I might
as well know how she managed to bear it so long。〃
〃I'm sorry you ever heard of her； and yet perhaps it may help you to
bear your trial； dear； which I hope will never be as heavy a one as
hers； This Lucinda I knew for years； and though at first I thought
her fate the saddest that could be； I came at last to see how happy
she was in spite of her affliction； how good and useful and
beloved。〃
〃Why； how could she be？ What did she do？〃 cried Jill； forgetting
her own troubles to look up with an open； eager face again。
〃She was so patient； other people were ashamed to complain of
their small worries； so cheerful； that her own great one grew
lighter； so industrious； that she made both money and friends by
pretty things she worked and sold to her many visitors。 And； best
of all； so wise and sweet that she seemed to get good out of
everything； and make her poor room a sort of chapel where people
went for comfort； counsel； and an example of a pious life。 So； you
see； Lucinda was not so very miserable after all。〃
〃Well； if I could not be as I was； I'd like to be a woman like that。
Only； I hope I shall not！〃 answered Jill； thoughtfully at first； then
coming out so decidedly with the last words that it was evident the
life of a bedridden saint was not at all to her mind。
〃So do I； and I mean to believe that you will not。 Meantime； we
can try to make the waiting as useful and pleasant as possible。 This
painful little back will be a sort of conscience to remind you of
what you ought to do and leave undone； and so you can be learning
obedience。 Then； when the body is strong； it will have formed a
good habit to make duty easier； and my Lucinda can be a sweet
example； even while lying here； if she chooses。〃
〃Can I？〃 and Jill's eyes were full of softer tears as the comfortable；
cheering words sank into her heart； to blossom slowly by and by
into her life； for this was to be a long lesson； hard to learn； but very
useful in the years to come。
When the boys returned； after the Latin was recited and peace
restored； Jack showed her a recovered stamp promptly paid by
Frank； who was as just as he was severe； and Jill asked for the old
red one； though she did not tell why she wanted it； nor show it put
away in the spelling…book； a little seal upon a promise made to be
kept。
Merry and Molly Now let us see how the other missionaries got
on with their tasks。
Farmer Grant was a thrifty； well…to…do man； anxious to give his
children greater advantages than he had enjoyed； and to improve
the fine place of which he was justly proud。 Mrs。 Grant was a
notable housewife； as ambitious and industrious as her husband；
but too busy to spend any time on the elegancics of life； though
always ready to help the poor and sick like a good neighbor and
Christian woman。 The three sonsTom； Dick； and Harrywere big
fellows of seventeen； nineteen； and twenty…one； the first two on the
farm； and the elder in a store just setting up for himself。
Kind…hearted but rough…mannered youths； who loved Merry very
much； but teased her sadly about her 〃fine lady airs；〃 as they called
her dainty ways and love of beauty。
Merry was a thoughtful girl； full of innocent fancies； refined tastes；
and romantic dreams； in which no one sympathized at home；
though she was the pet of the family。 It did seem； to an outsider； as
if the delicate little creature had got there by mistake； for she
looked very like a tea…rose in a field of clover and dandelions；
wh